Andrea Bousbouras
September 2024
Andrea
Bousbouras
,
RN
D4E
Albany Medical Center
Albany
,
NY
United States

 

 

 

Andrea would check on me to make sure that I had gotten myself something to eat for dinner after being there for long hours, and reminded me of the importance of caring for myself.
My first encounter with Andrea on the unit was during a time that I was very scared, anxious, and unsure. I had been on another floor in the hospital for 2 months, then moved to D4E to begin chemotherapy. Andrea was called into the room by another nurse tending to my care. Andrea came in and immediately began talking to me, addressing my fears and anxiety, explaining that other people who have gone through similar experiences have had the same feelings and fears and that this was a "normal" feeling to have. Andrea always explained things in great detail, not only to me but also to my family members who were with me, telling me what I could expect and that there was always a solution to counteract an effect. Not only did Andrea care for me with her knowledge and with compassion, but she also took time from herself to talk with my daughter, to help my daughter understand as well. Being given a diagnosis of Cancer is not something I or my family would have ever in this world expected. We thought "Cancer" was a death sentence until talking with Andrea. As I was on the D4E unit for over a month, Andrea would check on me to see how I was doing, and offer motivation towards meeting my goals of improving. Andrea was so helpful and dedicated not only to me but to other nurses on the floor. Andrea is known as the "go-to" Nurse on D4E. There are no words that I could ever say to express my gratitude towards Andrea. The support, comfort, knowledge, laughs, and cries she shared with me were amazing. She is an amazing human being, and the world needs more like her!

***

Andrea knelt beside me one evening as I was in my mom’s room at her bedside while she slept. Andrea explained in depth the ups, downs, highs, and lows of this entire process. Andrea answered any questions, thoughts, or concerns I had that she could. Andrea would check on me to make sure that I had gotten myself something to eat for dinner after being there for long hours, and reminded me of the importance of caring for myself. I could go on for days on how amazing Andrea is and how much of an impact she had not only on my mother but on me as well. She is amazing, and words could never begin to describe.