Cancer patient inspired by compassionate care from his infusion nurse
Bill Bruce is no stranger to hospitals and medical care.
As a child Bill was hospitalized for numerous conditions. In his adult years he had extended stays in the hospital for blood clots and experimental surgery for polycystic kidney disease (PKD). In 2008 he received a kidney transplant to treat the PKD. In 2009 he had a bilateral nephrectomy to remove his original kidneys. In 2022 he was diagnosed with colon cancer. All this to say, Bruce could “write the hospital travel guide for Frommer’s” and certainly knows how important the connection between a care team and a patient is for healing.
During his most recent experience with colon cancer, Bruce met Lindsey Schmidt, BAN, RN, OCN, an infusion nurse at the M Health Fairview Masonic Cancer Clinic in Minneapolis. She helped him cope during one of the most difficult times in his life. When doctors discovered an 8-centimeter tumor in his colon, Bruce found it difficult to start infusion chemotherapy and go through treatment. Chemotherapy would first shrink the tumor enough for surgeons to safely remove it along with part
of Bruce’s colon. As a result, Bruce learned he would need an ileostomy bag to help him eat and drink normally, something which devastated him.
Because of the painful side effects to his body from his other medical conditions, he was extremely reticent to undergo surgery. Thankfully, the strong support of his family and Schmidt’s unending compassion during the early days of his infusion treatments inspired him to move forward with the treatment.
It was Schmidt’s professionalism and “buoyant empathy” that inspired Bruce to think differently about his medical condition. His infusion sessions sometimes lasted 8 hours where he and Schmidt spent time talking about life, about treatment, and she even listened to Bruce’s music. Even on days when she wasn’t scheduled to see him, Schmidt would check-up on Bruce. He took this above-and-beyond behavior to heart.
“Lindsey genuinely cares,” Bruce said. “Lindsey had that extra magic that was inspiring and extremely genuine. She also really knows her trade as a nurse. Lindsey shared with me that her nursing practice has always been a combination of both a science and an art. I truly felt like I wasn’t just another patient.”
Schmidt remembers Bruce’s warmth and kindness more than anything else.
“He always went out of his way to be kind to staff, finding time to say hello to me at every infusion appointment." she said. “The patient experience is often exhausting but his positive energy made an impactful difference for everyone involved. He’s such a memorable patient.”
After five infusion sessions, Bruce underwent surgery led by Cyrus Johansouz, MD, an M Health Fairview colon and rectal surgeon, and Eric Wise, MD, a general surgeon. Both Jahansouz and Wise are also assistant professors at University of Minnesota Medical School. On Apr. 4, 2023, the team safely removed his tumor along with part of Bruce’s colon to reduce the risk of infection. Once fitted with the ileostomy bag, Bruce was ready for the next phase of treatment.
Guided by Aazim Omer, MD, an M Health Fairview oncologist and faculty member with University of Minnesota Medical School and his team, Bruce continued with chemotherapy treatment after his surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.
Buoyed by Schmidt and supported by his expert team of surgeons and physicians, including his primary care physician Joseph Ofstedal, MD, Bruce began to turn the tide on his cancer. On Bruce’s last day of treatment, Schmidt knew she had to be there to celebrate the extra-special milestone, so she made sure to schedule herself to be his infusion nurse.
“It was a very nice personal touch,” Bruce said. “It really meant a lot to me.”
There was applause when Bruce was connected to his chemotherapy pump for the last time.
"Cancer creates so much fear. The beginning of treatment is filled with many unanswered questions and the big unknown." Schmidt said. "Equipping patients with education, agency and a supportive treatment environment is so important. It's wonderful to make that difference on a day-to-day basis."
Bruce was so moved by the care Schmidt provided that he nominated her for a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. But that wasn’t all he did to show his appreciation for the care he received. Bruce also wrote the song “Wonderful Blue” to honor his journey with colon cancer and to say ‘thank you’ to the care teams who walked with him through it all. “Blue” in the title is a nod to the traditional blue scrubs worn by care providers and nurses like Schmidt. The "Blue" in their scrubs reminded him of the color of the earth, the sky and the ocean and how he didn't feel alone in his journey through recovery surrounded by his care team. The song will be on an album that Bill recorded while going through treatment. The album titled "Life on Planet Earth" is currently being mixed at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in England and will be released in the fall. Bill used music as therapy to help him focus on positive things through the healing process.
“I couldn’t have gotten through this without help from so many people,” he said. “From infusion to surgery to recovery, I had so many nurses who did heroic things.”
By taking a personalized approach to cancer care, our teams deliver specialized care to every patient and type of cancer we see – all in one place. Our partnership with the Masonic Cancer Center provides access to advanced treatment options and lifechanging care.
