Sue Burns-Tisdale was a registered nurse in the Progressive Care Unit (PCU), where she had worked since it opened, and she had been at Exeter Hospital for 33 years. However, she also became a patient. In February, she had an illness that she thought was the flu. Sue credited her nurse practitioner, Laura Dhima, for getting the chest x-rays that discovered the mass in her lungs. She underwent surgery at Mass General, followed by radiation and chemotherapy at Exeter Hospital’s Center for Cancer Care, with only two treatments left to go.

“I always knew Exeter Hospital was a great place, with great people,” she reflected. “But it wasn’t until I became a patient that I experienced the amazing care that everyone there provided. Not just the clinical staff, but from the receptionists to the housekeepers, everyone went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable and supported, whether it was bringing me a warm blanket or giving me a hug in the hallway. I felt very blessed that I didn’t have to travel to Boston for my radiation and chemotherapy treatments.”

Sue was very grateful for her physicians, including her pulmonologist Dr. John Brennan, medical oncologist Dr. YongLi Ji, and radiation oncologist Dr. Gary Proulx. She appreciated all the support from her PCU/ICU family. She received more than 100 cards, as well as numerous texts and other little messages they sent her. Co-worker Sam Cunha came up with the idea to create a team to walk in that year’s United in Wellness Cancer Walk and Trick or Treat Trot 5K. The team, which included staff from the PCU, ICU, and more, walked in Sue’s honor.

“I knew they were forming a team, and of course I joined it, but I only just recently realized they did it in honor of me. I was so moved by this!” said Sue, tearing up. “The Cancer Walk was just a few days before my last chemo treatment, and I planned to walk it with the team. We even had black and orange costumes that we were going to wear.”

“I looked forward to the Walk, and I was so thankful for all the people who signed up to walk in my honor,” she continued, “and above all, I wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful care.”

This story is dedicated in memory to Sue Burns-Tisdale who passed away in July 2020.