A holiday gesture at Ohio State brightened the season for a longtime employee, along with the cancer patients to whom she’s dedicated her career. For more than a decade, Marcha Stewart has been a part of the OSUCCC – James team, helping her colleagues work toward a cancer-free world. “I work on the fifth floor of The James with the head and neck cancers team,” Stewart says. “I’ve been in the same department from the beginning, and it has been an honor to serve our patients here.” Her team’s commitment to treatment through the building of relationships has become a personal passion for Stewart, whose brother is among the patients receiving treatment at The James. “About four years ago, I started speaking to the new hires here at The James, and we all talk about relationship-based care — care for ourselves and others — which makes for a better atmosphere to take care of our patients,” she says. With her department in mind, Stewart started a tradition-within-a-tradition when The James’ staff decorates the hospital for the holidays each year. “We decorate The James so beautifully, and the patients absolutely love it. Each year, I repositioned a small, silver tree from our lobby to my workspace so the patients could admire it up close and personal,” Stewart says. “Our patients began to bring me things to put on the tree — it was pretty gaudy, but our patients loved it. There were birds, cats, owls, ornaments — it was really a sight and brought smiles to our patients’ faces.” This year, though, when Stewart took some time off for a medical procedure, she returned to find that the tree had been misplaced. “At least once or twice a week, I would get a patient asking about the tree,” she says. “I had it for about three years, and they looked forward to seeing it and bringing things to put on it.” The disappointment would be short-lived, however, after a fortunate visit to the fifth floor from The James leadership team. “They casually asked about the items on my desk (formerly displayed on the tree) and I told them that, even though I didn’t have the tree anymore, I still wanted the patients to know that I kept their things,” Stewart says. “It brought them joy and gave them some peace of mind, which is priceless.” The story made an impression on her colleagues, leading to a seasonal surprise when Stewart arrived at work the next day. “I walked in that morning, and I had a tree! Kris Kipp (The James’ executive director of clinical services and chief nursing officer) found one and placed it in my area himself,” she says. “I know his suit was probably full of glitter.” The small gesture made a big impression on Stewart, reinforcing the people-focused approach to cancer care that she discusses each year with new members of The James team. “This is what we’re talking about when it comes to relationship-based care,” she says. “I am happy, our patients are happy and I am so very grateful that Mr. Kipp thought enough of me and the little things that he surprised us with the tree.” For Stewart, the gift is just one of countless reasons why her role at The James is much more than a job, and why she’s happy to be a Buckeye for life. “I am thankful for my job, salary and the people that I meet on a daily basis,” she says. “But, what Mr. Kipp did regarding a silly old tree is what keeps me coming in day after day. I don’t think I can thank him enough for what he did for our patients and me.”