"This would not be bearable without the nurses."
  That's the way one patient at the Freeman Cancer Institute described the role of nurses and the help they provide patients.

In our Freeman Buddy Check 16 report, we meet two nurses who make a world of difference every day.

Connie Mock is working with breast cancer patient Michael. She works at the cancer institute as a chemo and triage nurse.

  It's a role, she's kept close to her heart for years.

"Hopefully you can do something, working directly with the patients"

   Connie serves as a lifeline for her patients, often times helping them with arranging a social worker, or getting the services they need.  And, she knows the value of having so much time with her patients.

"As you work with them, might be having"

   Connie says it's sometimes hard when she sees her patients struggling through a rough time, but she knows that's part of the job.

"You get pretty attached sometimes to these patients"

Mag Seedorf, works as a nurse practitioner at the cancer institute..

  Today she's helping Jayme through her first round of chemo.

"Sometimes I think we are kind of the tour guides chosen for them"

  Mag says she's seen the way laughter can help patients and provide some normalcy during a tough time.

  She also says providing patients with some perspective helps.

  "We have cancer, doesn't mean you are dying, it's not a death sentence"

  Even for patients who may be in advanced stages of cancer, Mag says they provide the best quality of life for as long as they can.

   While some may think it may be a hard place to work, Mag says she wouldn't trade it for anything she loves it here.

"Hey, it doesn't get any better than this,very, very fortunate to be here"

   Mag and Connie say they encourage patients to try to maintain as normal a life as is possible while undergoing treatment.