Community Magazine July 2021

26 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE THE RED CARPET TREATMENT While, of course, the Cancer Center is focused on providing the best medical treatment, both physical and mental, there is another facet of care that is tremendously appreciated by the patients and their families. Zarif continues, “Nancy called me a few days before I was supposed to start chemo. ‘I booked a Broadway show for you tonight, and dinner at Le Marais.’ My husband was reluctant to accept the extravagance, but I knew it was a treat we could not refuse. That night was the first time in months that we did not talk about my disease, the chemo, or our problems. There were more dinners to follow, on a beach, by a pool, and even hotel stays. But that night was the first, and it had tremendous impact. We reflect on it often.” Tami recalls a similar story, “At the end of April, Nancy invited Ralph and me to have a beautiful five-course dinner in a lovely backyard in Manhattan Beach. Just us and the waiter. She wouldn’t take no for an answer, and it was really magnificent. My husband is a quiet guy; he doesn’t like a fuss to be made, but this was nice. We got a cheesecake on Shavuot, flowers on Shabbat. There’s always something special, and it’s nice to know someone is thinking of us.” Zarif continues, “Throughout my treatment, I kept asking Nancy, ‘What if it doesn’t work?’ and she would answer, ‘What if it does?’ When I was in the hospital for a month the Cancer Center helped get me a nurse, sent meals to my home every day, and delivered gifts to my kids - which really distracted them, and helped. When I finally came home, they set up a lunch for my husband andme by someone’s pool, and a dinner on the beach. I had many food restrictions then because of the treatment, but they paid attention to the details. It is a beautiful formof hesed , and it forced us to forget about everything for a little while. I can’t justify how much she helped me. It’s the medical part, yes. But more so, afterwards, emotionally. I’m self-sufficient, organized, and in control. I’ve been working most of my married life. To say I need help is hard for me. But Nancy and her teamunderstood. They might be the only ones who did.” YOUR FIRST PHONE CALL Joey Shamie continues, “Confidentiality is a burden that a cancer patient does not need. I encourage anyone that is going through these issues to open up and share, and accept the warmth and love that is around us. I am blessed to have the very best team in Adrienne and my children, who have never missed a single doctor’s appointment and have been by my side throughout. Adrienne keeps me positive and helps me concentrate on my amazing life. We are also blessed to have so many friends who come and offer support; both emotionally and effectively. Of course, I wish I never had it. But if I am honest, my experience over the last year has been the most rewarding of my life. Every person, gesture, doctor, nurse, and technician has helped steer me towards recovery. From the head of the hospital to the young ladies who take my blood, I cannot thank them enough. Know that everyone is going through it with you. And that everything you put out there in the world, comes right back to you.” Tami continues, “Ralph said that knowing that I had Nancy to hold my hand made his journey easier. Obviously, everyone’s taking care of him; he was glad to know that someone was tending to me, too. From the beginning Nancy treated us like she has nothing better to do and no one else to worry about, no matter how busy she was. At a time when you’re so vulnerable, it feels good to have someone in your corner who is so experienced and knowledgeable. She makes us feel like she is fully in charge of our care. It’s hard, but she makes it all a little easier.” Dr. Herbert Pardes, Vice Chairman of NY Presbyterian Hospital explained, “On the one hand you can give surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. But if you pay full attention to the emotional and psychological needs of the individual like they do at the Cancer Center, you can expect better overall results. It is all interconnected.” The Morris I. Franco Cancer and Referral Center helps their patients with anything and everything imaginable, going above and beyond over and over again. Leaving no stone unturned, they are one of a kind. Their goal is to get their patients well, and they are very, very good at it. For more information about the Cancer Center and medical referrals, call (718) 787-1800 or visit us at nycancercenter.org . Joey Shamie with his hero in life, his dad, Louie Shamie, a''h. “We sat in the doctor’s office calmly, awaiting a routine answer of ‘all is well.’ When the doctor gave us the news that my husband had stage 4 prostate cancer, we were shocked. ‘This is the kind of cancer you can die from, not the kind you live with,’ he said. I was sweating, and the whole room began to spin; we did not understand. We spoke with our children, and the next call I made was to Nancy Sutton. She picked up on one ring, from Israel. It was 2am there. ‘What do you need,’ she asked. I was hysterical. The next day she had us in the very best doctor’s office, in Sloan Kettering. Nancy was by our side 24/7 and held my hand every step of the way. Her expertise, connections and advice helped save my husband’s life.” - Adrienne Shamie