It Takes Everyday Heroes to Help Patients Fight Cancer

Leesa Crapa, a cancer patient who lives in Cape Coral, sends a special ‘thank you’ to Dara Leichter, Breast Health Navigator for LMHS.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June and received a mastectomy and chemotherapy treatment. I have received nearly all of my care at the Regional Cancer Center and the Outpatient Center at the Sanctuary. That is where I met Dara Leichter. She’s my angel.

Where do I begin? I know that her job is to help breast cancer patients navigate their journeys, and that is exactly what she has done for me. Even in the very beginning when I didn’t know for sure if I had cancer, she helped me fill out paperwork for Medicaid because I do not have health insurance. When I got my diagnosis, she immediately mailed the papers out.

When it came time for the mastectomy, it was Dara who explained about the fluid buildup that would occur after the surgery and how I would have two drains in my body to release the fluid. I would have had no idea about that if it hadn’t been for Dara! It’s those kids of things that not everyone thinks about—that is what she thinks about.

My mother died four years ago, and I don’t want to burden my children by talking about my illness too much. The only person I have to talk to about this is my boyfriend, Dan. When Dan can’t take any more, I call Dara. She listens when I cry. She listens when I complain. She listens when I’m mad. I feel like she’s one of my closest friends. I’m getting choked up about this right now, and so is Dan.

Without Dara, I wouldn’t have known where to begin. I cannot tell you where we would be without her.

Every week we will feature an act of kindness, “honey,” committed by an LMHS employee, physician or volunteer. If you have a story to share, please e-mail it to the Queen Bees at LeeBee@LeeMemorial.org