I had only been in Colorado for 6 months when I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer with no family out here, and only 1 person I knew at the time out here. Ananda showed up the day I had to come back for my 2nd mammogram and ultrasound. She introduced herself and explained what she did as a nurse navigator. When I had to come back 2 days later for my biopsy there she was again. She stood right next to me during my biopsy! She talked to me and she held my hand. This would probably seem like a small thing but it meant the world to me because I was frightened of the biopsy and the diagnosis. However, at that particular moment, I didn't realize how much I could and would rely on her.
Needless to say, when I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer and found out I had to do chemo, my spirit was broken and I was confused. Do I stay in Colorado or move back to Tennessee? Well, I stayed, and I did this because of Ananda and the rest of the staff. Ananda reached out to me and offered to go to my first appointment with the oncologist. She took notes on all the information that the doctor was telling me. She then emailed me the notes and I have referred to them on several occasions. She would check in me with during my chemo and actually stopped by a couple of times while I was there. She was a friend to me more than a nurse at this point. I had questions along the way that I would email or text her, she always got back right away. In May, I ran into her at Dr. T's office. I told her I was having difficulty figuring out if I should have a mastectomy or lumpectomy. She sent me info that day with links to read about both surgeries. This info helped me along with other research to decide my surgery path.
She emailed me in July to let me know she would be on vacation and that she would check in with me when she got back. She met me the next month for my sentinal injection and wire placement for surgery. Once again, she stood by my side, talked to me about her vacation (gave me a wonderful map of Germany) to get my mind off this awful procedure, and she held my hand. She was once again a friend to me not a nurse!
There are other details I could list but the point will remain the same, she has not just been a just a great nurse to me, she has been a friend. She treated me like a person, not just another patient. She has been someone I could count on this entire journey. I couldn't have made it this far without her help and kindness.