An Oncology Nurse Who Provides for Others

It is a great honor to nominate Linda Giamalva, B.S.N., RN-BC, NC IV, for the Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing. Linda has been a nurse for about 15 years.

In 2011, Linda and her oncology colleagues created a nonprofit organization called Hannigan’s Heroes in honor of Dr. Edward Hannigan, who was a beloved gynecological oncologist at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Linda wanted his name and reputation to continue to help patients with cancer. Hannigan’s Heroes raises money to help patients with expenses that are not covered by insurance or for patients who do not have insurance.

Hannigan’s Heroes hosts an annual event to raise funds for patients with cancer. Linda organizes and oversees all fundraising, funds and distributions. Linda also volunteers year-round to promote breast cancer awareness at UTMB.

Linda provides excellent care to all her patients and goes above and beyond to meet their needs. Each Christmas, Linda organizes Christmas stockings for all patients and their families. The stockings contain a mixture of items such as personal care items, peppermints for nausea, blankets and items to pass the time while hospitalized.

I have seen Linda plan birthday parties for patients, a wedding for a young patient on the unit and the last Christmas for a family. A young man received a diagnosis of lymphoma. He was planning to get married that year. Because of the constraints of his treatments and financial concerns, the couple canceled their wedding. Linda and the other nurses helped the couple plan a wedding on the unit. Linda’s extraordinary compassion is palpable!

She also planned a Christmas party for a patient who had three young children and could not afford to give them a Christmas because he was hospitalized for months for cancer treatment. Linda organized a Christmas dinner and party with gifts for the children and his wife.

Linda is a blessing to all her patients and the nurses who know her, and she is very deserving of this prestigious award.

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