Northpinellas: She serves as an angel of mercy at time of need

Walter Berndsen, 84, has bone cancer. His goal is to see his daughter graduate from nursing school, and one of the people trying to help him reach that goal is Jennifer Barolo. She's a registered nurse and a certified oncology nurse at Florida Community Cancer Centers, near Mease Countryside Hospital.

"From the first time I saw her, it seemed like she was exceptional," Walter Berndsen said. "She makes you feel at home."

Her peers, about 1,000 oncology nurses in the U.S. Oncology network of cancer treatment centers, agree. They voted Barolo, 46, of Palm Harbor, the national 2002 Betsy York Memorial Oncology Certified Nurse of the Year, an honor named for a South Carolina nurse who died of liver cancer.

The award recognizes Barolo for her devotion to patient care, education and her public speaking on oncology nursing before Congress and others.

"I love it," said Barolo. "Our patients are just phenomenal. They have been given a warning, and they are going to make the best of each day."

Barolo was born in Michigan and moved here at 21. She's a divorced mother with one grown son and is a foster mother to two teenage boys. She previously worked as an emergency room nurse, but has spent the last 20 years as an oncology nurse.

"In oncology, I get to develop relationships," she said. Patients "become very, very attached to their oncology nurse, and that's one of the joys of being an oncology nurse."

For 11 years, she's worked with Dr. Robert L. Drapkin, an oncologist-hematologist-internist at Florida Community Cancer Centers.

Drapkin said he sometimes thinks of the job they do as making the apparently unbearable bearable, easing fears and side effects so patients can face their illness and reach goals such as seeing their children or grandchildren graduate.

"That's what Jennifer is very good at," he said, "sitting down and talking with them and dealing with their problems."

Barolo spends a large part of her day in the chemotherapy room, a room full of lounge chairs, IV drips, conversation and activity. As hard as cancer treatment can be, some patients seem almost jovial in that room.

A plaque on the wall sets the tone.

"Patients do not interrupt my work," it says. "They are my work."

They come there each day or week for treatment and share stories and tips with other patients who understand how they feel. Barolo and other nurses listen and help them take care of themselves.

In interviews over the past three months, many praised Barolo.

David James of Clearwater Beach, 73, drove 18-wheelers for 43 years before retiring and was in chemotherapy for a spot in his throat. He rejoiced when he saw ice cream and chocolate milk on his list of acceptable foods and took full advantage until they discovered his diabetes.

"So how are you feeling?" Barolo asked him at the start of a session.

"A little weak," he said.

With the discovery of diabetes, Barolo said her task was to educate James on his diet and get him feeling better.

"You can buy sugar-free ice cream," she said.

"I bought some already," he said.

"I should have known that," she said. "Just don't eat the whole half-gallon on the first sitting."

James got radiation before starting chemotherapy.

"No matter how you slice it, it's a mess," he said with a laugh. "I couldn't make it without Jennifer. She's a great gal!"

Marija (pronounced "Maria") Vezilic of New Port Richey, 63, came to the U.S. from Yugoslavia in 1969 and served food in a New York City hospital for 27 years. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, then bone cancer in her hip in 1998. She lost her hair three times and each time, it grew back.

After radiation in 1999, she said doctors told her she could go any time. She cried and then went to see Drapkin, a sometimes intimidating man she calls "sugar lump."

"Dr. Drapkin and Jennifer, they tell me, 'Don't listen to anybody. We will try. God gives you your birthday and only he knows when you will go,' " she says. "Here, I believe."

When told of Barolo's award, Vezilic did a thumbs up and said, "Jennifer deserve. She doing honest and complete job."

Leanora Varallo of Clearwater, 68, was a ballerina in Illinois, teaching and often performing as the queen swan in Swan Lake. Varallo had surgery for colon cancer and then chemotherapy.

"Jennifer is my angel," Varallo said. "She explains everything to you so you understand it and she really cares. She'll call me at home and say, 'How are you feeling?' "

Bob Steiger of Dunedin, 55, a retired horticulturist who owns two home accessories shops in Dunedin, said he had throat cancer 10 years ago and now has colon cancer.

"Evidently, the chemo is fairly mild, so I haven't had a problem so far," he said.

Common side effects such as nausea are controlled with medication.

"Look at him smile," Barolo said as she hooked Steiger up to an IV.

"I just love to be here," he said. "I want a martini drip on one side."

"The olive might get stuck," Jennifer said.

Toni Best of Brooksville, 71, had been Barolo's patient for 11 years.

"You're a model nurse," Best said during an appointment in early October. "I'm so proud of you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"So if I move to the mountains, you're all coming with me, all right?" Barolo said.

"I'll come with you," Best said.

Best died Nov. 28 of an infection, Barolo said. As of last week, Varallo was in the care of the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. But Steiger was off chemotherapy. Looking tall, tan and fit, he stopped in last week to say hello to Barolo.

"I feel terrific!" he said.

-- Theresa Blackwell can be reached at (727) 445-4229 or blackwell@sptimes.com.

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