Joanne Bloom Tanzer received treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma for 11 years. During that time, Joanne received the best possible care at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) before passing away in April 2020.
"Everything at Huntsman is first class," says Thomas "Tommy" Tanzer, Joanne鈥檚 husband, "Your people are heroes."
Tommy faced his own cancer diagnosis and received treatment at HCI as well. He says whenever he and Joanne walked down the hall to the chemo infusion center and looked out over the Salt Lake Valley, they knew they would be provided with hope.
In gratitude for the care and compassion Joanne received during her treatment at HCI, Tommy donated $10,000 in the summer of 2020 and wrote a letter expressing his gratitude to the teams at HCI. A part of that letter is shared here, with permission:
These brave men and women all took Joanne and me under their wings. They welcomed us each day as we went for exams and radiation therapy. They looked out for us like we were their family. They consoled us when appropriate and kicked us in the pants when that was called for.
They prolonged her life for many years. When she finally succumbed in mid-April 2020, they cried and mourned along with our family. Still and all, Huntsman Cancer Institute gave us every drop of care, love, and expertise possible.
Even though we eventually lost Joanne, her life was prolonged by the fabulous and caring efforts of her doctors and the entire support staff. Their kindness and involvement in our lives and our battle will never be forgotten.
Your staff are heroes who we will always be indebted to for their loving and competent care.
As part of Tommy鈥檚 letter of gratitude, he named many of those involved in Joanne鈥檚 care, including her primary care doctor, Anna Beck, MD, and her nurse, Vicki, Jonathan Tward, MD, PhD, David Gaffney, MD, PhD, Renee Vadeboncoeur, MS APRN, FNP, and the infusion and radiology staff.
Tommy says he knows this gift will be used in the best way possible and has the utmost trust in HCI.
