Jim Berrey

I first met Sarah Rowe in 2010. I had stage 3 multiple myeloma with amyloidosis caused by light chains (abnormal antibodies) and was undergoing chemo treatment, whose side effects seemed worse than the cancer. A complete blood transfusion did not agree with me, and I ended up in the hospital in a coma. I came out of the coma five days later, with no body functions, “chemo brain" and damaged lungs. The hospital doctor could not understand why I would not want to continue a life with no body functions, unable to do anything without help. Eight months later, still with very limited body functions, but a little stronger, I began another treatment and once again started my weekly visits to see Sarah for my chemo injections.

Sarah had been keeping up with me during the whole time and knew how I felt. She knew that I had always been “in charge” during my 24 years in the military, as well as my civilian employment as a supervisor at the local TV station. So now, having a life where I had to depend on others to take care of me was very difficult. Sarah took a special interest in working with me to gain a more positive attitude, something she knew that I had lost.

With my caregiver and wife Barbara working on my faith and joining up with my nurse Sarah, working on more than my treatment, my outlook began to change for the better. It took a while, but I could not help but begin noticing how Sarah was there for her patients who seemed troubled or just needed someone to listen. I started applying a mind change, and it was not long before my mind became clear, I could walk with a cane and could even write again. Two years later, in October 2013, Sarah told me, “Mr. Berrey, you are a normal person once again” — words I will never forget.

It is difficult for some to understand how a problem like this could be a life changer. I understand that now, as I never thought of it until it happened to me. In my heart, I know if not for the team that worked together, my caregiver Barbara and my nurse Sarah, I would not have been able to have a life again. I still have some disabilities, which do not bother me much anymore, as I now have better days. As for the bad days, they ended in October 2013. I started talking more (something I never had trouble with), and after a time, my oncology doctor told me that I was actually helping patients by getting them to take part in things.

Around this time, I found out about a new myeloma support group that had just started in Panama City, with four or five patients taking part. Sarah told me that a support group can help patients in a way that even doctors cannot and that it can be enormously helpful to patients with cancer and their caregivers. She believed that it could help me, so my wife and I joined the support group, and Sarah also began attending. When we lost our group leader,Sarah helped out. The replacement leaders, a caregiver and her husband, then had to leave for Little Rock when his treatment stopped working. So Sarah stepped in and took over as support group leader.

A year later, Sarah told me that she has always believed that the group leader should be a patient or a caregiver. Yes, Sarah was still working on me, as she knew my background in “taking charge,” and informed me that with my experience, there was no reason for me not to become the leader. Sarah said she would still obtain speakers, inform new myeloma patients of the support group, be available to assist in answering their questions and attend some meetings.

All of Sarah’s patients believe that she is a special person and nurse who has had a definite effect on their lives. I can testify to this, and I cannot thank her enough for helping me overcome the worst three-and-a-half years of my life. I am a very blessed, 81-year-old myeloma patient, married for 61 years, and still see Sarah for my weekly medication injection, which has been working for over four-and-a-half years.

My advice to all patients with cancer and their caregivers is to have faith, a positive outlook, an exceptional caregiver and an extraordinary oncology nurse, and your chance for a better life will double. It is no wonder that nurses are the most trusted occupation in our great country.

Articles

An Extraordinary Healer essay honoring Sarah Rowe, RN, OCN [ Florida Cancer Affiliates in Panama City, Florida ]

Helping Me "Take Charge" After Cancer

Jim Berrey, with Sarah Rowe, RN, OCN, and Barbara Berrey - PHOTO BY KIERSTEN GRANT

Sarah is always available to help her patients when they are troubled, and knows when and how to comfort them and to increase their positive effort by her actions. She takes time with the patient’s caregiver, which is very beneficial to the patient’s treatment. She carefully goes over my treatment and lab results, and answers my many questions.

Maybe this does not sound like an outstanding accomplishment or sounds as if it should be just be a part of the job. However, I have had stage III multiple myeloma for over five years, so this has been my life. The first year, the side effects were worse than the cancer: a coma for over four days, ending up with damaged lungs and very little body function, too weak to start another treatment for seven months. I was under the care of my caregiver with assistance from my nurse for another year. It took an exceptional oncology nurse to keep me motivated with a positive attitude to get over those three-and-a-half years, giving me the ability to receive a better treatment to obtain a stable condition.

Without Barbara, my wife and caregiver, and my extraordinary oncology nurse, there is no way I would be here today. Am I special? I would like to think so, however, Sarah takes care of each of her patients the same way, and many have a story like my own.

I asked my oncology doctor about the large turnover of excellent nurses and staff members I have noticed over the years. He said that it takes a special person to work day in and day out with patients with cancer, and many have to change their medical duties for their own wellbeing.

Yes, it takes a special person to be an oncology nurse and work and care for patients with cancer. Sarah is blessed with being one of these people, who for her own reasons has dedicated her life to helping these patients, their families and their caregivers.

For the past year, Sarah has assisted in establishing a multiple myeloma cancer support group that meets the first Saturday of each month at the Learning Center at Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center. She attends each meeting, helping all of those who attend — patients, caregivers, family and friends &mdash; and obtaining speakers and filling in as a support leader. We have grown from five members to more than 22, with 15 or more attending each meeting. Some travel from as far away as 80 miles, and many are not Sarah’s regular patients.

March is “Myeloma Awareness Month,” and Sarah is heading up a local blood drive in honor of our multiple myeloma support group. She also is very active with local breast and lung cancer programs.

Knowing Sarah only from what I have written here, you can see that she is an extraordinary oncology nurse. I believe that all oncology nurses must be extraordinary in their own ways, and I have been blessed with having one of the best.

An Extraordinary Healers essay honoring Sarah Rowe, RN, OCN [North Florida Cancer Affiliates in Panama City, Florida]

Jim Berrey

Helping Me "Take Charge" After Cancer

Giving Each Patient With Cancer the Time and Care They Need

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