I first met Leah the morning of Friday, November 15th, at 1100 for my first chemotherapy treatment for my new cancer. She came into my room with her sweet personality and bright smile. I knew from there I was going to be ok. My husband thought her welcoming compassionate smile helped me relax; he said he saw my shoulders relax and my breathing slow down. Cancer is a very scary word, which changes your life in a second.

From a patient perceptive, you first hear the word CANCER in the doctor's office, but that's all you hear. Your world around you shuts down immediately. When Leah asked me about my new diagnosis and she witnessed my eyes filling up with tears she took a step back and sat down on my bed and asked me how I was feeling. No one had ever done that, her compassion was overwhelming. I could see it in her eyes and body language that she cared for her patients and families. She then asked my husband how he was feeling, I could not believe that. I had not thought of him yet. I can see how she easily puts her patients to ease, she is very infectious, and I did not want to leave the hospital because of Leah. She made me feel I was not the only person with cancer and I was going to be ok.

Leah explained everything she was going to do in an easy way for me and my husband to understand, all the chemotherapy information. She provided me and my husband with pamphlets and internet information for my children. She connected me to a Clinical Nurse Leader so if my children had questions regarding my new disease and treatment plan she would be able to assist them. Leah taught us about the cells in my body and how chemotherapy works on the cells. She went to the drawing board (white board) and explained what is happening to my body. She drew the bone marrow and antibodies, the platelets being the mass producer (spleen), but the mean packman attacks the platelets and eats them, so we need to counter attacked with chemotherapy. I got it and so did my husband. I feel I could teach it to my family and friends. Who does not get packman I taught it to the Clinical Nurse Leader, it made me feel so good. Even the doctor complimented Leah on her teaching techniques, laughed about packman but said "yes Leah's right they attack and destroy that is why you need chemotherapy treatment". In my years on this earth I have never heard a doctor give a nurse a compliment. Leah is a nurse who I will brag about to all my friends and family.

I understand what chemotherapy can do, but Leah also taught me about the side effects and what to do with the side effects. From this chemotherapy I will be nauseated and lose my hair. Leah informed me and my husband what has worked for other patients she has cared for. For example, chewing on ginger gum helps with nausea or sipping ginger tea can also help. The side effects of nausea meds and pain meds can be worse than the chemotherapy, she warned us not to scare us, but to be prepared. The side effects are what I fear most. Leah encouraged me and my husband to join a support group and learn from others. She gave us the number to the Cancer Community Center and a calendar of upcoming events and it's free!

After my chemotherapy plan is complete and my hair grows back, I may color my hair red. Leah's beautiful red hair has not been forgotten, it goes along with her personality: fun, caring, infectious, empathetic, compassionate, kindheartedness, knowledgeable, professional, and Leah is someone you'll never forget because her care was all about me. I needed to be me and she made me feel like the old me before my new diagnosis.

I asked Leah about her job and did she like what she does and of course her response was a big "I do". She told me she was proud to be a professional nurse and that she is nationally certified as an oncology nurse. She told me most of her peers are certified as well and that our unit has high standards for our patients.

While receiving my chemotherapy Leah could feel my nervousness and my husband's, it did not help that he came close to me and held my hand. Even though I knew what the medicine was going to do, (Thanks to Leah's teaching) hopefully kill my cancer I was still scared. Leah asked me a simple question, what's your passion. I love to talk about my heritage since I am a young 76 year old woman and very proud to say first I'm Italian then second Syrian and married to an old fashion Irishman, we all laughed a lot. I so needed to laugh and laughed we all did.

This letter cannot express enough how Leah has changed our lives. I believe she truly went above and beyond for me and my husband. I will think of her often and teach others what I have learned from Leah. Her compassionate care was exceptional and I hope all patients feel how I did with Leah. She is the WOW factor for nursing. I will look and ask for Leah the next time I come in for my chemotherapy treatment and I hope my children get to meet Leah with the red hair and big compassionate warm smile. She is the professional all should strive for; she would be a great poster child for nurses, she's the one with the BIG BIG SMILE.