UI Health Leukemia/Hematology Oncology Nurse Navigator Kattie Czopkiewicz, BSN, RN, was inspired to pursue a career in oncology nursing by her Aunt Cindy, who died from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2013. Since then, Czopkiewicz has participated in the annual Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) “Light The Night” event. She joined UI Health last year and is now helping to lead its Light the Night team for the event this year on October 26 at Soldier Field in Chicago to celebrate, honor and remember those touched by blood cancers.
“From my days as an inpatient night shift hematology oncology nurse to my days here at UI Health as the leukemia nurse navigator, I can honestly say that not a shift goes by that I don’t have my Aunt Cindy in the back of my mind to help keep me grounded and remind me why I do what I do. This year will be my 12th year participating in the Light the Night walk in support of the LLS and I’m so excited to share this experience and cause that’s so close to my heart with members of the University of Illinois Cancer Center! From both personal experience with my aunt, to my work now, I’ve seen up close the havoc blood cancers cause in the lives of both patients and their families and just how vital resources and support are during and after a blood cancer diagnosis to serve as a lifeline when patients need it the most. I am so grateful for LLS and all the important work they do from their research for life saving treatments, advocacy work and free education and support services available to blood cancer patients and caregivers as well as healthcare professionals. Light the Night is all about fostering hope instead of despair by working to ensure access to treatments for all blood cancers as well as bringing communities together to celebrate those who are still fighting and honor those we’ve lost. I can’t wait to bring some light to the darkness of cancer by raising my lantern in honor of Aunt Cindy as well as all my past, present and future patients alongside my colleagues at this year’s Light the Night event.”