Heartfelt care during the worst of times

“It was the hardest summer of my life.”

When Michalene Reilly, 71, looks back at the summer of 2023, she finds the “whole cancer thing” to be minor compared to losing her youngest daughter.

“Two weeks after my youngest daughter died, I found out I had breast cancer,” says Reilly. “The first day I went to IU Health Bloomington Infusion for treatment, my nurse had the same name as my daughter—Lori—it was the saddest most beautiful experience anybody could have had.”

Lori Till, RN, sat and listened to her story while getting her ready for the infusion and that caring nature meant the world to Reilly.

Treatments lasted for over a year, and she found the experience healing as she was surrounded by the Infusion team who treated her with respect and heartfelt care.

Reilly explains, “You feel cared for. You don't feel like you're just another chart to be marked on. When you walk in there, even though they have all these bays, you see other people that are going through what you're going through, or a lot worse, and you don't feel alone.”

From beginning to end, Reilly says it was a caring experience.

Every appointment would start with the person checking her in greeting her by name, listening to her jokes and talking with her until the appointment started. And when Reilly left, she’d say, “See you next time Michalene.”

On the unit, the nurses and support teams would always be looking out for her from getting her snacks to ensuring the hand sanitizers around her weren’t used since it triggers her asthma. And Jaqueline Joyce, MD, would come to the Infusion area just to see her when it was time to have an appointment.

Her nurse navigators, which she’s had two, have also been wonderful resources during and after her treatments.

“They're always asking if you have any questions, every question goes straight to the doctor and you get a response quickly,” says Reilly. “I've had Linda Ketchem [RN, OCN,] for quite a while now, and she still calls regularly to check on me.”

Reilly got to ring the survivor’s bell after her last treatment and the team showed how much they care by giving her a sash, a beautiful blanket and a card they had all signed.

And to bring everything full-circle, Till was there as her nurse for her last treatment.