Dedicated, Caring Providers — from a calming voice and a caring touch, to outstanding volunteerism and community outreach, Backus Hospital is comprised of a team of compassionate providers who are dedicated to the people they serve.

Patient's Voice

The bad news came in the form of a cold,impersonal phone call.The doctor (not from the Norwich area) not only said I had cancer, but it was small-cell form of cancer that was indicative of lung cancer.

The first thing that crossed my mind were the nurses from Backus Hospital and Eastern Connecticut Hematology and Oncology (ECHO), whom I had come to know in my role as store manager of the Dress Barn in Norwich.

After I picked myself up off the floor, I called ECHO, crying hysterically. I said I didn't know what to do, and I was looking for guidance. Gina, who answered the phone, said,"Don't worry. We are going to take good care of you. Can you be in at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning?"

That was the beginning of my journey with Dr.Dinesh Kapur (Medical Director of Cancer Services at Backus). Every step of the way, I have encountered a team of medical professionals who are passionate about what they do. They are there to make a difference, and it is clearly reflective in patient care.

For me, that patient care involved myriad tests, surgery and support over a short period of time. After my ultrasound,Dr. Felicia Cuomo was able to perform my biopsy the same night. She stayed late, hand-walked my medication down from the pharmacy — she went above and beyond the call of duty. Before my mastectomy,Dr.Donna Romito performed a bronchoscopy. When I was put under anesthesia,Dr.Romito asked if I was OK. I said I was scared, so she held my hand and gave me a hug and said,"We are going to take good care of you."

Following these diagnostic procedures, I was told that I had breast cancer and referred to surgeon Dr.Randolph Helmholz, who had the most wonderful bedside manner. After he performed a modified radical mastectomy on my left breast and removed 23 lymph nodes (no lung cancer!), he came to my room the next morning and — in addition to discussing what had just happened — we watched the Today Show together. At Backus, you are treated like a human being, time is taken with you and you're not just a number.

Going from a platinum blond to a bald head was not easy, but the caregivers at Backus and ECHO help you every step of the way. Now, nine months since I was diagnosed, Dr.Kapur has taught me to live in the moment. And that's what I'm doing.

The one-on-one interaction I received throughout this ordeal has been absolutely phenomenal. When Dr.Kapur tells you something,he does so in a factual way, but he also says it with a kind heart. And that's important — sometimes it isn't what is being said to you,but the manner in which it is being said.

Even though the Backus Cancer Center is based in a community hospital, it's on a big-time scale. Backus delivers quality healthcare with a human touch.