RNs create cookbook

When Anita Robinson, OBT, found out she had breast cancer in 2008, her co-workers rallied around her, and today they are still by her side.

Robinson works as an OB technician in Overland Park Regional Medical Center’s labor and delivery unit.

She had a double mastectomy on Christmas Eve in 2008, but last March her cancer returned.

“I’m going through another round of chemo,” Robinson said. “Right now I have to have weekly treatments.”

Doctors prescribed Robinson with 24 rounds of chemotherapy. Despite her therapy regimen, Robinson continues to work full time at Overland Park Regional. She said her co-workers provide the support and energy she needs to make it through her treatments.

“I can’t imagine myself not working,” Robinson said.

And Robinson’s co-workers said they cannot imagine the labor and delivery unit without her.

“She’s amazing,” Bree Fallon, RN, BSN, said. “She is one of the most kindhearted, inspirational people you’ve ever met.”

To help support Robinson during her second round of treatment, the labor and delivery staff created a cookbook with a collection of staff members’ favorite recipes. They printed the cookbook through Cookbook Publishers Inc. and sold the books for $10 each.

Proceeds from the cookbook sales go to Robinson to help supplement the cost of her treatment.

The nurses who organized the cookbook did not tell everyone that the cookbook would be a tribute and fundraiser for Robinson.

Fallon said they wanted Robinson to be surprised when they presented her with the cookbook.

The cookbooks arrived in the labor and delivery unit in December before Christmas.

They have sold almost 250 copies so far and are ready to order a second batch.

“The response has been so good,” Fallon said. “Hopefully we can just keep selling them.”

Robinson submitted some of her recipes for the cookbook. She said she had no idea that the book was a fundraiser for her.

The book includes a tribute to Robinson on the first page.

“I was very moved,” Robinson said. “The fact that there are so many different names (as recipe contributors), that says that everyone pitched in.”

Fallon said she received support from nurses and staff throughout the unit to create the book.

“There are recipes from almost every single person,” said Amy Cono, RN, BSN, who helped organize the cookbook.

Several people in the unit bought multiple cookbooks to give as gifts during the holidays.

Mary Vogt, RN, BSN, bought seven books.

“It’s nice to give gifts that have a cause behind it,” Vogt said.

Interim Director of Labor and Delivery Heather Scruton, RN, agrees.

“It’s more than just a cookbook,” Scruton said.

Overland Park Regional plans to sell the cookbooks in its gift shop and Fallon said she hopes to have a Web site up soon so people can purchase the cookbooks online.

“Everybody loves them,” Fallon said.

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Write comment