Quest Diagnostics 2006 Annual Report Download - page 16
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Please find page 16 of the 2006 Quest Diagnostics annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.EddieQuaas
F OU R TH – G R A D E S T U D EN T
A N D B UD D I NG A R T I S T
withQuestDiagnostics
PhlebotomistMonaCarrico
Belleville,Illinois
Wheneight-year-oldEddieQuaasfellintoadeepsleepinthemiddleoftheafternoononeday,his
mother, Joni, had an uneasy feeling. Within days, her worst fears were realized, as Eddie was diag-
nosedwithcancerouschildhoodmedulloblastoma,atypeofbraintumor.Eddiebravedsurgery,fol-
lowed by six weeks of radiation treatment and 14 months of chemotherapy, which required him to
haveweeklyorbiweeklybloodcountsfor18consecutivemonths.Thisintenselydifficultperiodinthe
Quaasfamily’slifewasmadeeasierthroughtheirrelationshipwithQuestDiagnosticsphlebotomist
Mona Carrico. Joni explains, “When Eddie first came to Mona, she took time to get to know him,
patientlyexplainedtheblooddrawprocedureinastep-by-stepfashion,andmadeitaspainlessaspos-
sible.Theirbonddevelopedfromthere.”Forthenextyearandahalf,Eddie’sfamilywentoutoftheir
waytoseeMonaforeveryoneofEddie’srequiredblooddraws.Mona,inturn,helpedreducetheir
waiting time and met them with understanding and kindness at every point of interaction. Their
friendship transcended traditional boundaries. Mona started each visit by asking Eddie about his
week.EddiebroughtMonacandyonValentine’sDay.AndwhenEddie’sparentshostedanartshow
partytocelebratetheendofhischemotherapy,Monawasthefirstpersonheinvited.Eddiebeamed
withprideasheintroducedhertohisfriendsandfamilyashis“favoritephlebotomist”—atitlethat
Monaconsidersthegreatesthonorofhercareer.
“WhenEddiewasdiagnosedwithcancer,ItoldmyselfIwoulddoeverythingIcouldtomakehis
lifeasnormalandpositiveaspossible.GoingtoQuestDiagnosticsmadesuchadifference.Mona
madesureEddieneverhadtodreadthecountlessblooddraws,andherfriendshipbecameone
oftherealbrightspotsinhistreatment.”—JoniQuaas,Eddie’sMom
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