Nurse’s intuition saves colleague’s life at Ochsner Hospital

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — At Ochsner Hospital, nurses are often the first to notice when something seems off with their patients. But one day, the focus turned inward when a nurse spotted life-threatening symptoms in her colleague.

Kyra Hayes, a nurse at Ochsner, said she wasn’t feeling like herself while at work.

“I hadn’t been sleeping well because I had been ill, and I just did not feel myself,” Hayes said. “When people would ask me questions, I literally could not respond.”

Her manager, Alise Sollie, immediately noticed the change and insisted Hayes get medical help.

“She would not have followed up on it probably. It would have taken a lot longer for her to follow up on her symptoms,” Sollie said. “As nurses, we tend to put ourselves last because we’re worried about caring for everybody else.”

Doctors later discovered the cause: thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer symptoms can be subtle and easy to dismiss. Fatigue, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and even a small lump in the neck are all possible warning signs. Hayes said she experienced choking but didn’t realize it was connected.

“Looking back, I wish I would’ve spoken up about the choking I was having,” Hayes said. “It’s very important that any little symptom you’re having, even if you think it’s in your head or something silly, just talk to your provider about it. I had no idea about thyroid cancer.”

For Sollie, stepping in was more than just part of the job.

“Being that advocate for someone who might not have the mental capacity to deal with it themselves and giving them that extra push is really important,” she said.

Now back at work, Hayes says she feels stronger and more energized.

“I’m doing great. I’m feeling better, I have more energy, and I’m getting back to the things I’ve enjoyed. It’s been a long time coming,” she said.

As September marks Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, Hayes hopes her story encourages others to pay attention to their health and get unusual symptoms checked early.

Catching cancer early can make all the difference.

Ochsner offers cancer care services across the region and state. To learn more, visit Ochsner Health.

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