BIDDEFORD — Marguerite “Peggy” Belanger didn’t set out to help cancer patients when she went into nursing decades ago. But that’s where her career led her and she recently received a prestigious national award from the American Cancer Society for her work and volunteerism in the field.

Belanger, a registered nurse who works as an oncology nurse navigator at Southern Maine Health Care, is one of just seven people nationwide to receive the 2018 American Cancer Society Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award.

“The award recognizes individuals who consistently exhibit excellence and compassion in providing care to cancer patients, going beyond their professional roles to make a difference in the life of cancer patients and their families,” according to a ACS press release. The award represents the concept of the “warm hand of service,” emphasized by Lane W. Adams, a former executive vice president of the American Cancer Society. He defined the warm hand of service as “serv(ing) others and enrich(ing) the purpose of one’s existence.”

Nicole Heanssler, the health systems manager of hospital in the Northeast region for the ACS nominated Belanger for the award. “Peggy is the epitome of this award. She exudes compassion and empathy and her patients benefit greatly from the support she provides to them. I have partnered with Peggy for the past 7.5 years both on a professional level in our careers and when she is volunteering for the American Cancer Society or the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and I feel so honored to know her. She is an asset to both the nursing field and cancer patients in Maine,” Heanssler wrote in an Oct. 26 email.

“I was completely surprised” by the award, said Belanger on Friday at SMHC. Speaking of her work as an oncology nurse and volunteering with the ACS, she said, “You do these things simply because it’s the right thing to do. You don’t expect awards or accolades.”

Belanger has been in the nursing field for 45 years, a large portion of her career in oncology, and has been volunteering with the ACS since 1976. 

She plans to retire in December and said the award is a nice way to culminate her career.

But when she was just starting out as a nurse, Belanger said, she didn’t plan to work with cancer patients. “It kind of just developed that way. … It felt comfortable and I felt I could make an impact with those patients.”

As an oncology nurse navigator at SMHC Belanger’s job is to work with patients from the time of their diagnosis through the trajectory of their treatment.

One of the patients she has worked with wrote a letter of support for her nomination for the award.

Steve Weinert wrote in the letter that he was “shocked, afraid and overwhelmed” when he was told he had prostate cancer. The day after his diagnosis he visited Belanger. “She acknowledged my fears, concerns, confusion and questions. She provided the empathy that I needed. She let me know everything was going to be ok. She let me know I was not alone. … Her caring and concern was genuine and sincere. I knew she was looking out for me and that I could count on her. I immediately felt better.”

Belanger said she was honored to be recognized for her work and volunteerism, especially with an award that represents the concept of the “warm hand of service.”

During her career, she said, she has worked with thousands of cancer patients and their families.

“I think of all the hands I’ve held,” Belanger said. “I’ve held them in times of support and and in times of great sadness. I’ve held them in times of a a new diagnosis and during the dying process.

Sometimes just handholding is all you can really do for people. Handholding and being present.”

Being in the nursing field, my first instinct is to fix it. But sometimes the best thing yo can do is to be silently present.”

Though honored by the receipt of the award, Belanger said, she is even more appreciative of the people who nominated her and wrote in support of her nomination, not just once but twice — her nomination was turned down the first time. In addition to Heanssler and Weinert, Helene Langley, RN at SMHC Breast Center and Karen Pierce-Stewart, former executive director at the Cancer Care Center of York County, wrote in support of Belanger’s nomination.

“What’s most heartwarming,” she said, “is the people I so loved working with took the time and made the effort to submit my nomination. That means just as much as the award does.”

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324, or dmendros@journaltribune.com.