I met with Donna Loehner for the first time a few days before my surgery, and I was very emotional because I fought against the very strong possibility that I might need a colostomy. Donna kindly explained everything, showed me what a bag might look like, marked my stomach, and explained so much that I stopped being afraid.

After surgery, when I learned I had an ostomy, I cried, but Donna immediately came to see me, showed me how to change the bag, helped me to put it on correctly, and continued to see me during my eight‑day hospitalization and follow‑up visits, offering moral support and telling me she had no doubt that I would do a great job.

I describe Donna as amazingly supportive, extremely knowledgeable, kind, caring, and an unbelievable asset. She made it possible and easy for me to continue the cancer fight of my life, helped me accept my reality, and taught me how to manage a temporary ostomy with confidence. Donna is the epitome, embodiment, and personification of what an incredibly knowledgeable, caring, and kind nurse should be. I would definitely not be where I am today were it not for the many kindnesses of Donna.