I am sending you this letter in praise of one of your outstanding nurses who works in the infusion section of Valley Health Services. Her name is Mrs. Cheryl Taylor-Butcher, RN.

I admire and appreciate the people who decided to make nursing their career. By far, it is not an easy job to do. Between the knowledge they must have and the constant changes they must learn and keep up with, they are a fantastic group of people.

However, in this ever-changing world, I feel that what is lost is how vitally important it is to have a more personal relationship with patients. This is a unique time when someone is advised that they have cancer. Emotions are high, they are frightened and the most important person to some patients them is the care they receive from their nurses on a weekly basis.

This is not something you learn in a book; this is what a person possesses in their heart and soul. It is something not everyone possesses, and sadly, some people do not realize how important that is during the administration of their treatment. Because of this, it is especially important to highlight and acknowledge outstanding personnel. Mrs. Taylor-Butcher is the outstanding nurse my friend, E, has assigned to her for the second round of her chemotherapy treatment for her breast cancer.

As much as I can say, your staff has been more than pleasant and courteous to us. However, Mrs. Taylor-Butcher stood out from all the rest!

It is extremely overwhelming to hear a diagnosis of cancer and the whirlwind of emotions that follow. Having to make immediate decisions and scheduling appointments, you feel as if life is moving so fast. You do not know which end is up, along with the realization that you are a 'cancer' patient.

Included with this are the fears of having to undergo chemotherapy, losing your hair, not knowing how this treatment is going to affect you, and the enormity of the unknown. Then you realize you have an angel in your presence with Mrs. Taylor-Butcher!

Here is this wonderful, knowledgeable, warm, inviting, loving, caring, sweet, kindhearted (I could go on and on with these descriptions) nurse who we were lucky to have during the second half of her chemotherapy sessions.

She would sit and explain to E her blood results, along with compassionately inquiring how her body was reacting to the treatments. She kindly put E's ice socks and mittens on her and continually replenished the warming blankets to keep her comfortable.

Her pleasant personality and care in dealing with her patients make it apparent she is meant to be a nurse, especially in this area!

She is tender and concerned each time she sees E, remembers the stories, and the people E would share with her, and engages accordingly. This kind of gesture would help in so many ways to help E feel "normal" and less anxious during her treatments.

Mrs. Taylor-Butcher would watch for subtle signs of E's foot shaking or her breathing faster when it came time to prep her to insert the needle into her port. Not making an issue of it, Mrs. Taylor-Butcher would share stories and make her laugh to ease her anxiety and help the procedure go that much smoother. These conversations meant the world to E, which made her time there something she looked forward to. Just knowing Mrs. Taylor-Butcher would be her nurse really lifted her spirits.

These are talents and gifts you do not learn in a classroom or in a book. This is behavior that comes from the heart! Far too many people in the medical field forget that making the patient feel more like a person and less like a body to be poked and prodded is as much a vital need for the patient as is the medicine administered to keep them alive.

It improves their outlook and makes the process go smoother. It helps with their attitudes and posture with having someone they took forward to seeing every week instead of the dreaded medications.

I could go on and on regarding what a wonderful woman and an absolute asset Mrs. Taylor-Butcher is not only to her patients, but to your organization as well.

I would hope she would be acknowledged by you and her supervisors for her outstanding performance as a nurse and the additional support and care she offers.

God bless this wonderful woman and the work she performs.