In Their Words
Patients share their Dana-Farber experience
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From Kelly Tuthill, a reporter for WCVB-Channel 5
Blog entry, September 27, 2007I cannot say enough about the people who treated me in the radiation department at Dana-Farber. They were kind and supportive and understood how difficult this treatment can be for patients. On day two I started to tear up, so frustrated that cancer and this treatment had taken over my life. Joan, a radiation therapist who has been at DFCI for decades, simply gave me a hug. I will never forget it. read her blog
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From Sandra Dubuc to Lisa Diller, MD, May 1, 2007
Dear Dr. Diller,As you may know, my son, Matthew "Matty" Dubuc, lost his 2 1/2 year battle with Hepatoblastoma on March 25, 2007. I am writing to inform you of the lasting impression Matty's Fellow, Dr. Alejandro Gutierrez, will have with us forever. read more
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From Carol Chandor to Jay Harris, MD, April 17, 2007
Hi Jay,I just wanted to thank you again for fitting me in for a mammogram and exam last Friday. More importantly, I wanted to share with you the wonderful experience I had at Dana-Farber. read more
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From Gehrig Rixford to Dr. Benz, June 4, 2007
Dear Dr. Benz,I would like to thank you and your fine staff for the wonderful treatment you afforded my wife in her battle of breast cancer that has metastasized to her liver. read more
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From Christopher Covington to Dr. Benz, April 2007
Dear Dr. Benz (Ed if I may),I received your letter of April 26 (I actually just received it). It was also nice meeting you at the Harvard Club Annual Meeting. I thought your presentation was spot on for that audience, technical enough, but not too technical. read more
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Written about Annie Beauchemin, RN, BSN, OCN by Amy Moore, November 2006
Annie Beauchemin:We have known Annie since 1991 when my youngest daughter was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). She has been so calming to us on the days we come into the clinic. read more
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Written about Allison Hester, RN, BSN, by Laura Iannitelli, November 2006
Allison Hester:Allison has always been professional and respectful to me and my family. This is my second round of chemotherapy and I requested to keep her as my nurse because I am completely confident and comfortable with her. I have seen her assisting other nurses and their patients as needed. read more
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Written about Katie Murphy, RN, BSN, by Eric Zagorda, November 2006
Katie Murphy:Katie isn't just my nurse; she's become my friend as well. I've been trying to balance chemotherapy and going to college, and she's always there to talk to or remind me of appointments and such. read more
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From Peter and Barbara Bernstein to Dr. David Nathan, July 11, 2006
Dear Dr. Nathan:Thanks to you, we had a rare and rewarding visit to Dana-Farber last week. From the moment we arrived, we sensed we were in an institution where the concerns of the patients receive as high a priority as the staff's impressive scientific achievements. read more
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Written about Diane Ransom, RN, BSN, OCN, by Jean Zarrillo, May 2006
Diane Ransom:It's difficult to condense Diane's wonderful, compassionate, professional capabilities and personal endearing qualities into words. In addition to being my fabulous husband's main infusion nurse at Dana-Farber for the last two years of his life, Diane also became a dear friend to me. read more
From Bob Ruda to Edward J. Benz Jr., MD, May 3, 2006
Dear Dr. Benz:Over the past several months, my dear wife, Elaine, was a Dana-Farber patient fighting advanced metastatic colon cancer. Her body succumbed to the disease on Dec. 15, 2005. read more
From Dawn Peragallo to Suzanne George, MD, May 1, 2006
Dear Dr. George and the entire Sarcoma Team:I am currently enrolled in your ET-743 clinical trial and received my first dose in January 2005. Although I live in New Jersey, I graciously make the five-hour drive to Dana-Farber every three weeks with friends or family. After I receive my 24-hour infusion, my energy level drops a bit, I battle nausea, but I still manage to be the mommy (to my 7-year-old son Tyler and 10-year-old daughter Courtney) and wife to my family. This "downtime" lasts about six days and then I spring back to life and return to my energized self. read more
From Sara Rockwell to Edward J. Benz Jr., MD, March 27, 2006
Dear President of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute:Thank you for sending me the names of donors who gave gifts to Dr. Alyea's Research Fund in the name of my late husband, Randy S. Rockwell. It is my hope that someday a cure for cancer will be found. read more
To CaringBridge,
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center is a sponsor of CaringBridge, an organization that offers free, easy-to-create Web sites that keep friends and family connected when a loved one is receiving medical care. read more
From St. Clair Sullivan to David Nathan, MD, 2006
Dear Dr. Nathan:I want to thank you for putting my sister, Judy Palfrey, and me in touch with the wonderful doctors who treated my prostate cancer with brachytherapy last month. read more
