With Gratitude for the "Angels" on Tower 6B
The following is an excerpt from a letter Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services Jackie Somerville, PhD, RN, received from Mr. Maurie Molod, a recent patient on Tower 6B receiving his second stem cell transplant. Mr. Molod, who suffers from myelofibrosis, was here for eight weeks. He wrote in appreciation of the care he received from the interdisciplinary team on Tower 6B, mentioning nurses, dietary services, physical therapy, Chaplaincy and his physician, Vincent Ho, MD.
It was a challenging hospitalization for multiple reasons, but suffice it to say that a week of radiation, another week of chemotherapy, a transplantation, issues with my inability to consume food and a few other things, I probably caused folks more than their share of issues.
All I can tell you ... is that I can reveal a secret of where you can find a group of angels all in one place. They're up on 6B. To most, they'll look just like a group of highly skilled nurses and support staff like those found in most any big city hospital, but to those who saw them through the eyes of a patient facing a life-threatening disease such as I did, I was blessed with being able to see the wings. While I can't speak to those in other wards and floors of the hospital, I can, without a moment's hesitation, state that these folks get it. They understand what I feel are the two most important things that are required of those who work in these environments: one, that you absolutely don't want to be there; and two, that you're frightened almost out of your mind. You feel vulnerable and sometimes embarrassed, but bottom line, you put your life into their hands and relinquish your control.
I couldn't wait any longer before writing you to express our feelings about the team covering 6B and to do our best to cite as many of those who helped us. There were also those in Nutritional Services as well as Physical Therapy as well as your Chaplaincy Services. This entire group worked so incredibly hard and with such dedication to make sure that the gift of life a total stranger granted me didn't go to waste and that "come hell or high water," I'd be granted a second chance at life.
I'm at home now and recovering slowly but surely. I have a long way to go, but as you've heard many times before, "a journey of a thousand miles starts with a first step." Thanks to your team on 6B, I was given the chance to take that step, as well as many, many more.