The Unbreakable Bond of a Survivor and Nurse Navigator

When Calli K. first heard the words “stage 3 (III) lung cancer,” her world stopped. A wave of fear, uncertainty, and disbelief washed over her. She was just several weeks shy of her 50th birthday, and the life she knew came to a screeching halt. 

 But even amid that fear, something, or rather someone, became a lifeline. 

That someone was Jodi B., a program supervisor and nurse navigator for Sutter Health Lung Nodule and Cancer Screening Program in Sacramento, CA. They first spoke in December 2023 when Calli needed more than just a clinician, she needed an anchor. 

A lifesaver in scrubs

Calli had concerns about her assigned oncologist and was struggling with the anxiety of beginning treatment. In the face of that uncertainty, Jodi sprang into action. “She successfully reassigned me to an oncologist I had more faith in, which in turn alleviated my anxiety and set the stage for the fight of my life,” Calli said. “She is an angel on earth.”

The role of an oncology nurse navigator often goes far beyond scheduling appointments or delivering lab results. It’s a deeply human connection built on trust, compassion, and shared strength. For Calli, Jodi didn’t just navigate her through treatment; she became a constant presence, a safe harbor when everything else felt stormy.

The spirit behind the care

When asked to describe Jodi in 1 word, Calli didn’t hesitate: “Lifesaver.”

“Anything Jodi does makes me smile,” she said. “You can see how passionate she is about what she does, and that energy is contagious. It inspired and motivated me through the darkest days.”

Jodi wasn’t just a clinical guide; she was emotional support, a shoulder to lean on, and a gentle voice when the noise of cancer grew too loud. “She was a safe space to land if I had any questions,” Calli shares. “She made me feel comfortable. She still does to this day.”

The healing process is rarely linear, and emotional resilience is as critical as physical strength. Oncology nurse navigators like Jodi ensure patients never feel alone.

A shared motto, a deeper bond

Sometimes the universe leaves little signs that a connection is meant to be. For Calli and Jodi, that moment came in the form of a single sentence. It was one that had long shaped both of their lives.

At the bottom of each of Jodi’s emails under her signature, Calli noticed something that stopped her in her tracks: a familiar quote. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou.

It was Calli’s favorite quote. In fact, she wore it on a bracelet every single day.

“I squealed when I saw it,” Calli said. “I couldn’t believe it. That quote has been my life’s motto for as long as I can remember. There it was, at the end of Jodi’s email. It gave me goosebumps. I even got her a bracelet with it, too.”

For Jodi, the quote has been her compass since the beginning of her nursing career in 2011. “It’s always been my life quote on how to treat everyone I meet,” she says. “It eventually became my work motto, too. It’s how I show up for my patients, my team, and even strangers.”

The unexpected discovery of their shared belief in leading with compassion deepened the bond between them. What began as a patient and a nurse had grown into something more. It was a connection grounded in empathy, authenticity, and the kind of mutual understanding that can’t be taught.

“That quote says everything about who Jodi is,” Calli says. “And now, it’s something that connects us both in the most meaningful way.”

A calling from childhood

For Jodi, this work is more than a career; it’s a calling rooted in her family and upbringing.

“My mother worked as an oncology nurse for 36 years,” Jodi said. “Growing up, I visited her unit and met her patients. Seeing how much they appreciated her compassion sparked something in me.”

Those childhood visits planted seeds of purpose that would later grow into a life dedicated to helping others. Jodi became a fixture not only in hospitals but also in the community. She participates in cancer fundraisers and works to promote early detection and life-saving screenings.

“I knew from a young age that I wanted to be that comforting, smiling presence for patients during their hardest moments,” she said.

Learning through vulnerability

While she guides others through their fear and pain, Jodi admits she’s learned just as much from her patients as they learn from her. One experience in particular left a lasting impact: a young mother newly diagnosed with stage 4 (IV) cancer.

“I was trying to hide the tears I couldn’t hold back,” Jodi said. “But she saw them and showed me it was okay to be vulnerable. Since then, I have allowed myself to cry and mourn with my patients and their families. It’s a part of showing up for them—fully.”

That emotional openness is part of what makes Jodi’s support so profound. It’s not just about the knowledge she brings to the table but also about authenticity and human connection. It’s in the hugs, the check-ins, the texts long after treatment ends.

The ripple effect of care

Jodi believes being an oncology nurse has shaped not only her career but her entire life.
“It has given me tools and knowledge to help others, even those who aren’t my patients,” she said. “Whether it’s about cancer screenings or connecting people to community resources, I’ve learned how to advocate for all.”

Courage that inspires

Despite the emotional toll of the job, Jodi draws strength from the very people she supports.
“My patients inspire me every single day,” she said. “Their courage to face something so awful and unknown—it’s beyond words.”

For Calli, that courage was only possible because someone believed in her, stood beside her, and fought with her. That someone was Jodi.

“You are without a doubt fulfilling your life’s purpose,” Calli said. “And I love you for it.”

The invisible thread

The relationship between a patient and an oncology nurse navigator is often invisible to the outside world, but within the cancer journey, it’s a lifeline. It’s the steady hand when everything else feels like it’s slipping away. It’s the first text in the morning when a scan is looming, the squeeze of a hand before treatment starts, and the last hug when remission is achieved.

For Calli and Jodi, that bond became something transformative. It is proof that in the fight for life, the people who stand beside you matter just as much as the medicine.