Betty Alberto
May 2026
Betty
Alberto
,
RN
Inpatient
City of Hope Phoenix
Goodyear
,
AZ
United States
Watching someone you love in pain is unbearable, but Betty spared us that. She gave my wife comfort and gave me peace of mind.
Before I introduce the amazing Nurse Betty Alberto and a few other special members of the City of Hope team who cared for my wife, I want to share a little of our story how we ended up at City of Hope, and why their kindness will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Our time to fight my wife's cancer was heartbreakingly short. It spread fast and left us with very little time, but through it all, the doctors, nurses, and staff at City of Hope never gave up. They did everything they could for her and treated her with compassion, dignity, and love until her very last moment. She was first admitted to Banner Health because her legs and abdomen were so swollen she could barely move.
After several tests, we got the devastating news of cancer. She started chemo and stayed in the hospital for 21 days before being released. We had a follow-up appointment with her oncologist scheduled, but that same day, she had to be readmitted because of severe constipation. Once she was treated and released, the next oncology appointment wasn't available for another two weeks.
We didn't want to lose that time, so we started looking for another option, and that's when we reached out to City of Hope. The doctors at Banner couldn’t determine exactly where her cancer had started. It appeared to be gastric, intestinal, or ovarian, but by then it had already spread to her liver and lungs. Her liver was enlarged, but the early chemo had helped a bit; she got some relief, and her swelling went down. Still, by the end of that month, her pain started to increase again.
After a few referral delays, we finally got appointments at City of Hope. But by that time her pain had become unbearable. We didn't want her to miss her first appointment at 2 pm, but we knew she needed help right away. When we called City of Hope, they told us we could bring her directly to City of Hope, and they would make sure she was admitted if needed. So, early that next morning, we packed up and drove straight to City of Hope.
We got there around 10 a.m., and the moment I explained my wife's situation, the staff went into action. They could see she was in pain and needed immediate help. They contacted management, got her into the ETC Clinic, drew blood, ordered a CT scan, and even reached out to the oncologist she was scheduled to see later that week. The team was incredibly busy with their scheduled patients, but you would never have known it from how they treated us. They took care of her like she was the only patient there.
They managed her pain, kept us informed, and made sure every test was done quickly. By that afternoon, she was admitted to her room. She was finally comfortable, and for the first time in days, I saw a little peace on her face. The next morning, Nurse Betty Alberto came in. From the moment she introduced herself, I could tell she was special. She had this calm, confident presence, exactly what we both needed.
She already reviewed my wife's chart and spoke with Dr. D, and she got right to work managing her pain and her low potassium and calcium levels. Betty didn't wait for her pain to get bad before acting. She could tell when the medication was starting to wear off, and she stepped in right away. She stayed ahead of the pain, which made an enormous difference for us both. Watching someone you love in pain is unbearable, but Betty spared us that. She gave my wife comfort and gave me peace of mind.
The next day, as her condition worsened, Betty kept finding ways to make her more comfortable. When she couldn't swallow, Betty crushed her medications into applesauce or pudding. When she couldn't clean herself, Betty did it for her gently, quietly, without hesitation. She treated her with so much respect. She was our angel during those days. Before she left for her days off, Betty stopped by to say goodbye. I didn't know then that it would be the last time we saw her, but I'll never forget her care, her kindness, and her heart.
That evening, the NP came in to check on my wife and to reassure me that she and her team would keep a close eye on her through the night. The respiratory specialist managed her oxygen, and another nurse handled her medications and comfort. As the night went on, her vitals began to decline. The alarms went off, and the nurses rushed in, working quickly and calmly to stabilize her. For a while, they managed to get her breathing steady again. One of them sat with me and, with such gentleness, asked if I wanted them to resuscitate her if things worsened.
It was a question no one ever wants to hear, but she asked it with so much care and compassion that I knew she was doing what was right. After talking with my family, we made the painful decision to agree to a Do Not Resuscitate order. We wanted her to be at peace, not in pain. Her team kept her as comfortable as possible while we waited for our family to arrive.
The respiratory therapist adjusted her oxygen and made sure she could breathe as easily as possible. When my family got there, we all gathered around her. We held her hands, talked to her, and told her how much we loved her. The nurse also asked if we needed spiritual care, and we replied yes. Soon after, the Chaplain joined us and led us into prayer while we were gathered around her. He also comforted and ensured our family received the most compassionate and caring spiritual care during our most difficult moment.
At 7:04 a.m., my wife passed away. A few moments later, as our grief settled, the Chaplain volunteered to provide a list of funeral homes with costs for services that we could choose. One of the funeral homes he recommended that we select provided outstanding service for our beloved. Even in those hardest hours, I could see in the eyes of every staff member who came into the room that they cared.
