From left: FIONA WILKIE, RN and HEATHER VALENZUELA, B.S.N., RN
Picture by: MARISSA VALENZUELA
For 41 years, Fiona Wilkie, RN, has been making oncology sufferers (and her co-workers) chortle. Oncology sufferers, from their prognosis and all through remedy, usually should look demise proper within the face and determine how they’re going to reply. They incessantly come into the chemotherapy remedy room in numerous levels of concern or grief, however then they meet Fiona.
Her heat smile and fast wit have sufferers laughing and feel- ing extra at house inside minutes. She’ll roll as much as a brand new affected person on a stool and say, “Maintain on, I can’t see your veins with out my glasses.” From then on, they’ll share recipes, photos of household and journeys, puzzles and laughter.
Although she has probably the most contagious chuckle, she can also be the nurse who’s most gifted at guiding sufferers — even our clinic supervisor’s personal daughter — in conversations concerning the finish of life. Most sufferers go away the clinic describing it as a spot they appear ahead going to, and their final remedy is widely known with heat hugs and blissful tears as they ring the encouragement bell. A lot of that surroundings is created by Fiona.
When you’ve an odd query about negative effects, ask Fiona. If you want an IV line on a affected person with no seen veins, ask Fiona. If you want a hand-knitted sweater for a Christmas current, ask Fiona. If you want a superb recipe or some selfmade apple butter, ask Fiona. For a fantastic cup of tea, ask Fiona. If you’d wish to have an attention-grabbing dialog concerning the present state of the world, or aliens, ask Fiona. For help with a code blue or hypersensitivity response, ask Fiona.
Her confidence is calming, her knowledge is irreplaceable, and in conversations, she has a manner of creating anybody really feel as if they’re probably the most attention-grabbing individual she is aware of. I’m nominating Fiona Wilkie for the CURE Extraordinary Healer Award.
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