I was diagnosed with breast cancer around March of this year at the age of 31. I can’t begin to explain how devastating this news was to my family and me. I’ve been a nurse for several years and as a nurse, it’s easy to forget the full impact of a cancer diagnosis on a patient. It’s incredibly humbling to become that cancer patient. When you are in crisis mode, and you come across someone who radiates such compassion and empathy for you, your whole experience becomes a bit easier to bear. That is why I have been so honored to have Julia a part of my story. From day one Julia has been my advocate. Even when she wasn’t assigned to be my nurse, she checked in to see how I was doing. It is hard not to focus on the changes your body goes through during treatment. Your self-confidence tends to take a back seat when you know those changes mean the medications are working. However, with those changes, I have felt an acute loss of my identity as a woman. That is why the thought of losing my hair has caused such anxiety for me. I have been using the cold cap, but I started to develop a large bald spot at the crown of my head. I spoke to Julia about this and even though she wasn’t my nurse that day she taught me several tricks to make the cap fit better. It’s because of her I have been able to keep more of my hair. More importantly, she recognized that I was struggling and took the time to be present with me. Julia is not only a strong clinical nurse, but she goes above and beyond for her patients. I am so grateful for her kindness.