Infusion nurses deal with many very ill patients every day. Many times during a patient's assessment and care an infusion nurse will learn detailed facts about a patient's life which do not directly pertain to the patient's disease. It was during one such assessment and lengthy course of treatment Kelli Fidler learned one of her patients receiving chemo for advanced stage cancer was having life issues any otherwise healthy person would find changeling. Kelli's patient was not responding well to his treatment and was no longer able to work. He and his family, including two small children, were moving from shelter to shelter and at times living out of their car. One of the children has health issues of their own which only added to their misfortune.
According to the patient's medical oncologist, the prognosis is poor, and the patient only has a few months left. After hearing her patient's plight, Kelli reached out to the oncology financial navigator for the St. Anthony's Outpatient Infusion Center to see if there were any resources to help the patient and his family. After some calls, housing was secured for the family through the holidays.
Though the family's immediate shelter needs had been met, Kelli was not content all their needs had been completely fulfilled. Kelli organized and coordinated to collect Christmas gifts as well as gift cards for food and gas with the Infusion Center team. Toys, warm clothes, and other necessities were given to the family just before Christmas.
Kelli is dedicated to each and every patient in the Infusion Center, and she truly is an Extraordinary Nurse.