Caregiving

Lynne O’Connor’s winning essay describes how Christine Santure, B.S.N., RN, OCN, is this year’s Extraordinary Healer winner by caring for the caregiver.

At a virtual event Sept. 17, CURE® also named Elizabeth Farrat, B.S.N., RN, CCRN-K, the winner of its first-ever Finest Hour Award for selfless achievements in care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a caregiver, you rarely have 10 seconds to think or reflect on anything, but with my husband gone now, I find myself looking back more than ever. There are so many things we did right, and so many things I’ll probably always feel unsure of.

I received a phone call that would alter the course of my life in ways that I couldn’t possibly have imagined. On the other end was my 27-year-old daughter and I sat dazed and confused as she tearfully said, “Mom … it’s cancer.”

In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Aki Smith, founder of Hope for Stomach Cancer, about her journey as her father’s caregiver and what she hopes the organization offers for others affected by a stomach cancer diagnosis.

When people think of caregivers, they often think of adults taking care of their elderly family members, but that is not the reality for many adolescents and young people who are forced into distressful situations when loved ones are diagnosed with cancer.

In this week’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with breast cancer survivor Felicia Robinson, who recently wrote a book with her daughter on their personal experiences with the various aspects of a life-changing diagnosis.

For National Family Caregivers Month, here’s a round-up of the latest news and updates that focus on the friends and family members that take up the role of caregiver when their loved ones need them most.

"She is the very epitome of what I feel a nurse should be: caring and making you feel hopeful."

"In her retirement, Pat has found a great way to meld some of her different talents and creative abilities in addition to using her oncology skills through volunteering with cancer patients."

"This kind of compassion can help reduce the patient's suffering. It’s an important part of the treatment plan."

"We already know how extraordinary she is, and it's time to tell everyone else."

"Her goal is to improve the cancer experience and management of cancer as a chronic disease, extending those efforts into survivorship."

Tiffany Stump, RN BSN CBCN, of The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center at The James Cancer Hospital, Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center, shares her Extraordinary Healer essay nomination of Sara Wolfe, B.S.N., RN, CBCN.

Here, Lea White shares her Extraordinary Healer nomination essay of her oncology nurse, Cindy DeLeon Trevino, ANP-BC, AOCNP, BMTCN, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

The legendary broadcast journalist Katie Couric sat down with CURE® to talk about founding the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health in honor of her late husband.

Katie Couric reflects on life and lessons learned after losing her husband to cancer.

The legendary broadcast journalist Katie Couric opened up about what she wishes she’d known and wishes she could tell her younger self when her husband was first diagnosed with cancer.

“It takes a special kind of person to be an oncology nurse,” wrote Donna Hornbuckle in her nomination essay of Julie Burris, RN for CURE®’s 2019 Extraordinary Healer® Award. "She gives the gift of time to every patient."

The legendary broadcast journalist Katie Couric sat down with CURE® to discuss her advocacy work with Stand Up To Cancer and the “With Love, Me” campaign and why they are so special to her.

Losing both my parents when I was so young led me to what would become my life’s purpose. Advocating for patients with cancer became my motivation and my mission.

The merging of MyLifeLine.org with Cancer Support Community facilitates more comprehensive social and emotional support for patients and caregivers affected by cancer.

How a dog provides unconditional love, comfort and life lessons in caring for this patient with stage 4 cancer.

Those people who may seem like a burden while you navigate the new normal that is life with cancer may be the very people who support you through this journey. For the caregivers out there: try to maintain your autonomy.

Katie Couric discussed the many challenges she faced while being a caregiver to her husband during his nine-month battle with colorectal cancer and shared how her career helped her to cope with the loss and turmoil in her life.

As I have gone through this cancer journey, I have realized that people don’t know what to say or do when a loved one has cancer. I can speak out on my firsthand experiences and offer some advice.

Moving on while letting go of being a 25-year-old caregiver back to being a young woman.

Katie Couric spoke about the challenges she faced while caring for her late husband while maintaining a career and taking care of her daughters’ needs during their family’s unfortunate circumstances.

Cancer is a huge, life-changing event for a family and the power of the experience in a young person’s life should not be underestimated. What is a semester at college compared to the learning and self-understanding that comes from being with your family in such a stressful time?

What a force they were, those two daughters of ours: that little nine-year-old kid Valerie, gone from bone cancer and the more grown-up 37-year-old Stacy, cut off by breast cancer. When we talk of them, however, it is often with a slight grin.