Lori and James Garner had raised their two children and were enjoying their time being empty nesters in Abilene. Then, in November of 2021, James was diagnosed with stage 4 follicular lymphoma.
“It turned our entire world upside down,” Lori says, referring to the days after the diagnosis. “We weren’t sure how to find the best place to go for treatment.” Because they were familiar with Baylor Scott & White Health, they did some research and found out that Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas has a long history of treating patients with blood and bone marrow cancers.
Lori visited the Baylor Scott & White patient navigation website and made contact. By 8:30 the next morning, she had received a call from Stacey Webb, manager of the Patient Navigation Program at Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center - Dallas.
“The entire process was so easy because of Stacey,” Lori says. “She had read every word of our intake form and already knew so much about James. It really touched my heart. She talked us through what she was going to do for us and outlined all of our next steps. She gave us a sense of hope for the first time since his diagnosis.”
Educating and advocating, so patients and families can focus on healing
With a focus on providing a personalized approach and ongoing support throughout the cancer journey, patient navigators help patients and their loved ones from diagnosis, throughout treatment and into survivorship. Navigators are there to offer guidance to patients and their families every step of the way.
“A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming,” says Webb. “The patient is fighting for their life and doesn’t have time to think about all of the details or how to deal with any problems that may arise as they try to receive care and treatment. That is what we, as patient navigators, are here for. We educate patients about their diagnosis and help them understand their next steps so they can make informed decisions.”
“It is really a privilege to help patients and families on their cancer journey. I get to spend quality time with the entire family unit, in addition to the patient. Caregivers are always part of the care, even in an outpatient setting. I love helping them find the resources they need to be successful,” she adds.
Patients with cancer and their families face obstacles that they might not have even thought about. For instance, the Garners needed to travel back and forth from Abilene to Dallas for treatment — adding logistical challenges to what was already set up to be a long health journey, both physically and emotionally.
But before Lori could even start worrying about the driving, Stacey helped coordinate a stay for the Garners at the American Cancer Society Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge. Hope Lodge provides a free “home away from home” for patients and their caregivers. More than just a roof over their heads, it’s a nurturing community that helps patients access the care they need.
Patients traveling for cancer care in the metroplex can be eligible to stay at Hope Lodge at no cost. For the Garners, a greater benefit was the close proximity to Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, where James was receiving treatment.
“Staying at Hope Lodge really made us feel like we were at home, and it is so convenient to Baylor University Medical Center,” says Lori. “I was able to prepare our own meals, and it really helped that we didn’t have to pay for a hotel. The staff went above and beyond to take care of both of us. They took care of me so I could take care of my husband.”
Baylor Scott & White is committed to giving every patient who walks through the doors of its cancer centers access to a patient navigator to walk alongside them. Generous philanthropic support through the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation helps the system provide these patient navigation services, free of charge, to patients across North Texas. In fact, over the past two years, a focused effort backed by philanthropy has helped extend navigation services — tailoring support to patients who stay at the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge and for those receiving inpatient cancer treatment at Baylor Scott & White T. Boone Pickens Cancer Hospital, North Texas’ first dedicated cancer hospital.
“Every cancer patient should have a patient navigator to help them on their cancer journey,” Webb says. “Many patients might not know that there are patient navigators available to help them. It is daunting to have to deal with so many aspects of this diagnosis. I feel blessed to get to walk alongside them on the journey and help them with all aspects of it.”
“I can’t imagine how we would have navigated this cancer process without Stacey,” Garner says. “She made something so scary and difficult seem easy and comfortable. She is our angel of hope.”
More than two years later, James is in remission, and the Garners are back to enjoying being empty nesters. “We don’t have grandkids yet, but are enjoying our grandpups, grandcows and grandhorses,” Lori says. “We cannot thank Stacey and the entire Baylor staff enough for all they did to give us our life back.”
Patient navigators help patients with cancer and their families in a wide variety of ways:
- Early intervention and prevention, including support and information regarding cancer screenings and referrals
- Patient advocacy and support, as well as assistance finding resources
- Coordination of appointments and care
- Removing barriers to care
- Education and empowerment to make informed medical decisions
- Management of cancer-related side effects
- Improved communication with the care team
For more information about patient navigators at Baylor Scott & White, visit BSWHealth.com/Cancer.