
- Extraordinary Healers Vol. 13
- Volume 13
- Issue 1
Sharing Her Gifts and Talents: A Breast Cancer Survivor and Registered Nurse
In this essay, registered nurse Patricia Campbell of Charlene’s Dream in Daytona Beach, Florida, nominates her colleague and fellow registered nurse Eliani Berman for the 2019 CURE® Extraordinary Healer® Award.
She is salsa, fire, glamour, kindness and the Energizer Bunny all rolled into one perfectly coiffured package! Eliani Berman is a registered nurse and a
From left: Patricia Campbell, B.S.N., RN, and Eliani Berman, RN. Photos by Duane Van Horn.
Eliani sits on the governing board of the Florida nonprofit organization
Charlene’s Dream is a 100 percent volunteer-run program. Our facilitators are oncology professionals, and many are cancer survivors themselves. We identified a need within our community. In the Daytona Beach, Florida, area, many patients are treated at different doctors’ practices. We found that sometimes those with cancer do not get enough information to help them cope with their disease effectively. Our goal was to supplement by providing more information and support for those affected by cancer.
Charlene’s Dream classes, support groups and special events for those affected by cancer are held in the evening, after the workday. The goal is to make all events fun and welcoming.
At first, Eliani came to meetings as a breast cancer survivor. The Girls’ Night Out support group was led by her mentor and former nurse navigator. Eliani wanted to become more involved, so she volunteered to help out any way she could. She looked around at a group of well-intentioned nurses and decided that if we were going to become a successful nonprofit, we could benefit by incorporating some of the lessons she had learned in the business world. She helped us organize, advertise, give interviews and raise donation money. We loved that Eliani took on the role of “wrangling” all of us, and we made her our official public relations director.
Since Eliani joined us, we have raised more money through donations and grants, and more patients are using our services as the word about us gets out into the community.
Still wanting to help patients individually, Eliani agreed to co-facilitate the
Eliani is a great reminder that we all have many gifts and talents to share with others. In these days when medical costs are so high and hospital budgets are so strained, it would behoove us to remember that those who may not work as a nurse every day in a conventional way can still use their gifts to benefit others by volunteering in the right way. When we think outside the box, perhaps that is when we are most creative and able to help others.
Articles in this issue
about 6 years ago
My Personal Cancer Championabout 6 years ago
A Dedicated, Energetic Healer and Pediatric Oncology Nurseabout 6 years ago
Healing Patients with Cancer on Small and Large Scalesabout 6 years ago
Tirelessly Committed to Nursing: An Extraordinary Oncology Nurseabout 6 years ago
Pediatric Oncology Nurse Always Thinking of 'Her Kids'over 6 years ago
Encouraging Fitness and Fellowshipover 6 years ago
A Dynamic Problem Solverover 6 years ago
An Oncology Nurse at Heartover 6 years ago
Dedicated to Oncology