I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer, and Allison became my chemo nurse. Allison isn't just a nurse; she has a natural gift from God. When I first started my chemo, I can tell you I really didn't say a lot to anyone because I was angry and lost, but Allison got to talking to me one day. She asked if I had kids, and I said, “Yes, one is grown and one is about to graduate from high school.” I said, “What about you?” She said, “Yes”, and she told me their ages, and I kind of giggled and said, “Enjoy them now, the teenage years are rough.”

Anyways, from that day on, we always joked and laughed together. Allison just naturally has a heart of gold, no matter what was going on, she always had a smile on her face. She truly is the definition of an Angel because when I needed someone to just bring the person I used to be back, she did!

We shared many laughs, and she never treated me like I was just another person who had cancer. Instead, she treated me like a person, not a disease. She never complained about her job. These kinds of nurses are hard to find. The ones that are there because they have a heart, love, and compassion, not just for a paycheck.

Allison absolutely saved me when I needed it. Had she not had the loving heart and desire to understand her patients, I don’t know if I would have made it. I remember telling her I wanted to give up, and she told me you have made it this far and that I had done it with a smile on my face. She said it's not your time to quit, you're too tough to give up, and I said, “You're right, I am tough!” One year later, I rang the bell for the final time with Allison cheering me on. Because of her kindness and warm heart, I'm here today!