July Miles: For Cookie’s Nurses
Source: https://www.mskcc.org/
For more than thirty years, U.S News & World Report has ranked Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) as one of the top cancer care centers in the country. Not only is this because of MSK’s amazing doctors and innovative research, but also because of the remarkable team of nurses it houses. Throughout the month of July, we dedicated our miles to the selfless nurses at MSK, specifically those in the breast-cancer unit who were there throughout each step of our mom’s journey.
Every phone call with our mom from the hospital included mention of how much she adored her nurses. Since we were both living across the country, hearing about the high quality of her care couldn’t have been more comforting to us. The nurses not only cared for her physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. They prioritized the things that mattered most to our mom, like making sure she always got in as many laps as she wanted around the 10th floor. They invested in her as both a patient and a person, bringing positivity and peace amidst the chaos. They played a paramount part during the hardest fight of her life, yet they expected absolutely nothing in return.
Finding gratitude in every situation, Cookie never failed to mention how well-cared for she was throughout her entire time at MSK, even in her last few weeks.
However, it wasn’t until our mom’s final week that we got to meet her nurses in person, at which point we got to experience firsthand how truly special these individuals are. In our most vulnerable and raw moments, these nurses rallied around our family. Knowing that these were the people who had poured themselves into our mom’s care, then subsequently experiencing the same love and support from them ourselves, is something we are humbled by every day. Every nurse who walked into Cookie’s room cared for her like she was their own mom, and the peace and comfort it brought us hearing and seeing how much they loved her continue to lift us up.
Our mom was a fighter, and thanks to the incredible support system at MSK, she never had to fight alone. To Miranda, Kerrie, Shannon R., Shannon K., Sara, and every other nurse who worked with our mom: there will never be enough “thank yous” to convey our gratitude, and we will truly never know how you do it. Every single day, you went above and beyond in giving our mom the love and care she needed and deserved, and the impact you had on her will never be lost on us.
We’re forever indebted to the team of nurses on Floor 10 MSK, and it was a privilege to run for them and all of the nurses who selflessly dedicate their lives to lifting up others.