Cari Eichholz is an extremely hard-working nurse who routinely goes above and beyond for her patents. Her boisterous personality and quick wit keep Cari's patients on their toes. She forms deep, personal bonds with her patients through her care and humor.
Cari works on the Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit. A patient's stay on this unit is typically weeks to months due to the transplant process and complications that can arise. During this time, the staff often become like a second family to the patient.
Last summer Cari cared for a young patient who, after staying on our unit for four weeks, was told her transplant was unsuccessful. She would need more chemotherapy and another transplant to survive. The patient and her young family were obviously devastated. The situation was made worse as it was the patient's 7-year-old son's birthday the following week, and the patient was unable to leave the hospital to celebrate with her son. Children under the age of 12 are generally not permitted on the unit due to the severe immunocompromised state of our patients. Due to this patient's extenuating circumstance and extended hospital stay, her children were allowed a one-time special visit.
Knowing this, Cari planned a Batman-themed birthday party in our family room for the patient's son that was held when the patient's children visited. The little boy had a smile from ear-to-ear when he saw his mother for the first time in a month standing among the decorations, cupcakes, and a mini bounce house. He asked every nurse who came if they were Cari because he was so elated and wanted to thank her.
A second transplant was successful; however, weeks later the woman ultimately lost her battle with AML. Cari has stayed in touch with the family. She even took the son shopping for back-to-school clothes. This is just one example of the many ways Cari goes above and beyond for our transplant patients.