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In This Issue:
Justin Quinn shares a laugh with DFCI nurse Sandra Ruland, left, and BWH nurse Donna Dello Iacono during a recent visit to BWH.
After undergoing an operation to remove a recurring brain tumor, Justin Quinn’s post-surgery pain made him lose interest in everyday activities. He was unable to eat. He was depressed, discouraged, distraught, tearful and desperate. His pain did not respond to any of the outpatient approaches that were tried during a two-month period.
“I didn’t want to do anything,” said the 27-year-old, who loves dancing and singing.
His family was worried. But after seven days in the care of the Intensive Palliative Care Unit (IPCU) at BWH, Quinn is smiling again. “I feel like a new person,” said Quinn, who lives in a group home in Middleton.
Palliative care is often associated with terminal illness, but the work the palliative care service does through its consult and IPCU teams can help to alleviate distress of many types for patients at BWH, including those diagnosed with cancer, even at its earliest stages.
The IPCU team, which is part of the Division of Adult Palliative Care, is staffed with members of both BWH and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who together find treatment options.
This team approach is helping patients like Quinn. When Quinn’s physician, Jan Drappatz, MD, was alerted of his issues coping with pain, he referred Quinn to this service. Quinn was admitted to Tower 14C, and, in the care of BWH nurses, social workers, physician assistants and Chaplaincy staff, he received pain medication and learned to manage his medication, something that would be difficult at the group home where he lives.
“His pain is almost non-existent now,” said his father, Tom Quinn, of Gloucester. “He is back smiling and having a good life. I can’t say enough about the care he received and the support they offered us to deal with this issue.”
The palliative care teams care for 25 to 30 patients at a time throughout the hospital. Janet L. Abrahm, MD, chief of the Division of Palliative Care, cared for Quinn and spoke of the teamwork staff demonstrated in his care.
“He was in so much pain, but now with a routine in place, he is back to being himself. We couldn’t be happier,” said Abrahm. “Everyone pulled together to help him carry on with his daily life.”
Quinn’s family couldn’t agree more. Just before Easter, Quinn returned for a follow-up appointment and paid a visit to many of the people who cared for him, including BWH Neurosurgery nurse Donna Dello Iacono, MSN, RN, and DFCI Oncology nurse Sandra Ruland, RN.
“The Easter holiday means a lot to me, and to be able to come back and say thank you to everyone means a lot,” Quinn said.