Jade: The Gem Who Never Stops Giving

Jade Distajo is my collaborative nurse partner at the Endeavor Health Cancer Institute (formally NorthShore University HealthSystem Kellogg Cancer Center) in Evanston, Illinois. I have been honored to be in practice with Jade since 2005. In that time, she has made a huge impact on the lives of about 4,000 very fortunate patients (as well as upon me).

Virtually all oncology staff and professionals are special people, and nurses among those who stand out the most prominently. Jade separates from the pack because of her absolute consistency of service, quality of care, support and bedside manner.

Jade functions as a collaborative nurse expert in a busy clinic. Our patients have head and neck cancer, bone and soft tissue cancers, melanoma and other skin cancers. There are a dizzying array of cancer diagnoses that this encompasses (almost all with polysyllabic names), and a range of conventional to very unique treatment paradigms.

Jade has had to learn the nuances of caring for patients with salivary duct carcinoma, ocular melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and sarcomas with strange names, such as pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma. She rises to the challenge and enjoys the fact that 18 years in, she still may confront a new diagnosis and that patient with a new diagnosis, for the first time.

As tough as this profession is, Jade has not developed a cynical bone in her body. She patiently answers questions, always appearing to have infinite time for the patient, a smile on her face and an honest and upbeat answer or explanation. She goes out of her way to ease the burden of patients and families, even when it adds to her own stress — scheduling tests, which may be seemingly daunting for an overwhelmed patient, or obtaining scans and records when it may take less of her highly valuable time than that of a tired or emotionally fraught patient or family.

Jade does this in addition to her role as the cancer service line navigator for these three disease entities. It basically doubles her job which she does with one salary. She miraculously finds new consultation slots for patients with our medical oncology team, radiation oncology, surgical oncology and supportive care colleagues. She juggles this while tracking down all the necessary records, scans and pathology to make for optimal consultations. She follows patients through diagnosis and treatment and into survivorship or provides the warm handoff to another collaborative team.

Some of what I’ve described may seem generic of an excellent and experienced oncology nurse. But what truly separates Jade from the hundreds of nurses I’ve seen in my 30 years in oncology is the manner and consistency in which she does this. Her time is dedicated fully to the mission of caring for patients with cancer who are in need. In addition, she truly does this without ever raising her voice, showing a bit of stress or deviating from her unmistakable laugh, joke or warm smile with the patient. And, if and when these are not appropriate, then with tender and reassuring emotional handholding.

Jade is a gem to me, our cancer center and the thousands of patients who have been lucky enough to have her as their oncology nurse.

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