Dr. Jerry Mansfield, vice president & system chief nurse executive, recently shared with Health System leadership this letter he received from a patient who had undergone cancer treatment at UTMB. We're sharing it here with her permission.
"I am writing to you today as a patient in the Oncology department since last summer. I was blessed with having Dr. Gwyn Richardson and her team for all my treatments .
"Yesterday I had what may be the last chemotherapy treatment. As I spent the day having this treatment, I was able to think about all the care I had received in this special place.
"Yesterday I had Kayleigh Bowie and LaShel Brown as my nurses. I was familiar with the two from previous treatments. As I observed them all day and received their care I was just so struck by their knowledge of cancer, their ability to care for each of the patients in such ways that may be a little hard to explain here. But I am going to try.
"First, from the time I walked into the infusion area and had my first chemo I was certainly scared and apprehensive about what would happen. Well, I guess I was there for a few minutes when I was brought blankets and a pillow and within a short time, drinks and snacks. But most important of all, the nurses were so warm and funny and you felt the happiness in the room. This happened each and every time I received chemo . I experienced all of this in each of the infusion rooms and with each of the nurses and staff that worked with the cancer patients.
"Now back to yesterday, I would like to see if I can explain how I saw even more depth to the work the nurses do for cancer patients and specifically the work I saw Kayleigh and LaShel do yesterday.
"I was lucky to have the early morning session and as always I was received at the waiting room with smiling faces and brought back to the infusion room. As always, I was made comfortable with a warm blanket and pillow to settle in. At that time there were two other patients in the room and everyone seemed to be very happy and joking as was always very prominent in the room.
"Kayleigh and LaShel were busy with their patients and also making everyone feel happy. This was typical of each and every day I experienced in the infusion rooms. But yesterday there was something new I had not seen.
"A new patient came in who was in a chair in front of me. I observed that she was very nervous and scared about what was going to happen. I had never seen anyone with these heightened reactions before. The nurses immediately started working with her. Explaining all that would happen with the infusion and working hard to lessen her fears.
"Kayleigh pulled up a chair close to her so that they could have close eye contact. She later also spent time with her daughter who was in the waiting room, explaining the process.
"In thinking about my observations, it seems that these amazing nurses and staff are skilled and prepared to work and adapt quickly with all reactions to the patients who are undergoing this tough procedure.
"Before I left yesterday, I asked how I could share my feelings regarding the work that was being done in this facility and was given the “Gem program, Going the Extra Mile” card. I just decided to give a bigger shout out, so here I am."
Dr. Deanna Kasper
Galveston