The entrance of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center-Kearney is drenched in natural light. Twinkling Christmas trees stand in every corner, waiting to welcome patients and their families. Everything is shiny and new, from the chairs in the infusion therapy area to the spacious new lab to the TrueBeam radiation therapy system. But the building had been missing its most important feature: The team who will treat cancer patients.
As the sun set through the spacious windows on Dec. 3, those colleagues came home for an official welcome and ribbon cutting.
“Each and every one of us here tonight makes it feel like home for each other and, more importantly, for our patients,” said Shannon Bauer, case management nurse. “So although we may be a little nervous and excited for Dec. 16, I know without a doubt we will be at home here, too.”
Kearney colleagues toured the 53,000-square-foot facility, taking in the healing garden, resource center and inviting fireplaces. But what stood out to most is how much more room they have.
“Everyone is looking forward to spreading out,” said Lecia Junker, infusion nurse. “One thing I’m really excited about is that when family members come, they will be able to sit with their family member who’s getting treatment. Sometimes when families come, there’s no open chairs.”
It was an emotional evening for everyone, including Cynthia Lewis, MD, the center’s medical director and Nebraska Medicine hematologist-oncologist.
“Everybody on our team is just so on board to give better care and more extensive care and clinical trials and more support services to support our patients,” Dr. Lewis said. “And now having radiation under our same roof is just kind of a dream come true, although I didn’t dream it three or four years ago. It’s just kind of overwhelming that it’s come to fruition.”
Nebraska Medicine CEO and Board Chair Jim Linder, MD, spoke about the beginning of the partnership with Dr. Lewis and Heartland Hematology and Oncology that eventually led to the construction of the facility.
“The thing that made us certain this was the right partner for Nebraska Medicine cancer care was the recommendations we got from our own oncologists,” Dr. Linder said. “Because they said, ‘She takes care of patients like we do.’ And that was essential. Same thing with Dr. (Nick) Hartl.“
Media from Central Nebraska got an early look at the facility Wednesday afternoon. The cancer center will welcome community members for an open house on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. That event features appearances by Husker football legend Ahman Green and University of Nebraska at Kearney mascot Louie the Loper. The building will open to patients on Monday, Dec. 16. And the Kearney team will be ready for them.
“I just can’t believe what we have accomplished here and what we are going to accomplish in the future,” Dr. Lewis said.
That looks very nice! It will be great for the Community to get treatment closer to home.