Real Everyday Super Heroes: The Real Marvels

         One thing that may surprise you about me is I love Marvel Movies.  X-men, Spiderman, Fantastic 4, you name it, I’ll watch it.  The characters in these movies become the heroes and idols of little boys and girls all over the world. When we become adults though, we realize the actual Marvels are the real, everyday people God has put in our path to touch our lives. 

Over the years, my doctors and nurses have become my heroes.  Two of my heroes I get to see every October and April when I take my treatment at Nationwide Children’s Hospital— those people are my Hematologist and my nurse who administers the IV medication. 

My Hematologist has been my specialist for 19 years and my nurse has been administering medication and treatments to me for 14 years. Just like the super heroes in the film, my doctor and nurse have always been dependable. I know I can always call on them and they will be there for me right away.  A Marvel always fights the bad guy who has masterminded an evil plan. My doctor and nurse fight my immune system’s “evil,” plan to wreak havoc on my body.  And of course, every hero has a super power such as flying or becoming invisible. My doctor and nurse’s super power is there gut instinct— many times they didn’t know the clear answer to my treatment plan, but they went with their gut instinct and they have always been right.

One of the most interesting aspects about every Marvel movie is the character’s back story.  They weren’t always a hero, so how did their heroism come to be?  Woven into the film is the character’s realization that they were different— they had something special to offer the world. 

I know for a fact that my Hematologist and nurse aren’t only my heroes, but they have touched thousands of lives over the years.  Today, I want to share with you their story they shared with me, so you will know how these two Marvels came to be. 

Whitney: How did you decide you wanted to be nurse?

Nurse S: Well, it’s kind of funny.  As a kid, I was terrified of needles and shots.  I mean, I dreaded it anytime I had to get any vaccine.  I was in the 6^th grade and it was time for me to get my MRI shot and once again, I was terrified.  Well the nurse I got did such a great job.  She really helped me through the process of having to get that shot even though I was so scared.  I had always been interested in science and so when it came time for me to decide what to do in college, my mind went back to that nurse who gave me my shot, and I decided I wanted to help others just like she helped me.

Whitney: How did you decided to be Hematology nurse?

Nurse S: I actually started out at Cincinnati’s Children’s in Neurology  and when I moved to Columbus, that’s the department I wanted to work in, but there were no job openings in those specialties.  The only two positions available were in Hematology and the PICU and I chose to become a nurse in hematology and I have been here ever since. 

Whitney: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Nurse S: Definitely being able to ease parents and children’s minds.  Whether it’s helping the patient through the poke of an IV or soothing the child while I give their meds through their port— I’m doing what that nurse did for me.  Making the day easier for my patients is the most rewarding part for me.

Whitney: What’s the most difficult aspect of your job?

Nurse S: Death is definitely the most difficult aspect of this job, because you get close to your patients, getting to know them and their families.  I don’t experience that as much as some since I work the day hospital and not in-patient, but what I have experienced is extremely difficult.

Whitney: How many years have you been a doctor? What facilities have you practiced at over the years?   

Dr. O: I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1988.  I completed training in general pediatrics from what was then called Columbus Children's Hospital (now Nationwide Children’s) in 1991. I completed fellowship training in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology from Children's National Medical Center in Washington DC in 1995. I was on staff as a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist at CNMC from 1995-1997. I came back to Nationwide Children's in Columbus in 1997.  

Whitney: What made you decide on hematology/ oncology as a specialty? 

Dr. O: My original goal was to practice in an academic medical center. I was planning on working primarily in the lab doing research and spending about 20% clinical time (patient care). As it turned out I have spent most of my career in patient care. I've focused most of that time in the area of pediatric brain tumors.

Whitney: What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

Dr. O: For most of us doing this type of work, the most difficult aspect of the job is the unknown. When we can't help a patient overcome their illness because medical science hasn't found all the answers, we as caregivers can feel frustrated.  That doesn't mean we give up on the patient, but we focus our attention on symptom relief and anticipating problems rather than a cure. 

Whitney: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Dr. O: I find the "reward" comes from the fact that we’ve treated each patient as I would want my family member or own child to be treated.  Even if medicine couldn't cure the patient's condition, I know we provided the best medical care possible.   

Whitney: We’re coming up on 19 years of you being my doctor. Is there a memory you have looking back on these 19 years?

Dr. O: I distinctly remember reading all the medical reports from the other institutions you were seen at before you came to Nationwide.  This was even before I met you.  I thought, I better be very prepared for this patient/ family. I even called the Immunology doctor in North Carolina to discuss you.  When I first saw your mother's notebook of all the details she had kept, I was happy I had done my homework.


Whitney: What advice do you have to foster a positive doctor/patient relationship? 

Dr. O:  Listen, Listen, Listen. There is no detail too small that a patient may be trying to tell you that could turn out to be important. Also, physicians would be better served if they were more humble and kept a sense of humor.  We don't know it all.