Photo Karen Graham.
Nancy Hannah.
She has a reputation for making even the most threatening needle glide in painlessly, and her confidence, compassion and sense of humour were all on display behind the counter and in the examination room. After 36 years supporting family doctors in the Millbrook Medical Centre, Nancy is calling it a day.
Her contributions to the clinic’s staff and patients go beyond medical. Having been born and raised in the area, she knew all of the local connections and was able to provide helpful background information to medical staff
When she started at the clinic, it was staffed by Drs. Van Loon and Liston. Dr. Van Loon describes Nancy as “a been a great medical partner for a remarkable 36 years. She has left to the community of Cavan, Millbrook and beyond an enviable legacy of highly skilled nursing service.”
Dr. Liston worked with Nancy for his entire 29 year career, and credits her independence and initiative with making things go more smoothly in his practice. She anticipated patient needs and was happy to perform whatever task needed to be done. Never one to duck the hard questions, Nancy’s honesty and directness inspired the trust of her colleagues and patients alike.
Her persistence and exacting standards ensured her credibility amongst her co-workers and peers in other offices, which helped her secure solutions for patients who required assistance from other health professionals.
Mark and Andrea Robinson have worked with Nancy since Dr. Liston’s retirement six years ago. They describe Nancy’s impact on the job, saying “Nancy has provided care for generations of families throughout her career. She has touched the lives of innumerable people, and for that, we and the community are forever grateful. We will miss her dearly as a colleague and friend and we wish her the happiest of retirements.”
Unlike most nursing jobs, working in a clinic allows regular work hours, something Nancy has always appreciated. Over the years, she has also appreciated how patients welcome her into their lives. She doesn’t seem to realize how special that is.
While she may be best known for her needle skills as she injects or withdraws fluids, her favourite part of her job has been seeing the babies. For the first year of their lives, she sees them regularly, a witness to their quick transformation from infants to little people. Lately she is seeing babies born of residents who were themselves amongst her first baby patients. She sees that as a sign that it’s time to move on.
Nancy looks forward to waking up without an alarm, finishing a list of neglected projects around the house and spending more time with family, particularly her teenage granddaughters. Her energy and initiative will ensure she finds new avenues for stimulation, which she expects will include some volunteer work and perhaps a course that is NOT related to nursing- a second language, perhaps? Thanks for everything Nancy. KG
