Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting Spring 2023: President's Update
By Lisa Mancuso, BSN, RN, CCRN, CLCP, LNCC
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can all do small things with great love.” — Mother Teresa
I hope you will forgive me for a personal message this quarter (and I promise I’ll get back to business with our next issue of JLNC).
My husband, Col. Martin Spellacy (US Army, Ret.), was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January. This is still a diagnosis filled with dread—as a medical and nursing community, we don’t often hear about positive outcomes associated with this disease. (My own sister’s husband died of pancreatic cancer five years ago. I took care of him when he was dying; I can never “unsee” the devastating effects of pancreatic cancer on the human body.)
Immediately after Martin was diagnosed, I joined multiple online support groups and swiftly left them as I read one terrible tale after another. I knew my “people” weren’t going to be online.
I won’t bore you all with the details of the past few months, but on March 21st, Martin had surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Shout out to the best possible care! The team at MGH exceeded my expectations.) At the time I’m writing this, I can say to the best of our knowledge, Martin is cancer-free. (In the wise words of Mary Flanagan, our immediate Past President, “A chance to cut is a chance to cure.”) Martin is facing 10 years of surveillance before anyone else will say he’s cured, but we can handle that.
2023 has brought many health challenges to our AALNC membership. I obviously cannot disclose those difficulties, as they are not my stories to tell. However, I can assure you, readers, that when we call AALNC your “professional home,” this is so true. The AALNC community has supported me (and others dealing with health and personal issues) in every possible way. I went from profound despair to cautious hope with each conversation I had with AALNC members.
I want to offer a public “thank you” to everyone who sent cards, emails, text messages, phone calls, flowers, soup, cookies, ice cream, and bottles of wine (again, Mary Flanagan!) to support me and Martin. It means more than you will ever know. I received an amazing care package filled with magazines, colored pencils, “foul language” coloring pages, motivation notes, etc., that made me laugh and helped pass the time in the hospital. (JP and NM, you know who you are!) AALNC members who I have never met sent us wonderful, distracting novels. Maybe we need to start an AALNC book club?
Many of you sent me a list of television shows to get lost in. Before Martin’s diagnosis, I rarely watched TV. I can now say I have “binged” on programs. (Bridgerton; Schitt’s Creek; Downton Abby—how did I miss all these delightful shows?) My point is that the AALNC community knew what I needed, even though I had no idea myself, and I’m grateful.
Our association management team, likewise, has been so uplifting and supportive. Prayers from many different religious traditions were offered up for Martin. It is gratifying to experience diverse faith and to feel included.
When I joined AALNC in 2010, I expected to take part in exceptional education and networking. I knew if I “worked” my relationships within the organization, I would probably get some cases and learn a few things along the way. What I didn’t expect was that these LNCs would become such close friends.
If you are new to AALNC, I want to let you know you have found your tribe. If you have been here for a while, you already understand. AALNC is not the biggest organization I belong to, but without a doubt, it’s the organization with the biggest heart.