They shared in our sorrow, and that compassion made all the difference. To everyone, thank you. Thank you for your kindness, your skill, your patience, and your love. You treated my wife like she mattered, and you treated me like family. City of Hope is blessed to have you. And my family and I will be forever grateful for the way you cared for my wife up to and in her final days. Thank you for being so caring.
Our time to fight my wife's cancer was heartbreakingly short. It spread fast and left us with very little time, but through it all, the doctors, nurses, and staff at City of Hope never gave up. They did everything they could for her and treated her with compassion, dignity, and love until her very last moment. She was first admitted to Banner Health because her legs and abdomen were so swollen she could barely move.
After several tests, we got the devastating news of cancer. She started chemo and stayed in the hospital for 21 days before being released. We had a follow-up appointment with her oncologist scheduled, but that same day, she had to be readmitted because of severe constipation. Once she was treated and released, the next oncology appointment wasn't available for another two weeks.
We didn't want to lose that time, so we started looking for another option, and that's when we reached out to City of Hope. The doctors at Banner couldn’t determine exactly where her cancer had started. It appeared to be gastric, intestinal, or ovarian, but by then it had already spread to her liver and lungs. Her liver was enlarged, but the early chemo had helped a bit; she got some relief, and her swelling went down. Still, by the end of that month, her pain started to increase again.
After a few referral delays, we finally got appointments at City of Hope. But by that time her pain had become unbearable. We didn't want her to miss her first appointment at 2 pm, but we knew she needed help right away. When we called City of Hope, they told us we could bring her directly to City of Hope, and they would make sure she was admitted if needed. So, early that next morning, we packed up and drove straight to City of Hope.
We got there around 10 a.m., and the moment I explained my wife's situation, the staff went into action. They could see she was in pain and needed immediate help. They contacted management, got her into the ETC Clinic, drew blood, ordered a CT scan, and even reached out to the oncologist she was scheduled to see later that week. The team was incredibly busy with their scheduled patients, but you would never have known it from how they treated us. They took care of her like she was the only patient there.
They managed her pain, kept us informed, and made sure every test was done quickly. By that afternoon, she was admitted to her room. She was finally comfortable, and for the first time in days, I saw a little peace on her face. The next morning, Nurse Betty Alberto came in. From the moment she introduced herself, I could tell she was special. She had this calm, confident presence, exactly what we both needed.
She already reviewed my wife's chart and spoke with Dr. D, and she got right to work managing her pain and her low potassium and calcium levels. Betty didn't wait for her pain to get bad before acting. She could tell when the medication was starting to wear off, and she stepped in right away. She stayed ahead of the pain, which made an enormous difference for us both. Watching someone you love in pain is unbearable, but Betty spared us that. She gave my wife comfort and gave me peace of mind.
The next day, as her condition worsened, Betty kept finding ways to make her more comfortable. When she couldn't swallow, Betty crushed her medications into applesauce or pudding. When she couldn't clean herself, Betty did it for her gently, quietly, without hesitation. She treated her with so much respect. She was our angel during those days. Before she left for her days off, Betty stopped by to say goodbye. I didn't know then that it would be the last time we saw her, but I'll never forget her care, her kindness, and her heart.
That evening, the NP came in to check on my wife and to reassure me that she and her team would keep a close eye on her through the night. The respiratory specialist managed her oxygen, and another nurse handled her medications and comfort. As the night went on, her vitals began to decline. The alarms went off, and the nurses rushed in, working quickly and calmly to stabilize her. For a while, they managed to get her breathing steady again. One of them sat with me and, with such gentleness, asked if I wanted them to resuscitate her if things worsened.
It was a question no one ever wants to hear, but she asked it with so much care and compassion that I knew she was doing what was right. After talking with my family, we made the painful decision to agree to a Do Not Resuscitate order. We wanted her to be at peace, not in pain. Her team kept her as comfortable as possible while we waited for our family to arrive.
The respiratory therapist adjusted her oxygen and made sure she could breathe as easily as possible. When my family got there, we all gathered around her. We held her hands, talked to her, and told her how much we loved her. The nurse also asked if we needed spiritual care, and we replied yes. Soon after, the Chaplain joined us and led us into prayer while we were gathered around her. He also comforted and ensured our family received the most compassionate and caring spiritual care during our most difficult moment.
At 7:04 a.m., my wife passed away. A few moments later, as our grief settled, the Chaplain volunteered to provide a list of funeral homes with costs for services that we could choose. One of the funeral homes he recommended that we select provided outstanding service for our beloved. Even in those hardest hours, I could see in the eyes of every staff member who came into the room that they cared.
They shared in our sorrow, and that compassion made all the difference. To everyone, thank you. Thank you for your kindness, your skill, your patience, and your love. You treated my wife like she mattered, and you treated me like family. City of Hope is blessed to have you. And my family and I will be forever grateful for the way you cared for my wife up to and in her final days. Thank you for being so caring.