A Graduation Ceremony Against All Odds: Oncology Nurse Honors a Student’s Final Wish  

September 26, 2024

By Tammy Krogh, MSN, RN, OCN®  

In my college town in Iowa, I met a remarkable graduate student from Kenya who was pursuing a master’s degree in aerospace engineering. His story started in high school, where his journey took a devastating turn after he was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, initially localized to his left thigh. After completing treatment, he was declared cancer-free, but he lost track of follow-up care upon moving to the United States for his studies. Six years later, the cancer recurred, now metastatic.   

When he presented to our hospital, his condition had worsened significantly. His mother, notified of his critical state, raced from Kenya to Iowa. He was in the intensive care unit, on the brink of needing a ventilator, yet his spirit remained unbroken. In our conversations, he shared a powerful motivation: In his culture, education is everything, and he wanted nothing more than to earn his diploma for his mother.   

Despite his deteriorating health and difficulty breathing, we were determined to honor his wish. I reached out to Iowa State University to verify his academic standing. The university confirmed that he had met all the requirements for his master's degree, including a double major in aerospace and civil engineering.   

With the support of the university dean’s office and the incredible staff at Mary Greeley Medical Center, we quickly organized a graduation ceremony. We arranged for a cake, and his mother and 16 of his classmates attended. The patient donned donated regalia, and as “Pomp and Circumstance” played from an iPhone, two of his professors entered the room. The ceremony was brief but profoundly meaningful.   

This experience exemplifies the dedication and compassion that oncology nurses bring to their work. By helping him achieve his final goal, we honored his wish and provided him with a sense of accomplishment and peace. I am proud to have been a part of this significant moment in his life.   

ONS member Tammy Krogh, MSN, RN, OCN®, is an oncology hematology RN at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, IA. 


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