Human Connection | Diana J. White Cancer Institute
Story 106

Hope Wolf: The Diana White Institute – this building that houses oncology, infusion, radiology, lab – to have the coordination between all of these departments seems to make the patient care just seamless. We're finishing an infusion and radiology whisks the patient away down to radiology, and they're able to have all their appointments at once, or the oncology doctor is able to have a bedside appointment with a patient while they're getting the infusion. And they feel that they're getting the personal attention and care and the detail, and really catering to each element that a person needs.

Alexis Blue: A touching moment that I've had with a patient was her coming out of her appointment and getting to be with her during her “aha” moment of she really beat cancer. And she just had that moment of, "I did this," and how strong she is realizing that she's standing up stronger than she had before, after going through what she had gone through.

Coryn Barry: Just seeing them at the beginning of their visit to the end of their visit, they're like two different people. And I think that that is one of the most rewarding things about what we do. We are able to give them some hope, but during this really scary time.

Hope Wolf: There's a beautiful art that as a developing nurse, you're no longer just looking at tasks and the physical well-being of a person. You're looking at so much more that can benefit them. One of our providers saw a patient late in the day and this patient needed additional care. He was really hurting, needed care right away. So the choice was go to the ER or ask staff to stay late and treat him here, at the infusion center. The moment that patient realized that we were able to cater to their specific needs was a really proud moment.

Coryn Barry: A patient that I actually went to high school with, he was going through the cancer journey. So at each one of his visits, I think he found some normalcy in having communications with me about our childhood and high school. And I think he kind of forgot that he was sick when we reminisced about things. And I mean, sometimes you cry together and you're there with them. And we're human and that human connection is huge.

Hope Wolf: Whether we like it or not, each of us individually has this need each to be looked at as an individual, to be wanted, to be respected, to be listened to. And when we don't get that, there's this internal battle. And even when we're in those most critical health situations, addressing those basic human needs has a radical impact on everything.