Melissa Teeter
May 2024
Melissa
Teeter
,
MSN, RN, OCN
LC-Huntersville
Atrium Health Levine Cancer
Charlotte
,
NC
United States

 

 

 

Melissa's consideration and care during my cancer journey provided me with feelings of warmth and support, for which I will be forever grateful.
I'm a 47-year-old single mother of four who was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer. My treatment involved daily radiation for five weeks and weekly chemotherapy infusions for six weeks. Needless to say, it was an exhausting, intimidating, and stressful experience. One of the only highlights of my journey was having Melissa as my chemo infusion nurse. From the beginning, she made me feel comfortable, supported, and cared for. She always greeted me with a warm smile and kind words and treated my daughter (who was my support person each week) and me like a member of her family. For months, I was examined, scanned, poked, and prodded, so it was always a relief when Melissa did my IV with impeccable skill. It seems trivial, but I can't express how much stress is reduced by small things like having a quick and pain-free IV insertion. I was also dealing with side effects that left me with sleepless nights and extreme daytime fatigue, and Melissa ensured that I always had a room with a bed so I could nap during my infusions. A welcomed few hours of respite during a time of struggle and pain. Melissa's consideration and care during my cancer journey provided me with feelings of warmth and support, for which I will be forever grateful. She deserves all the recognition and acknowledgment for being the most amazing nurse ever.