Delivering Clarity, Comfort, and Coordination: Elaine Perry's Story

Elaine Perry of Pawtucket, Rhode Island was many things: Nursing Assistant, reader, cook,  weekend traveler, and single mother. But her most treasured role was that of grandmother.

Elaine embraced that role completely after moving in with her daughter Kristyn in 2005. She helped raise Kristyn’s six children, running the household, driving the kids to school, and cooking dinner while Kristyn and her husband worked full time.

“My mom worked hard her whole life, but after retirement, her main focus was her grandchildren,” Kristyn says. “She was the most generous person. She would truly do anything for anyone, especially her grandchildren. Not a lot of kids get to live with their grandparents, so my children and I had an incredibly close relationship with my mom.”

In 2025, at 78, Elaine remained healthy, active, and constantly in motion – her family affectionately called her the “energizer bunny.” She still drove, ran errands, and loved weekend trips to visit her sister in Vermont. It was after one of those getaways that she first mentioned a persistent pain in her side.

Elaine’s primary care provider ordered a CT scan to check for kidney stones. While the abdominal results were inconclusive, the images revealed nodules in the lower section of her lungs. The scan paperwork noted a “possible malignancy,” but because no one explained what this could mean, Elaine and her family advocated for further testing to help alleviate her abdominal pain. Another round of scans yielded the same uncertainty, leaving Elaine feeling even more frustrated, confused, and anxious. Doctors recommended waiting three months for follow-up imaging, but this delay concerned Elaine and her family. 

Bringing Urgency and Clarity to Cancer Diagnosis

Elaine’s family knew they needed answers to help their beloved mother and grandmother. Elaine’s primary care provider referred her to Daymark Health to help determine a diagnosis and provide support, no matter the outcome. Within a day, Elaine and her daughters, Kristyn and Deb, received a call from Dr. Angela Taber, Daymark’s Medical Director and a seasoned oncologist with deep roots in Rhode Island. 

“She said, ‘We don’t know what this is yet. But we’ll coordinate everything – tests, specialists, whatever you need – and we’ll be here 24/7,’” Kristyn remembers. “And it was true. Every word of it.”

Within days, Daymark’s team of oncologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, and Health Partners had arranged a PET scan, accelerated appointments, and taken over the heavy lifting that had overwhelmed the family. Daymark moved with urgency to bring Elaine and her family the clarity they deserved. 

When the PET scan finally revealed metastatic uterine cancer that had spread to Elaine’s lungs, Daymark stayed close, helping Kristyn and Deb understand the diagnosis, the decisions that lay ahead, and how to prepare for the next steps. 

Elaine’s diagnosis shook the family. “You never realize how soon it can happen,” Kristyn says. “Our mom was healthy, and then things changed so fast. You don’t realize how precious time can be.”

How Daymark Carried Elaine and Her Family Through Care

For many patients, the cancer experience spotlights the systemic gaps in care that permeate the American healthcare system. This is cancer: long waitlists, unreturned phone calls, and a maze of appointments, tests, and medications that overwhelm families. It’s difficult enough to receive a cancer diagnosis – it’s made even more challenging by having to jump through the hoops of the modern medical system. No patient deserves that as they face one of life’s biggest battles. 

Daymark exists to transform this experience for patients and their families, offering all-hands-on-deck support, care navigation, symptom management, and more from local care teams. For Elaine, Daymark focused on coordinating her care and ensuring her comfort and well-being. As Elaine’s pain intensified, Dr. Taber worked closely with the family to adjust medications, manage side effects, and explain dosing. 

“Pain management was the most important thing,” Kristyn says. “Dr. Taber walked us through  everything – changing prescriptions when they would wear off or have side effects, and guiding us through how to take them. Our mom would’ve been in so much pain during these weeks, but Daymark eased her suffering.” 

Daymark nurses Alex Rhodes and Julie Araujo regularly visited the family’s home to draw labs, administer fluids, monitor Elaine’s symptoms, and be present with the family. When Kristyn and Deb had questions about medications in the middle of the night or concerns on a weekend, she dialed Daymark first – and every message was answered within minutes. 

“Daymark carried us through,” says Kristyn. “We knew they cared about our mom. And they cared about us, too.”

Elaine started chemotherapy to ease her pain and shrink her tumor, which was pressing on a nerve. Daymark’s relationships with oncology providers ensured Elaine’s treatment could begin quickly. One day, a home visit from Nurse Alex revealed Elaine’s oxygen dropping – and she urged the family to bring Elaine to the ER. Alex stayed with Kristyn and Deb until Elaine was safely transported to the hospital, ensuring they had all the information and answers they needed to feel comfortable. 

After her hospitalization, Elaine decided to forgo additional rounds of chemotherapy and return home for hospice care. During her final days, Elaine spent meaningful time with her family – especially her grandchildren. She drank tea. She insisted on sleeping in her own bed again, something she hadn’t done in weeks. “I think she knew,” Kristyn says. Elaine passed peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones. 

Helping Elaine and Family Navigate Her Cancer Journey

Today, Elaine’s family remembers her the way she lived: endlessly giving, constantly moving, and deeply devoted to those around her. When they look back on those final months, they remember the shock, confusion, and heartbreak – but also the hands that steadied them.

“Our mom would’ve suffered at the end of her life without the support of the Daymark team,” Kristyn says. “They knew her so well, and cared so deeply about her and us. They didn’t just treat her like another patient – they called to check in, came to the house, and consistently made sure my mom had what she needed to move forward another day.”

Without Daymark, Elaine might have passed without ever receiving a diagnosis – and would’ve likely been in and out of the hospital and doctor’s office without spending precious time with her family.  “I can’t believe people go through this without support like Daymark – to me, their support is not an option. It’s a necessity,” Kristyn says. “If I ever got sick, I would want Daymark to carry me through.”