Taking a Drink From the Fire Hose

Many colleagues and patients of Jill May, B.S.N., RN, OCN, recall the support she provided in this Extraordinary Healer Award essay.

On October 16th, 2023, my husband Dan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. At that moment, life became blurry, and all I could hear was a whooshing in my ears. I have fuzzy memories of follow-up medical appointments and phone calls to loved ones for what felt like years, though it was only a couple days, and I was beginning to believe that I would be on my own to figure out the next steps. It was then that I heard the voice of Jill May, B.S.N., RN, OCN.

She was on the phone with my husband as I returned home from picking up our daughter, and just the sound of her voice triggered my tears. She heard my pain and immediately offered me grace and kindness. She knew that though Dan was in for the battle of his life, his path would be dictated by the professionals and my path would be all but forgotten by most.

She came to my aid by telling me that she knew how I felt and that it would all be OK, but that is not what she said. In fact, she has never uttered those platitudes. Instead, she told me that she knew it felt like a five-alarm fire, and yet all the helpers were just standing in the parking lot and watching. She calmly explained that the urgency I felt wasn’t being disregarded, but rather the precision of the diagnosis and treatment plan needed to take priority.

She walked Dan and I through staging and creating our care team. She then said something that has stuck with me and will remain with me throughout this entire journey. She said, “I know right now that this feels like taking a drink from the fire hose, but I promise you things will start to calm down and make sense.” In that moment, I didn’t believe her. Now I know that she spoke the truth, and that sentence has become my mantra.

Since that first phone call, Jill has been walking with us, side by side. She checks on all of Dan’s needs, asks about my wellbeing and checks in on our daughter. She is able to make us feel seen, heard and honored while maintaining a full caseload. I have never been so impressed as I was when I saw her with a room full of patients, and they all felt as honored and seen as we do. She shows up for us all during our hardest moments, as if we are the only people on earth.

As I count my blessings during this terrible journey, I know that what I am most thankful for is Jill’s guidance and warmth.

Above and Beyond

I have had the privilege of working closely with Jill May, B.S.N., RN, OCN, care coordinator for our liver and hepatobiliary cancer program at Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis. I have been consistently impressed with her exceptional skills, dedication and compassion. Jill takes the time to know not only the medical aspects of each patient’s case but also their personal lives, including their caretakers, hobbies and stressors. This holistic approach to patient care has undoubtedly contributed to the positive outcomes and enhanced quality of life for those under her care.

One of Jill’s standout qualities is her remarkable ability to act as a liaison between patients with cancer and their entire medical team. She has cultivated strong relationships with professionals in interventional radiology, oncology, surgery and various other specialties. Her extensive network and open lines of communication ensure that every aspect of a patient’s care is seamlessly coordinated. Jill has all key personnel on speed dial, facilitating quick and efficient collaboration, which is essential in the complex landscape of cancer treatment.

In addition to her exceptional organizational and communication skills, Jill consistently demonstrates a genuine and heartfelt concern for the well-being of her patients. Her caring and thoughtful approach create a sense of trust and comfort, helping patients navigate the challenging journey of cancer treatment.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Jill for this award. Her skills, dedication and compassionate approach make her an invaluable asset to our team.

The Powerhouse of Hepatobiliary Cancers

As a registered nurse new to oncology, I could not have asked for a better role model than Jill May, B.S.N., RN, OCN. Jill has been with the Liver, Pancreas and Bile Duct Program at Allina Health Cancer Institute for 15 years and was in oncology nursing for 18 years before that.

Her role here has been the surgical HPB Oncology Nurse Navigator. She has led numerous support groups, given many educational presentations on her specialty and cared for countless patients. Jill exemplifies what it means to be an oncology nurse. With her patients, she is never afraid to have difficult conversations. She has mastered the ability to be both stern yet humble, and direct yet kind. She helps patients open their perspectives again to see themselves as more than just their cancer diagnosis and instead as a whole person — something that is important yet challenging.

She is often the first person patients and clinicians alike turn to for resources, as her depth of knowledge and years of experience are unmatched and invaluable. She is the powerhouse of our program, and the reason many patients are sent our way. As a nurse new to the program, I have gotten used to walking into clinic rooms and facing looks of disappointment from my patients, who inevitably ask, “Where is Jill?”

I believe she is the reason that many of our patients not only are compliant but have the strength to carry on. Many of our patients have challenging treatment plans with poor prognoses, and yet so many do well. She motivates patients by believing in them, meeting them where they are at and helping them navigate the course when obstacles come up. She is the kind of caregiver any facility would be proud to have, and any nurse would be proud to be.

