A dream realized: Building attendant helps other families touched by cancer

Aurora Calderon was 12 years old and living with her family in Mexico when her sister was diagnosed with leukemia. Her mother had dreamed of giving her sister a quinceañera when she turned 15, but she was too sick at the time. She died two years later.

From then on, Calderon dreamed of helping families affected by cancer.

“My mom felt guilty because she could not make good on her dream,” Calderon says. “So, when I came here to work for MD Anderson, I knew how our patients felt when they had cancer, and I wanted to help them. I feel like if I help them, I help my family, too.”

Uplifted by our cancer patients

Calderon moved to Houston in 1995 and worked as a housekeeper at different hospitals before joining MD Anderson. She has worked here as a building attendant for 20 years. Our patients, she says, always make her feel good.

“My heart feels happy when they tell me, ‘Thank you,’” she says. “One day, a patient left a bag in the lobby area, and I asked if it was hers. She said, ‘Thank you, thank you so much.’ That makes me happy.”

A connection with families affected by cancer

Calderon’s colleagues say she is always respectful and helpful when approached for help and is willing to assist anyone who needs it.

“Aurora has always mentioned that she does her best on the job because she treats it as though her family is being treated here, and our patients and visitors deserve the same respect and care as family,” says Lorne Cruz, manager, Environmental Services in Facilities Management.

Calderon remembers when her sister was sick and knows how cancer can impact not only the patient, but the whole family.

“We feel bad when we look at our family members, and we want to do something for them, but we cannot help them. So, I understand how families feel and how patients feel.”

A dream come true

Elva DeLaTorre, Calderon’s supervisor, says that she comes to work every day with a positive attitude.

“Even if we sometimes have bad days, she tries to make it easy for us no matter what, and working near our patients is the priority for her,” says DeLaTorre.

For Calderon, coming to work at MD Anderson each day is the realization of her dream to help people like her sister.

“All that we are doing is for the patients,” she says. “We are here for them.” 

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