Less than a year ago I had a very pleasant and lengthy experience at the PIMC Cancer Care Center. As the result of a major internal infection that developed following an upper-arm orthopedic surgery, I was medically required to undergo six weeks of daily antibiotic infusions prescribed by physicians at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle. The Cancer Care Center at PIMC is equipped to do these infusions.

The attention of all the nurses, pharmacists, and Unit Coordinator, led by Dawn Alger, RN, was absolutely perfect! Two off-island appointments were required during this antibiotic therapy, and all my medical arrangements were made by the PIMC Cancer Care staff without a single error. On one of those occasions, due to a broken ferry, Nurse Dawn stayed late to provide my daily infusion when I returned from the mainland.

Because I was required to have daily infusions, and since the clinic and the Cancer Care Center are closed on weekends, arrangements were made for me to enter the hospital through the Emergency Department on Saturdays and Sundays. The infusions were given in one of the patient rooms, administered by one of the nurses in the ED.

Several days after starting my infusions, Nurse Dawn presented me with a beautiful quilt made by one of the Cancer Care Center volunteers. What a great way to start my six weeks in the “chemo chair”!

Can you imagine the expense, travel time, and other inconveniences if our Cancer Care Center were not here? My wife and I would have either had to spend a huge amount of money and time transiting back and forth to Anacortes by ferry daily, or we would have had to find a temporary place to live on the mainland. All of us islanders should be very appreciative of the many normal and special services that Peace Island Medical Center provides for us.

Bill Bates

San Juan Island