It isn’t easy working on the fifth floor of Sutter Memorial Medical Center in Modesto.

The home of the hospital’s oncology services, the floor requires a very dedicated staff – most of whom work 12-hour shifts – to handle the rigorous emotional demands of providing service to cancer patients of all ages.

A team of local real estate specialists honored more than 40 nurses, certified nursing assistants, and unit clerks that call that floor home for their tireless dedication in providing the best experience possible to patients facing fear and uncertainty – naming them the Homes for Heroes “Heroes of the Month” in a special luncheon ceremony at the hospital.

“Cancer is a relevant topic with almost everyone knowing someone who is fighting the disease,” said Compass Real Estate’s Frank Orr – a real estate specialist and affiliate for the nationwide Homes for Heroes program. “It was important for The Homes for Heroes Team to recognize those who help our local community fight this disease on a daily basis – to recognize their efforts of setting personal matters aside to care for someone they don’t even know. 

“Although out of the norm to recognize more than one hero, the team wanted to start the year thinking outside the box, acknowledging many heroes and honoring what these heroes do.”

The group of nurses and support staff of Sutter Memorial’s fifth floor were nominated by Kimberlee Kauffroath, who was honored by the organization late last year for her work as a nurse navigator.

Putting together an event for 40 people, however, took some planning and outside support, and a whole lot of paying it forward.

Sutter Health’s Oncology Service Line Outreach Coordinator and Relationship Manager, Amber Campbell, nominated Kauffroath – who recommended the Memorial Oncology team – for the award late last year, and organized all of the food donations for the event.

Donors included Mike Linker of Stockton’s Victory Grill, Fagundes Meats, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Starbucks, and the individual Homes for Heroes representatives and staff – including Homes for Heroes Community Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Hart – pulled together the additional resources necessary to make the day possible.

Being able to give back to the people who serve the community, in the eyes of Frank Flores of Finance of America Mortgage, is what the program is all about.

“I love being a part of the Homes for Heroes program and what it represents,” Flores said. “I was really excited and honored to be a part of this Hero of the Month presentation today – it gave me a whole new appreciation for nurses, hospital staff, and the jobs they do.”

And for the nurses and staff who were honored, the recognition was equal parts welcomed and unexpected.

According to Mercy Lubembe, Sutter Health’s Oncology Department Nursing Manager and a longtime nurse on the floor, the long hours and the emotional work contributes to a strong sense of family, but often times does not lead to outside recognition.

Having somebody recognize the effort that goes into oncology care, Lubembe said, is important to the staff who dedicate themselves to their work and their patients.

“I think it’s huge to have recognition like this for the work that these people do, because that doesn’t always happen,” Lubembe said. “When you’re working on a floor and the environment is like a family, sometimes people don’t to see what goes on – the dedication and the commitment.

“Having recognition that comes from beyond is important for them and reaffirms that they’re doing a good job and it is appreciated.”

Homes for Heroes is a program that was started after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 as a way to honor local heroes for their sacrifices and their dedication to the communities that they serve. The organization is a nationwide community of affiliate real estate and lending specialists who provide easy ways for firefighters, law enforcement, military (active, reserves and veterans), healthcare workers, EMS and teachers to save significant money when they buy, sell or refinance a home with Homes for Heroes.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.