Honoring Patients Through Their Stories: Celebrating National Patient Recognition Week

Honoring Patients Through Their Stories: Celebrating National Patient Recognition Week

As the calendar turns February, a special wave of appreciation washes over the healthcare industry. The first week in February is National Patient Recognition Week (February 1 through February 7). It is a week-long celebration that honors the very people who make our mission of providing accessible patient care possible — the patients. It is also a time for us to pause, reflect and rekindle our dedication to improving and advancing the delivery of patient care and services.

It was in 1995 that this impactful initiative came to life and was created by a man named John O’Malley. His vision was simple yet profound: to dedicate a week to the patients who are seen by the many healthcare professionals. While it is only a week, it is a sentiment that is unwavering because behind each diagnosis is an individual who has a story that is waiting to be heard.

At AON, we are grateful for the individuals who entrust us with their well-being, and it is with immense honor that we have been chosen to be a part of each patient’s journey. National Patient Recognition Week is about the human connection that is woven into every interaction.

This week, and every day, we pledge to listen with empathy, collaborate with respect and walk beside our patients through each step of their journey, whether complex or simple. We are stewards of their stories, witnesses of their courage and beneficiaries of their trust. Their strength serves as the platform for our initiatives and goals, their vulnerability fuels our compassion and their journeys define the very essence of our patient-centered care approach that is carried throughout the network.

It’s a Tapestry Woven by Patient Stories

Our patients are unique, carrying diverse backgrounds and experiences including their cancer diagnosis journeys. Through their perspectives, we can truly see the impact we make — no matter how small. Patient stories are not solely personal accounts that are shared in hopes of inspiring others but collectively, represent a thread that is woven into the fabric of AON’s mission. The stories illustrate the power of hope and the journey of healing.

The following three stories, while only snippets, highlight the continuous commitment to personalized care that is interwoven into each AON practice’s care approach.

Fran’s Story: Harnessing the Power of Positivity and Perspective as a Cancer Patient

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is often followed by feelings of fear, anxiety and heavy-heartedness. However, this has not been the case for one Meridian resident who has chosen to embrace his cancer journey and move forward with optimism.

These days, you will find Francis (Fran) enjoying his days either in the kitchen making homemade jelly or Italian sausage with his wife Marcia or outside gardening or fishing. One couldn’t tell by simply looking at Fran that he was diagnosed with metastatic bladder cancer, which is cancer that has spread past its origin, in 2015.

Prior to his diagnosis, Fran recalls intermittently finding blood in his urine, which is when he knew something was wrong. Fran decided to take action and visit a local urologist in hopes of shedding light on the source of the problem. After several tests were performed, his doctor delivered the devastating news — Fran had bladder cancer.

“I just remember thinking of my grandfather and how he had cancer and now, I have it,” Fran shared. “For a bit of time, I wasn’t myself and didn’t want to do a lot of things, which my wife and family wouldn’t accept.”

While unsure of the next steps, Fran and his wife were comforted by the urologist whom they had known for years. He provided insights into the diagnosis as well as recommended treatments for Fran to consider, including BCG (Bacillus CalmetteGuerin) followed by Vicinium, which are non-invasive and common options for Fran’s cancer type. Fran agreed to the treatments. However, as time went on, he was disappointed to learn that while successful at first, his cancer had returned. The urologist thought it best for Fran to see a specialist and referred him to Board-certified medical oncologist Dr. Stephanie Hodson at Gem State Cancer & Blood Specialists.

As a patient of Gem State, Fran considers himself lucky to have found a local oncology practice that offers the latest in personalized cancer treatments while maintaining the hometown atmosphere that he has come to appreciate when receiving his care. “You get more one-on-one attention in smaller settings and get to know others around you,” Fran shared.

To continue reading Fran’s Story, visit www.aoncology.com/patient-stories/frans-story-harnessing-the-power-of-positivity-and-perspective-as-a-cancer-patient/.

Marde’s Story: A Lung Cancer Survivor with a Positive Attitude

Following her diagnosis of stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer, Marde sought treatment from Heartland Oncology & Hematology in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Facing a cancer diagnosis and all the ramifications that come with it, having a positive experience at the oncology care center was critical for Marde – and she found that under the care of medical oncologist Dr. Sakeer Hussain.

