Dr. Tim LeMieur and Kris Palmer
Kris Palmer shared this letter praising her excellent care for breast cancer at Riverwood Healthcare Center.
“I am writing today to share with you that I feel blessed to be a patient at Riverwood. Let me share some background.
My husband, John, and I both grew up in the Twin Cities and raised our two children in Forest Lake. For my entire life I had any kind of medical care/specialty clinics within miles of my home, so in 2016 when John approached me about moving permanently to our lake home in McGregor, I was concerned about having to find a new doctor. I wondered what small towns like McGregor and Aitkin had to offer in terms of healthcare options.
At the same time, we were in the process of selling our home, my life-long friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. For over two years I brought her to all her medical appointments, chemo and surgeries. The day of the closing on our home, John moved north to get us settled at our lake home and I moved in with Kim to help care for her during the last months of life.
Fast forward to June 23, 2020, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, which was found on my annual mammogram. This is when the Riverwood oncology coordinator entered my life. She was my lifeline and ‘explainer’, guiding me through the next 10 days, answering my questions, reassuring me, and sharing her experience with breast cancer.
Because of walking the breast cancer journey with Kim, I always knew I would automatically decide to have a double mastectomy if I was ever diagnosed with breast cancer. That weekend my primary care provider, Nurse Practitioner Jen Burgos, called me at home to let me know she had heard about my diagnosis; she wanted me to know she cared and asked how I was feeling emotionally. She listened…not just for a few minutes, she let me talk and cry. Jen went above and beyond!
Kris with her Riverwood care team
On June 24, 2020, I had my surgical consult with Dr. Tim LeMieur. Needless to say, I was truly terrified. Dr. LeMieur walked into the office, introduced himself, quickly pulling down his mask and gave a big smile and started to talk to us. He listened, answered our questions, and touched my shoulder and told me he would take good care of me. I believed him and felt a sense of calm. John and I both left the clinic that day feeling confident in Dr. LeMieur. Since that day, I have been in the operating room with Dr. LeMieur three times, the last being my mastectomy revision in September 2021 to remove scar tissue. The results were fantastic; he did an amazing job, and I could not be happier. My scars are healing beautifully, and I feel confident in my decision to go flat. Not only in Dr. LeMieur a very talented surgeon (perfectionist), he is truly a kind and compassionate person with a great sense of humor and I smile when he refers to me as ‘buddy’.
Dr. LeMieur’s nurses—Patti, Sarah and Kelly—are FABULOUS! Patti has openly shared some of her breast cancer experiences with me…even the ones you do not typically read about in the information you are given. She makes me feel normal, whatever normal is at this juncture. Plus, she is really funny and her laugh is contagious!
All the employees who I have encountered at Riverwood, whether it is during check-in, lab work, surgery department, radiology, physical therapy, or hospital staff, are truly professionals who treat you with respect, kindness and empathy.
I can honestly say that I have received better care at Riverwood than my friend Kim did at all the large and/or fancy cancer clinics in the Twin Cities. Oh, how I wish she would have had Riverwood during her breast cancer journey.
As I reflect on what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving, Dr. LeMieur and the Riverwood family are at the top of my list.”