Everyone knows, cancer sucks. Gynecologic cancers can be especially difficult because so much of what we are taught as women is that our identities are tied to our reproductive organs. It's a horribly unique experience to be told the parts of your body that are designed to usher in life are the same organs that are killing you and must be either surgically removed or treated with chemo/radiation.

Ashlynn and I are work partners. We have sustained each other through many challenging and emotional patient situations. Through the good, bad, and ugly, we have each other to lean on and fortify one another so we can continue to be the best possible versions of ourselves for our patients. Sometimes we joke that we share a brain and speak to each other more regularly than we do our own spouses.

However, Ashlynn is different than any other nurse I know. She is a force. She is a powerhouse, full of empathy, compassion, and knowledge. She is fearless, never shying away from a challenge. I have watched her go to bat time and time again for patients who need additional guidance and support. I can think of hundreds of reasons why Ashlynn deserves to be recognized for the wonderful person and nurse that she is, but I am going to highlight one particular situation today.

It's a humbling reality that patients who are not insured and who do not speak English do not always get adequate care they need or deserve. Ashlynn rebukes this notion. A self-pay Spanish-speaking patient came to our clinic to be treated for a molar pregnancy. This treatment requires frequent labs and injections, costing thousands of dollars. Initially, the prognosis looked bleak as it became apparent that the patient would not be able to afford the treatment. Ashlynn was not deterred. She comforted the patient and spent hours on the phone, emailing, and messaging everyone she could think of who could help.

She would obtain information and answers little by little and then use an interpreter to update the patient every step of the way. This went on for days, weeks, until we found an appropriate solution. The patient was understandingly thrilled and grateful for Ashlynn. I was in awe of Ashlynn, at her gumption and determination that she would give this patient a proper chance of survival. It's the type of fierceness and love that we all hope for in times of need.

In the middle of this patient's treatment, we discovered another financial hiccup that would cause the patient to owe double the amount initially projected, well into the thousands and well outside of the patient's ability to pay. Ashlynn stepped up again without hesitation, doing more than what could ever be expected of her. She was back on the phone, auditing the patient's chart, crunching numbers, tapping into any and every possible resource. Again, Ashlynn communicated with the patient through interpreters, never allowing language or financial barriers to compromise her care. Ultimately, Ashlynn was able to catch some billing errors and assisted in reducing the patient's payment to hundreds of dollars, not thousands. The patient was able to continue her life-saving treatment. Once more, I was amazed at Ashlynn's fearlessness and her blessed stubbornness to not give up on this patient.

Our patients are so incredibly lucky to have Ashlynn, to have someone on their team who won't go down without a fight and who fights with such grace, tact, and compassion. Ashlynn is the friend, mother, and nurse we all aspire to be and pray we have in our corner when the going gets tough. She inspires me to move through the world with more confidence, more kindness, with a voice that will not be silenced. She makes me want to work harder and to tackle hardships not just with courage but with empathy. This is simply the "Ashlynn Effect." To know her is to feel this force and to feel encouraged to be more, do more, and do it all with love. I hope that every patient, every person, has an Ashlynn in their life. I know I am certainly blessed to have her in mine.

have worked in the Health System for 10 years and have met many a deserving nurse, worthy of praise and awards. I myself have been nominated before and understand the value of being seen, of feeling appreciated and treasured. So many incredible nurses among us, yet I believe none can hold a candle to Ashlynn. The situation I have described is one of a hundred instances in which Ashlynn has been a loyal and loving patient advocate.