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Elsa So had been working at MD Anderson as a night-shift nursing assistant for nine years when her daughter, Marivic, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and uterine cancer in March 2013.

And while the news came as a shock to both women, it was Elsa¡¯²õ intimate knowledge of MD Anderson that gave her hope while her daughter received treatment here.

¡°As an employee, I knew that MD Anderson would take good care of her because that¡¯²õ how I am with all of my patients,¡± Elsa says. ¡°I had faith in her care team. I knew that my daughter was in good hands.¡±

Balancing priorities

During Marivic¡¯²õ treatment, Elsa discovered an unexpected benefit of working here: being close enough to keep tabs on her daughter during the day.

¡°I was working in the same building she was admitted to twice,¡± Elsa says. ¡°So I just had to go down from the 16th floor to the 10th floor. I visited her during my breaks and lunch hour.¡±

Still, working all night and then acting as the primary caregiver for her daughter during the day took its toll. Sometimes Elsa felt like she was working a double shift ¡ª or even around the clock.

¡°It was hard because I saw the patients I was taking care of and how much pain some were in,¡± Elsa says. ¡°It broke my heart to see the same things happening to my daughter. I also couldn¡¯t sleep during the day because I wanted to know how she was doing and what her care team was planning.¡±

A new perspective

The most rewarding part of acting as Marivic¡¯²õ caregiver was getting to see MD Anderson as a parent instead of a nursing assistant.

¡°I finally understood how the other side feels,¡± Elsa says. ¡°Not as an employee treating a patient, but as a mother caring for her daughter.¡±

Elsa also received strong support from her co-workers ¡ª both as a colleague and a caregiver.

¡°They knew my daughter and were shocked to learn about her diagnosis,¡± Elsa says. ¡°They gave me advice and someone to talk to.¡±

Celebrating victory together

The day that Marivic was declared free of cancer, both women rejoiced. Now, Elsa supports her daughter by participating in events such as MD Anderson¡¯²õ Sprint for Life 5K Run/Walk, which raises money for ovarian cancer research.

¡°Because I work at MD Anderson, I see patients suffer from the side effects of treatment every day,¡± Elsa says. ¡°But even though Marivic had some, in the end, she came out of it stronger. And I am very grateful she was able to get treatment here.¡±

Advice for other caregivers

Elsa admits it was hard seeing her daughter face cancer, but she emphasizes the importance of maintaining a good attitude.

¡°There are a lot of times when you may feel helpless,¡± Elsa says. ¡°But if you think you're feeling tired and drained, just think what a cancer patient is feeling. So stay positive and keep smiling.¡±