“I would recommend him to anybody,” she said of Dr. Hussain. “He tells it like it is, but his personality, he warms up to you. He is human. Initially, he is rather reserved when he meets a person but very professional and very, very nice.”

Marde has equally high praise for the rest of the Heartland team and is happy to talk at length about the excellent care she received from care managers, nurses and even the office staff.

Dr. Hussain shares that Marde’s positive attitude and plans for the future are important to her treatment success, adding that she has done well since her initial chemotherapy and has continued to immunotherapy. “She is doing well, so far,” he said.

Marde credits the staff at Heartland for much of her recovery. “It’s the personal care and professionalism. You’re not a number. People there are not numbers,” she said, adding that she has recommended the clinic to others. “How could I not? They saved my life; they really did.”

Marde added that patients can’t let cancer beat them, but quality care goes a long way toward maintaining longterm well-being and positive mental health. “Heartland, they do everything they can within their power. There is not enough I can say about them.”

Marde’s path started when she first experienced symptoms – tightness of breath and a little pain in her chest – and went for testing. She was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, a disease that allows cancer cells to form in the lung tissue. According to the National Cancer Institute, each type of non-small cell lung cancer has different kinds of cancer cells. For example, one is squamous cell carcinoma, cancer that forms in the thin, flat cells that line the inside of the lungs.

To continue reading Marde's Story, visit www.aoncology.com/patient-stories/mardes-story-alung-cancer-survivor-with-a-positive-attitude/.

Barbara’s Story: A Busy Single Mom with an Unwavering Positive Attitude

Like most single working moms, Barbara was extremely busy balancing work and home life for her then 10-year-old daughter, Sofia. She was also dealing with a stressful time in her life — renovating her home, working as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, doing yearend schoolwork and studying for the ESL National Board Certification.

Then on a beautiful summer day in Asheville, even more pressure was about to get added to her plate. As Barbara was biking with a friend, she struggled to get her words out. She explained, “At the time I just blew it off thinking I was tired and out of breath from the bike ride.”

Shortly thereafter, Barbara started noticing that something was very wrong. As a language teacher, writing and journaling was something she did daily. All of a sudden it became impossible for her to journal, words came into her mind, but she couldn’t write them down, everything came out jumbled; having the same issue when trying to text message, the texts made no sense.

At this point, she went to a primary care physician and stated to the doctor, “I either have a tumor in my head or I had a stroke.” Unfortunately, the test results didn’t reveal anything abnormal.

Just a few days later Barbara woke up to an odd feeling on the right side of her face, and she had lost feeling in her right arm. This time she headed straight to the hospital emergency department. Alerting the ER staff that these strange symptoms had occurred over the past three weeks, they immediately did a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. In less than an hour the doctor delivered the life-changing news, Barbara had a 6-centimeter brain cystic tumor over the language center on the left side of her brain. “I totally lost it, uncontrollably crying, I felt like this was sudden death,” said Barbara.

She couldn’t believe this was happening, then the next immediate thought was how was she going to tell her daughter. Overwhelmed and deciding it was too much, she asked the doctor if he would explain it to Sofia. Acting impervious to the diagnosis, Sofia just sat quietly, no tears, but in a state of shock. Barbara continued, “I didn’t sleep at all that night my ‘dark night of the soul’.”

To continue reading Barbara’s Story, visit www.aoncology.com/patient-stories/barbaras-story-a-busy-single-mom-with-an-unwavering-positive-attitude/.

These stories capture the AON mission and serve as a reminder that we partner in journeys, not just treat diagnoses. Beyond white coats and stethoscopes, AON physicians, care team members and central support staff are weavers of hope and advocates for hundreds of patients. In the symphony of healthcare, it is the patient’s voice that guides the melody, and it is our privilege to play in harmony, every day, every step of the way.

AON is continuously looking for patient stories to feature. If your practice has a patient story that you would like captured, email Marketing@AONcology.com to get started. 