The calling of health care: From pregnant cancer patient to oncology nurse leader

Working in health care is a calling that requires compassion, resilience and a deep understanding of the human experience. Missy Rock, a nurse manager on the Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center oncology unit and an Essentia colleague for 14 years, embodies this calling in her work and through her remarkable story.

In 2007, while 22 weeks pregnant with her second child, Rock received an unexpected diagnosis: cancer.

At the time, she lived in Gilbert, Minnesota, with her 2-year-old son, Dakota, and received care at the Essentia clinic in Hibbing. Rock said her care team detected unsettling and critically low hemoglobin levels through a routine pregnancy blood test, and she was swiftly sent to Duluth.

“My doctor couldn’t believe I was even up walking,” Rock recalled. “I was told to pack an overnight bag and go to (the former) St. Mary’s Medical Center.”

Not knowing the journey ahead, Rock’s “overnight” trip turned into a four-month stay when further tests revealed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a highly aggressive cancer in her blood and spinal fluid. Under the skilled guidance of oncologist Dr. Lloyd Ketchum, she began rigorous chemotherapy treatments.

Rock faced this challenge head-on, armed with a can-do attitude, determination to live for her children and a glass-half-full sense of humor, as well as support from friends and family, who helped deliver extra essentials and comforts from home when Rock’s hospital stay turned out to be longer than expected.

Family first: Parenting, giving birth amid cancer treatment

Even among everything going on, Rock continued to raise her young son, where some common parenting experiences took on unique twists within the hospital environment.

“Dakota was going through potty training at the hospital due to his age and the circumstances of my treatment,” Rock said. “The nurses were great. They used to give him prizes for potty training and would roll those old-school TV carts into the room so we could watch Disney movies.”

During her time at St. Mary’s, Rock also gave birth to her baby girl, Angel, who is now 17 years old.

“In a way, being pregnant with Angel may have saved my life,” she said. “That’s why she’s named Angel. After she was born, she had to come with me for the rest of my treatments. Dr. Ketchum and the nurses were hesitant at first, but then surprised me with a bassinet, formula and diapers to help out.”

The relationships Rock formed while a patient at St. Mary’s have lasted. Many of those who cared for her have become colleagues and friends today.

The importance of support: Rock’s journey continues

Another important step in Rock’s treatment plan in 2007 was a stem cell transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. For months, over the holiday season, they waited. The transplant required Rock and her family to stay in an apartment near the hospital throughout this process.

“I remember finally getting the call at Walmart shopping with the kids,” Rock said. “I was like, ‘What? There’s a match! ’ ”

More chemotherapy, radiation and testing in preparation for the stem cell transplant taught Rock an important lesson.

“It’s important to have support,” she added. “I went into the clinic alone for tests because it was too much to bring the kids with. This was only one day, but involved many, many tests to ensure I could receive stem cells. Essentially, the doctors wanted to track the baseline of my body’s functionality to know how the medications would affect certain organs, and I sat there hearing the risks and potential side effects of everything by myself.

"I told myself, ‘Don’t do anything else alone.’ ”

Empowering caregivers, inspiring patients to keep fighting

After a successful transplant and sluggish months of follow-up appointments, it was time for Rock to get back to a normal rhythm of life.

Rock’s journey as a cancer patient and her interactions with the compassionate health care professionals she encountered along the way solidified her desire to work in health care.

She initially went to school to be a nutritionist, but was encouraged by the nurses who cared for her to pursue a career in nursing. Rock completed nursing school, and with the support of Dr. Ketchum, who wrote her a letter of reference, Rock joined Essentia in 2010 and started working on the oncology unit.

Today, she oversees the St. Mary’s oncology and transport teams, offering her team members and patients alike special perspectives of what it means to be in oncology.

“I’m able to be the leader I am today because I’ve been in every position on our floor, literally,” Rock added. “I remember the people who were really good to me, and I have the privilege to be able to do that for other patients. There’s no better feeling than knowing we’re making a difference in people’s lives. Because we do, every day.”

With her words and actions, Rock inspires others to keep fighting, keep moving and keep living. Her incredible journey from pregnant cancer patient to nurse leader of an oncology unit exemplifies the compassion, resilience and understanding that’s rooted in the calling of health care — and is a reminder of the lasting impact we have on the lives of our patients every day.