Lilly Linehan
May 2025
Lilly
Linehan
,
RN
Patient Care Unit
Ashland Medical Center
Ashland
,
WI
United States
She listened to me. It was the first time since I had been told that I had cancer, that I cried. For over a half hour, she listened and gave me words of encouragement.
Lilly cared about me as a person, not just a patient. She gave me hope.
Lilly cared about me as a person, not just a patient. She gave me hope.
Hospitals can be scary places, especially when you’re really sick. In July, 2024 I was a patient in the Ashland Medical Center for 15 days and again in September, 2024, I was in for another 15 days. During that time, I had the opportunity to meet many of the fine medical staff and employees of the Patient Care Unit.
I was a breast cancer patient but was mainly hospitalized for the many side effects from cancer and chemo: dehydration, diarrhea, pneumonia, and a UTI. Due to my paralyzed diaphragm, I often had problems breathing, and my Type 2 diabetes was not under control the first time I was admitted. Many medical issues for the staff to take care of.
Lilly is an exceptional nurse. She is very professional and efficient. I noticed her teaching other staff members about what was happening so they understood what was going on. Lilly is always polite and very friendly. She kept encouraging me to eat and get up and move.
At one point during my stay, I was suffering from many side effects. One of those was a chemo burn that affected my face, neck, shoulders, hands and arms. It was painful and my skin was peeling off. Lilly spent time putting a steroid cream on my affected body parts.
I think the worst part of being sick was what went through my mind. Many people that I know said they weren’t sure they could go through all that I was going through.
Many said they would consider quitting all treatment and just let the cancer run its course.
There were nights I lay in the hospital bed and wondered if that’s what I should do. At one point, in my mind, I had set up funeral plans and my will. It was a very depressing time.
Then, one night, Lilly stopped in my room to check on me. She could tell I was upset and sat down to talk. She held my hand, sometimes my foot, and listened to me. It was the first time since I had been told that I had cancer, that I cried. For over a half hour, she listened and gave me words of encouragement. Lilly cared about me as a person, not just a patient. She gave me hope.
Later on in the week, I made up my mind to fight as hard as I could to beat this cancer. It’s because of the time that Lilly spent with me that I made that decision.
I was a breast cancer patient but was mainly hospitalized for the many side effects from cancer and chemo: dehydration, diarrhea, pneumonia, and a UTI. Due to my paralyzed diaphragm, I often had problems breathing, and my Type 2 diabetes was not under control the first time I was admitted. Many medical issues for the staff to take care of.
Lilly is an exceptional nurse. She is very professional and efficient. I noticed her teaching other staff members about what was happening so they understood what was going on. Lilly is always polite and very friendly. She kept encouraging me to eat and get up and move.
At one point during my stay, I was suffering from many side effects. One of those was a chemo burn that affected my face, neck, shoulders, hands and arms. It was painful and my skin was peeling off. Lilly spent time putting a steroid cream on my affected body parts.
I think the worst part of being sick was what went through my mind. Many people that I know said they weren’t sure they could go through all that I was going through.
Many said they would consider quitting all treatment and just let the cancer run its course.
There were nights I lay in the hospital bed and wondered if that’s what I should do. At one point, in my mind, I had set up funeral plans and my will. It was a very depressing time.
Then, one night, Lilly stopped in my room to check on me. She could tell I was upset and sat down to talk. She held my hand, sometimes my foot, and listened to me. It was the first time since I had been told that I had cancer, that I cried. For over a half hour, she listened and gave me words of encouragement. Lilly cared about me as a person, not just a patient. She gave me hope.
Later on in the week, I made up my mind to fight as hard as I could to beat this cancer. It’s because of the time that Lilly spent with me that I made that decision.