Featuring our first Paula Takacs Foundation People Spotlight where we share stories of courage and support; individuals whose contribution to the care and hope of patients is worthy of celebration!
Thank you Elizabeth Hess, BSN RN OCN, Thoracic and Sarcoma Oncology Nurse Navigator at Atrium Health Levine Cancer as she tells her own story here: “Sarcoma is such a rare cancer, but it amazes me how many patients we see at Levine Cancer Institute with a sarcoma diagnosis. These patients and their families are my motivation to continue doing what I do! They are incredible individuals. My interest and passion for sarcoma started because of working with Dr. Livingston, first at CHOA (Carolinas Hematology Oncology Associates), then as a Nurse Navigator at Levine Cancer Institute. Being able to navigate sarcoma patients from diagnosis through their treatment has been wonderful and rewarding. I really enjoy getting to know patients and their families, trying to find resources for them, and being a support to them. Seeing patients recover from chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery, and then go into surveillance, coming in after getting married, having children, and living life is amazing. There are many who don’t have such positive outcomes. Being able to provide support and just being a calm presence, willing to listen, or a shoulder to cry on, is an honor. Many of our patients are the same age as my own kids, so I tell them that I am going to treat them like they are my own. If you were to ask my kids, that means you aren’t going to get away with anything!
I have been an oncology nurse for 35 years this year, 20 years with Atrium. I love what I do. I am so grateful for my patients and their families and the kindness that they show to me, despite all that they are going through. I feel blessed to be able to be part of their team.”
