With the help of co-workers, we set up a fake meeting in a conference room at Urology of Virginia in Virginia Beach.
It was all for Jennifer Kucenski, a clinical research coordinator there. She was quite surprised when we showed up.
We heard about her from Bill Muse, one of the patients she helps coordinate care for during his battle with prostate cancer. He sent us an email.
NewsChannel 3's Kurt Williams read part of it to Jennifer and her co-workers.
"I've had some down times, and I would call her and she would talk me through them. I'm just one person. I have no idea how many lives she has touched, or for that matter, changed. I know this woman really cares deeply for her patients."
Bill also pointed out in his email that Jennifer is fighting her own battle with inoperable breast cancer.
"I know there must be days she doesn't like coming to work, but she does and always with a smile and such a positive attitude."
This is why we wanted to present Jennifer with a NewsChannel 3 People Taking Action award.
Jennifer fought back tears as she accepted the award along with a $100 Visa gift card from our community partners Southern Bank.
We asked her where she gets her strength.
"God, my family, all these people right here, my other family," she responded.
She also says that she tries not to focus on her condition.
"I don't want to worry about what's going on with me. I don't want to worry about what's going to happen tomorrow with me, how am I gonna make it through. I've got family, I've got children. I don't want to worry about that."
Jennifer says focusing on her patients helps her not focus on her battle.
"There's other people going through it, too. I'm not the only one, I'm not the only one. And if they can do it. I can do it, and if I can do it, they can do it," she says.
