I'm a Stage 3 Tall-Cell Variant Papillary Thyroid Cancer patient. I had found the lump on my own, gone to my primary, been to specialists and had future tests scheduled, but my tumor kept deciding to double in size overnight. I had three different hospitals tell me "tumors don't grow that fast!" It was to the point my trachea was bent to a 70-degree angle. Thank God for Brigham and Women's Hospital, their care, experience, and expertise to believe a tumor can grow that fast!
Jenn was my main nurse from when I was moved from 3B ICU to her on the 8th floor. I had been intubated and in a medical coma before being moved to the 8th floor, but recently had a tracheostomy. Being so new to the trach, I was scared out of my mind. That and what my body was doing/going through coming off the coma meds.
Jenn, her first smile, our first conversation when she did all the talking, was the beginning of me believing mentally I was going to survive this ordeal. She stepped me through my different doctors, my upcoming 7 ½ hour surgery, my very bad veins, etc. I was in through Christmas and New Year's, my husband and children came to visit a lot, but I was still alone plenty. Jenn held my hand when I needed to cry. Got me up to walk with her to get me moving. Kept me entertained with stories of her two little ones. She was literally a lifeline in this new world I didn't even begin to understand how to navigate.
Jenn goes so far above and beyond the medical experience needed to even become a nurse. Her empathy, kindness, compassion, especially when I was simply just mad at the world and not an easy person to be around. I don't know if I will ever be inpatient on Brigham's 8th floor, but if I do, I just hope Jenn is my RN again!