Haleigh Mistry, MS, PA-C
“For me, being a mother made me a better professional, because coming home every night to my girls reminded me what I was working for. And being a professional made me a better mother, because by pursuing my dreams, I was modeling for my girls how to pursue their dreams.” — Michelle Obama
Being a new mom is hard and being an oncology physician assistant (PA) is hard. Being a new mom and an oncology PA is even harder.
Right before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I gave birth to my first child. It was a time of joy. A time of celebration. A time of new hope. It was also one of the hardest times in my life. As a full-time oncology PA, I often worked long hours to ensure my patients received the cared they needed. If this meant staying in clinic until 8 p.m., then that is what I did. I loved what I did. I craved that patient interaction, and, frankly, I was good at it. I was confident yet compassionate, and I provided quality care to my patients with lymphoma. However, nothing could prepare me enough for the journey called “motherhood.”
In December 2019, I had a traumatic birth; however, that is not what this story is about. I healed and became stronger. During my maternity leave, I loved spending time with my beautiful baby, but I longed for that adult interaction I had at work. I missed the interactions with my patients. I missed my wonderful colleagues and the camaraderie we had. But most of all, I missed my work. Time quickly passed, and I went back to work 3 months later.
I returned to work the day the pandemic shut down the world. Things changed immediately and drastically. I had a newborn to care for, but I had severely immunosuppressed patients to care for. Everyone was on edge, including me. Would I get COVID-19? Would I bring it home? With new anxiety and new responsibility, I learned to be even more careful. I learned the importance of taking time for myself, for my family, and, most of all, for my patients. I learned to balance work with having a family. But most of all, I learned that I could extend my love for my work to my growing family. Almost 3 years later, I have given birth to my second child. Again, while I am enjoying my maternity leave, I crave the interaction I had with my colleagues and my patients.
Being a new mom while working full time with patients with cancer has had its challenges. Yet, it is also so rewarding. I have learned to prioritize certain aspects of patient care and my family at the same time. I’ve learned not to sweat the small stuff that I cannot control nearly as much, and I have become much more efficient in my work and daily activities. Motherhood has made me a better provider. I am reminded daily that I get to do what I love and also model how to be a strong and independent woman to my children. I have the opportunity to show them resiliency and to teach them integrity, time management, and, most importantly, compassion and caring for others. Being a mom, a working mom, has truly changed me for the better. I welcome your comments below!