My Hero in Surviving Pancreatic Cancer

I met Jill May, B.S.N., RN, OCN, when I was diagnosed with stage 1B pancreatic cancer in 2019. After receiving a confirmed biopsy, I was told that a surgical consult was my next step. Within hours, I was contacted by Jill, who explained the journey I was starting and set me up with a top-notch surgeon. Learning I had pancreatic cancer was daunting to say the least, but Jill's compassionate and thorough approach gave me great comfort. In fact, after my first call with her I nicknamed her "Jill the Hug."

Over the past five years, I have experienced her exceptional follow-through, and I know I can count on her to ensure that I get the care I need. For example, after Whipple surgery, I had lost 30 pounds in a matter of weeks (I am 5’ 2”), and I called Jill. She immediately set me up to meet with my surgeon the next morning, which was followed by exploratory surgery with a gastroenterologist.

There are so many moving parts when dealing with cancer, and I’m so fortunate to have had Jill to keep me organized, moving forward and healing. She is adamant that patients get the best possible care and doggedly tracks down whoever is needed to solve an issue.

She has played a critical role in both my physical and mental state. She was there whenever I’ve been admitted to the hospital. This was especially important to me when I my cancer reappeared, and surgery was needed to remove the rest of my pancreas and spleen in 2021. COVID-19 was very active, and the hospital was not allowing any visitors. I was nervous and sad to be there without my family, but Jill was there when I checked in with a pair of socks with tigers on them and again after surgery. I’ve continued to get the value of her time and insight when I join in a survivors’ meeting every month that Jill co-chairs.

All of her effort, skill and caring have been so important to me as I’ve journeyed through chemo, radiation and surgeries and the resulting “chemo brain.” In my heart, I know that Jill has been key to my survival.

Dedication and Compassion

Jill May, B.S.N., RN, OCN, is an exemplary oncology nurse at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. She epitomizes dedication and compassion in her profession. Her life’s work revolves around going beyond the conventional boundaries of nursing care to ensure the well-being of her patients.

Jill’s commitment not only extends to the patients themselves but also encompasses a genuine concern for the families affected by the challenging journey of illness. What sets Jill apart is her unwavering focus on both the quality of life and quality of care for her patients. She approaches her role with a holistic perspective, recognizing that the emotional and psychological aspects are as crucial as the physical ones.

For patients facing terminal illnesses, Jill possesses a unique ability to navigate the delicate terrain of preparing them for everything that lies ahead. In these instances, Jill’s approach is marked by empathy and a deep understanding of the profound emotional challenges associated with end-of-life care. She engages with her patients and their families with sensitivity, providing not just medical support but also emotional support during these difficult times. Jill becomes a beacon of comfort, guiding her patients through the uncharted territory with abundant grace and compassion.

Her impact extends far beyond the hospital walls, leaving an indelible mark on all of the lives that she touches. Jill stands as a testament to the profound difference that a healthcare professional with genuine empathy and dedication can make in the lives of those facing the formidable challenges of illness and the prospect of saying goodbye.

Bulldog With a Heart of Gold

For over a decade now, Jill May, B.S.N., RN, OCN, has provided unrelenting care as a hepatobiliary oncology nurse to patients with some of the worst diagnoses you can get in the cancer world.

Even though we work for separate health systems, I have been lucky to share many patients with her as I work as a RN liver transplant coordinator. We have shared many wins and unfortunately many loses together over the last decade. During this time, I have witnesses firsthand her extraordinary organizational and execution skills, her compassionate caring and expert communication with patients, and her no holds barred advocacy to ensure each and every patient get the care and treatment they deserve. All this has been done despite the reality that patients with hepatobiliary cancer can and do provide a major mental burden on their caregivers. It is common to review imaging in the morning that shows progression of disease in one patient, and then an hour later, you celebrate a disease-free report with another patient.

The mental health challenges presented by patients isn’t the only issue that Jill — and nurses in general — routinely deal with. All the above, and more, is done, even though she must do more, with fewer resources. Lay-offs, nursing strikes and a decreasing budget has provided its own issues. These have all happened, sometimes multiple times, over the last decade. This leads to the difficult decision of working overtime without getting paid overtime or allowing patients to suffer as a result.

I can attest that she has never taken the easy path. Most weeks she will work overtime, while knowing she won’t get paid more, to ensure patients get the care and information they deserve. Given my role as a liver transplant coordinator, and sharing many patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with her, I have heard directly from mutual patients the benefits Jill provides to them.

However, I have also seen and heard this on a personal level. A friend I play hockey with was taken too soon by pancreatic cancer. I have been told numerous times by his brother (who I still play hockey with), his family and from other friends the extraordinary care and treatment he received from Jill.

Jill simply is everything you would want in a care provider. She is extremely knowledgeable in her field, she is compassionate and caring to no end, and it is an absolute guarantee that she will never allow anything but the best to happen to her patients. She will fight right alongside each one until the end. She is the first person I would call if any one of my family members needed help.

Nominations are open for the 2025 CURE Extraordinary Healer award.

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