of the Year
of the Year
of the Year
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“Rhea is consistently<br />
gentle and kind to<br />
patients. She seeks out<br />
patients in need <strong>of</strong><br />
palliative care so that<br />
she’s become <strong>the</strong> ‘go-to’<br />
person in her unit.”<br />
Erik Fromme, MD<br />
“Rhea constantly amazes<br />
me with <strong>the</strong> way she will<br />
step out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> box in<br />
supporting our patients<br />
that are in <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong><br />
passing away.<br />
Unfortunately, in our field<br />
this is something that all <strong>of</strong><br />
us are touched by, losing<br />
patients we have come to<br />
know and care about<br />
deeply. There is nothing<br />
worse than <strong>the</strong> feeling that<br />
you cannot help someone<br />
any longer, but Rhea<br />
teaches us constantly that<br />
care doesn’t stop just<br />
because we can’t fix<br />
things anymore as we are<br />
taught to do as<br />
providers. ”<br />
Carol Jacoby, ACNP<br />
“I was 35 years old and a stay at home mom caring for 3 young boys and never even<br />
considered a career in nursing. I was content being a mom. My life changed when I was able<br />
to care for my grandfa<strong>the</strong>r during his last days <strong>of</strong> life while on hospice.<br />
My grandfa<strong>the</strong>r was 90 years old, tired and felt his quality <strong>of</strong> life had changed because he could<br />
no longer do <strong>the</strong> things that he loved doing, such as woodworking. He was spending most <strong>of</strong> his<br />
days sitting in his easy chair with a clear mind but a body that would not work any longer. He<br />
got pneumonia and made <strong>the</strong> decision that he did not want to take antibiotics to treat it. He<br />
made <strong>the</strong> decision that this would be <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> his life. He orchestrated what he wanted at <strong>the</strong><br />
end <strong>of</strong> his life. He was on hospice at home surrounded by his family, friends, music and<br />
laughter.<br />
Little did I know that as I was going thru this process at his side, I realized my passion. The<br />
moment he took his last breath, I knew I wanted to go to school to be a nurse. To care for<br />
families and patients who are going thru this process. Understanding <strong>the</strong> peace that <strong>the</strong> patient<br />
and family has when you know <strong>the</strong> patient is doing it <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong>y want. He gave me this gift.<br />
I started working on <strong>the</strong> bone marrow transplant team 15 years ago and now work in triage in<br />
<strong>the</strong> Center for Hematologic Malignancies Clinic. I am called "mo<strong>the</strong>r" Rhea in <strong>the</strong> clinic because<br />
I treat all patients and <strong>the</strong>ir families like <strong>the</strong>y are my own. I watch over <strong>the</strong>m and try to help<br />
<strong>the</strong>m while <strong>the</strong>y are going thru <strong>the</strong>ir courageous battle <strong>of</strong> bone marrow transplant.<br />
Over <strong>the</strong> past 15 years I have witnessed many patients, whose treatments were no longer<br />
working, die in <strong>the</strong> hospital, or worse, at home without support or hospice/palliative care. Our<br />
patients have special needs with low blood counts and receive platelet and blood transfusion<br />
regularly. They fear stopping <strong>the</strong> transfusions at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> life because <strong>of</strong> comfort and<br />
<strong>the</strong> possibility <strong>of</strong> bleeding to death.<br />
I have a dream and vision for OHSU regarding caring for our patients at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir lives. I<br />
want to build a relationship with home palliative and hospice teams, possibly having a contract<br />
between OHSU and home palliative care/hospice (hospice will not pay for blood<br />
transfusions) that would enable our patients to get <strong>the</strong> blood products at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir life<br />
and yet get a hospice/palliative care team in <strong>the</strong>ir homes earlier to help <strong>the</strong>m find <strong>the</strong>ir way to<br />
peace and grace. We have palliative care at OHSU that is great, but we need to have a team in<br />
<strong>the</strong> home with eyes and ears looking for problems, so that we can avoid crisis at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> life.<br />
Bottom line, if we were able to get data looking at how much money we spend at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> life<br />
with hospital stays, tests etc…we would consider thinking outside <strong>the</strong> box. We would probably<br />
save money for everyone and meet our patients’ needs better at end <strong>of</strong> life. It is a win-win.”<br />
Rhea Geelan