Pam Winter
March 2018
Pam
Winter
,
RN
Women's Health Center
Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women
Memphis
,
TN
United States
My sister passed away last year from breast cancer. This was absolutely the most difficult time of my life. Even though I've been working in mammography for 23 years, when it hits that close to home you lose all perspective of what you have learned. For some reason you think, "I do mammograms, this won't happen to me or my family members". Wrong! There were so many questions, things I or my sister didn't understand. Thank you so much for Pam Winter! She held my hand while I cried when I had to have the conversation telling my sister she should stop fighting because there was nothing left that the doctors could do. Without her knowledge, compassion, sweet smile and caring disposition, I don't think I could have held it together. After my sister's funeral, Pam told me how proud she was of me. It was because of Pam that I became a voice for my sister and her wishes. Thank you, Pam.
***
A patient stopped by my door and said hello after her mammogram last month. She was a patient that I'd seen at support group several times after her breast cancer. She, her husband and her only child all had trouble dealing with her diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Over time the patient did well and was a regular attendee at the support group while I was attending. I must admit that my attendance fell off as our work turnover rate got more complicated and more time-consuming.
At my office door, we said hello, Merry Christmas, etc. I told her how well she looked. Then I asked about her son.
As it turns out, her son had graduated from college, gotten a position with the fire department, and had just bought his first home.
He was on his way home from work last year and was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Pam got a call the day of the accident. The call was from this patient, who apparently had contacted her several times in the past, usually by text. When Pam called her back after church, the patient told her the tragic news.
The patient, at my office door, said that Pam came to her son's funeral. In the words of this patient (with tears in her eyes), "Pam was the only bright light in an otherwise very dark day".
This speaks to the many times that Pam, largely unknown to the rest of us, has gone out of her way and gone that extra mile for her patients.
***
A patient stopped by my door and said hello after her mammogram last month. She was a patient that I'd seen at support group several times after her breast cancer. She, her husband and her only child all had trouble dealing with her diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Over time the patient did well and was a regular attendee at the support group while I was attending. I must admit that my attendance fell off as our work turnover rate got more complicated and more time-consuming.
At my office door, we said hello, Merry Christmas, etc. I told her how well she looked. Then I asked about her son.
As it turns out, her son had graduated from college, gotten a position with the fire department, and had just bought his first home.
He was on his way home from work last year and was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Pam got a call the day of the accident. The call was from this patient, who apparently had contacted her several times in the past, usually by text. When Pam called her back after church, the patient told her the tragic news.
The patient, at my office door, said that Pam came to her son's funeral. In the words of this patient (with tears in her eyes), "Pam was the only bright light in an otherwise very dark day".
This speaks to the many times that Pam, largely unknown to the rest of us, has gone out of her way and gone that extra mile for her patients.