The Power of Compassion

Lynda Slyder believes her life has been saved a number of times. The first time, during her childhood, an act of generosity and kindness from a neighbor became a life lesson in the value of empathy. More recently, a friend’s experience brought her to GBMC.   

“After being diagnosed with ovarian, breast, and lung cancer I was so fortunate to have been treated by the doctors and staff at GBMC,” she says.   

It was Lynda who made an appointment at GBMC for her former student, Judy, when Judy was facing breast cancer. “I called GBMC Oncology and was able to get her an appointment 3 days later with Dr. Robert Donegan. The first thing Judy said to Dr. Donegan was, ‘I want chemo.’  He smiled and said, ‘I don't often get that response.’"  

Lynda continues, “Judy and I were both impressed with his demeanor and caring nature. He took the time to answer our questions and concerns. Later, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, he became my oncologist and still is.”  

Judy completed her treatments and, years later, moved to Delaware.  Then in January 2023, Judy was diagnosed with bone cancer. She made the trip back to GBMC to see Dr. Donegan, prepared to drive back and forth for treatment to continue as his patient. Dr. Donegan explained why that was not in Judy’s best interest. “She understood, Lynda says. “She kept in touch with Dr. Donegan.” Sadly, Judy passed away that November.   

Now, as Lynda is working with oncologists from GBMC’s Sandra & Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute, she finds the combination of expertise and caring here to be just what she was hoping for, the compassion that served her friend so well.    

“Dr. Lauren Schaper took the time to explain everything to me about what my disease was and what the plan was to cure me and get rid of the cancer,” Lynda recalls. Talking with her, “I felt like I was in the right place, that everything would be okay.”   

As a child, feeling she was “in the right place” didn’t come easily. Lynda grew up in a fractured home. Sports became her refuge. Things came to a breaking point when Lynda's father decided to move south to live with her stepmother and leave Lynda in the care of her aunt and uncle.   

Her cousins’ lives were already busy – and geared toward a different set of activities. Lynda was told she could move in, but she would have to give up sports. There simply wasn’t anyone to take her to practice or games.   

In an unforgettable moment of grace, a caring neighbor, who had always looked out for Lynda, stepped in and offered her a home. She joined that family and their kindness was a lifesaver. Remembering that day vividly, Lynda says, “She didn’t even stop to ask their kids. She just invited me into their family.”   

That lesson in the power of compassion has remained important as Lynda has faced cancer. Even though breast cancer was only the beginning – she has lived through ovarian cancer and lung cancer since then – Lynda still considers herself “so lucky with the people I have encountered” at GBMC.  

“The fact that I’ve had such good doctors who give such good care – who want to know how you feel and figure out ways to help you, any way they can – that has made a great difference,” she explains.   

The responsiveness and kindness of the team at the Berman Cancer Institute has been vital to her continued survival. “People who have cancer don’t ignore symptoms,” Lynda points out. “Early detection and access to good oncologists have saved my life more than once.”