Alec with Christine at the Clinic
Christine was Alec's Nurse Practitioner at the Jimmy Fund. She is amazing. She always made us feel like Alec was her only patient. She was patient, never rushed an appointment, always answered all of our questions, took all the time that was needed to go over everything about Alec's care. She was there for us as much as for Alec.
And most importantly, she always listened to Alec. When Alec talked to her, she listened fully to everything he had to say and she always knew it was most important that Alec see Cori and she always made that happen. She always took time to talk and listen to Cassidy too and make her feel special.
One time we got to the clinic, I pulled into the parking garage and Alec asked me for his "Funshine Bear", he was in a phase where he brought his very big care bear named Funshine Bear to clinic with him. My heart sank as I realized that I forgot it. I told him I was so sorry that I forgot to bring FunShine Bear, Al's lip started quivering and his eyes filled up. He told me to go home and get him. I told him we couldn't go home now because it was his appointment time. This only made him more upset. So I tried to be creative, I took out my phone and pretended to call FunShine Bear, I had a conversation with the Bear and told him Alec missed him and FunShine told me that he wanted to stay home today anyway. I told Alec all of this, that FunShine wasn't feeling well and wanted to stay home and he'd be waiting for him to get home. It wasn't working and Al was still upset. I was torn whether to go home and get him, but I knew that was crazy since it took us over an hour to get there.(I felt like the worst Mom ever).
I got Alec into the clinic, and was having such a hard time comforting him when Christine came out and saw Alec and asked him what was wrong, Alec was crying and told her that he didn't have FunShine Bear. Christine talked so sweetly and gently to Alec and took him for a walk to get something that would make him happy. I couldn't believe it when she brought him back he was happy and smiling and forgot about FunShine bear. It was the sweetest, she did not hesitate, as I'm sure she had a patient to see, she just needed to cheer Alec up, and she did. Which cheered me up too.
This is her way, she is so compassionate and caring and always went above and beyond for Alec and us.
When Alec had his MRI's every 3 months, there is a weekday scheduled for Brain tumor patients and after the scans we'd go over to the clinic and wait to meet with all the Doctor's for results. We'd get there for 6 am and wouldn't meet til 2 pm. We did this a couple of times, but it was just too excruciating to wait there. It was hard to entertain Alec for that long and our nerves were on edge the whole time...waiting. We asked if we could skip Brain tumor clinic and be called with the results. And they were ok with this. Christine was so good to us with this and Keith was often able to call her while Alec was still in the MRI recovery room and get the results. One of the phone calls was such a great one and the results were so good that Christine told Keith that her and Cori were dancing for joy right then in their office. I'll never forget that, it was so touching to know that they were celebrating for Alec. That they so desperately want and need the good news too. It was then that I realized that they are invested in their patients as one of their own, I knew this already but it was on the deepest level that I felt it, it was in the Love they felt for Alec.
This is just a glimpse of Christine's love and kindness.
Christine is so special to us and will always hold a special place in our hearts. She has been there for us in countless ways. She has given her love to us and we love her.
I know one thing for sure and that is the entire Jimmy Fund staff are the most caring, kind and compassionate medical proffessionals. And they are passionate about healing their patients and making them feel happy and loved.
And most importantly, she always listened to Alec. When Alec talked to her, she listened fully to everything he had to say and she always knew it was most important that Alec see Cori and she always made that happen. She always took time to talk and listen to Cassidy too and make her feel special.
One time we got to the clinic, I pulled into the parking garage and Alec asked me for his "Funshine Bear", he was in a phase where he brought his very big care bear named Funshine Bear to clinic with him. My heart sank as I realized that I forgot it. I told him I was so sorry that I forgot to bring FunShine Bear, Al's lip started quivering and his eyes filled up. He told me to go home and get him. I told him we couldn't go home now because it was his appointment time. This only made him more upset. So I tried to be creative, I took out my phone and pretended to call FunShine Bear, I had a conversation with the Bear and told him Alec missed him and FunShine told me that he wanted to stay home today anyway. I told Alec all of this, that FunShine wasn't feeling well and wanted to stay home and he'd be waiting for him to get home. It wasn't working and Al was still upset. I was torn whether to go home and get him, but I knew that was crazy since it took us over an hour to get there.(I felt like the worst Mom ever).
I got Alec into the clinic, and was having such a hard time comforting him when Christine came out and saw Alec and asked him what was wrong, Alec was crying and told her that he didn't have FunShine Bear. Christine talked so sweetly and gently to Alec and took him for a walk to get something that would make him happy. I couldn't believe it when she brought him back he was happy and smiling and forgot about FunShine bear. It was the sweetest, she did not hesitate, as I'm sure she had a patient to see, she just needed to cheer Alec up, and she did. Which cheered me up too.
This is her way, she is so compassionate and caring and always went above and beyond for Alec and us.
When Alec had his MRI's every 3 months, there is a weekday scheduled for Brain tumor patients and after the scans we'd go over to the clinic and wait to meet with all the Doctor's for results. We'd get there for 6 am and wouldn't meet til 2 pm. We did this a couple of times, but it was just too excruciating to wait there. It was hard to entertain Alec for that long and our nerves were on edge the whole time...waiting. We asked if we could skip Brain tumor clinic and be called with the results. And they were ok with this. Christine was so good to us with this and Keith was often able to call her while Alec was still in the MRI recovery room and get the results. One of the phone calls was such a great one and the results were so good that Christine told Keith that her and Cori were dancing for joy right then in their office. I'll never forget that, it was so touching to know that they were celebrating for Alec. That they so desperately want and need the good news too. It was then that I realized that they are invested in their patients as one of their own, I knew this already but it was on the deepest level that I felt it, it was in the Love they felt for Alec.
This is just a glimpse of Christine's love and kindness.
Christine is so special to us and will always hold a special place in our hearts. She has been there for us in countless ways. She has given her love to us and we love her.
I know one thing for sure and that is the entire Jimmy Fund staff are the most caring, kind and compassionate medical proffessionals. And they are passionate about healing their patients and making them feel happy and loved.
Alec feeding FunShine Bear a graham cracker and loving him up
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