Recently, a56-year-old business woman in our community was transferred to the ICU from H1 after an RRT for difficulty breathing. In the space of just a few days, this patient's entire life was turned upside down by a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. What she thought was just a "touch of flu" ended in a diagnosis which would require intensive treatment to survive. Part of the treatment plan was to start chemotherapy as soon as possible.
As I was looking at our resources to provide chemo, it became clear that the patient would need to be transferred to another hospital. Our one and only chemo certified nurse at MDH, Gloria Hoover, was not only not scheduled to work on the day that the first dose would be administered, but she was scheduled to go on a vacation as well.
Gloria had made nurse leader rounds on L while L was a patient on the first floor and had developed a relationship with her. Having undergone cancer treatment herself, Gloria could relate to all the emotions that L was experiencing, so she spent time listening and encouraging L through the first few days of diagnosis. When Gloria heard L would need to be transferred to Countryside for treatment she made it her personal mission to be the one who would give L her first treatment. She immediately made contact with the oncologist to coordinate the treatment plan which required multiple phone calls to arrange. She changed her family plans to miss one day of her vacation and come in on a weekend to give the first treatment. When I told the patient that Gloria would be giving her the chemo and that she would not need to be transferred to another campus she was completely overwhelmed and expressed gratitude for the accommodation to her needs. L had total confidence in our hospital and the care team and was happy to be able to stay.
The extraordinary effort Gloria put forth to provide care to L while she was scared and so anxious about her diagnosis and the chemotherapy is just one example of the many times that Gloria has put her own schedule aside to meet the needs of a patient requiring chemotherapy. It takes someone with great compassion and empathy to put others needs above their own. The patient was so grateful for Gloria's efforts but really never knew the extent of that effort either. In true Gloria fashion, she did not reveal the full extent of her effort to the patient.
When I thanked Gloria for intervening for this patient she said, "It's the right thing to do". Unfortunately, there are not enough Gloria's in this world, who put others above themselves, not counting the cost to their own needs and plans, but focusing on the needs of others. That is "Humanity at work!!"