NurseLifeRN: From Influencer to Cancer Patient: Nurse Ebi Shares His Story

If you’ve never heard of Nurse Ebi, now’s the time. He’s considered an all-star influencer in the healthcare industry thanks to his podcast Nurse Speak and Instagram account NurseLifeRN, where he talks about the ups and downs of working on the floor.

On social media, he’s known for sharing all kinds of hilarious memes and stories about the reality of nursing, such as what it’s like to train recent grads during the pandemic, working with limited PPE, and dealing with unruly family members and visitors.

His podcast explores a slew of interesting topics as well, such as navigating workplace relationships, coming back after making mistakes on the floor, and even spooky ghost stories of discharged patients.

Now, Ebi is turning his attention to his own health after being diagnosed with leukemia this week.

Diagnosed with Leukemia

In a recent post on Instagram, he talked from a hospital bed about what it’s like to start chemotherapy. Luckily, he says the process hasn’t been that bad and the side effects have been mild thus far, but the diagnosis was a stark wake-up call, nonetheless.

Ebi is using his platform to talk openly about his struggles while encouraging other nurses and providers to pay attention to their health. He wants his colleagues and fans to get tested regularly for chronic diseases and conditions, even if they feel healthy.

He never thought of himself as sick, which is why his recent diagnosis came as such a shock. Suddenly, his life had been turned upside down. He went from racing around the hospital floor to sitting in a patient bed worried about his own health.

That’s why it’s so important to visit your doctor regularly. Many patients with slow-growing types of leukemias don’t have symptoms. More aggressive types of leukemia can lead to fatigue, weight loss, frequent infections, and easy bleeding or bruising.

Working as a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic can be exhausting, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore your own health. Some of us may get used to constant fatigue, sleeplessness, and chronic pain as the pandemic rages on, but these issues could be a sign of more serious health issues.

Raising Money for Treatment

As a healthy man in the prime of his career, Ebi never thought he needed a robust health insurance plan. Due to high costs, many of us are forced to get by on limited coverage with high deductibles. Now he’s not sure how much his treatment will cost.

That’s why he’s launched a new GoFundMe campaign. In just 24 hours, he surpassed his goal of $50,000, even though chemotherapy and related treatment could end up costing him more out of pocket. He admits the number is a rough estimate.

Ebi also needs to take some time off work to rest and recover from treatment. All money raised will go toward medical expenses and keeping things running with his NurseLifeRN media company, so his fans can still access the content they love.

Update on Ebi’s Passing

After a long battle with his disease, Nurse Ebi passed away in July 2021. Dozens of his fans expressed their love for him on his GoFundMe page.

“Thank you for the years of laughter, and the beautiful community you’ve created,” one his donors posted.

“How does one person create a community which goes beyond borders? It was good to feel a part of the community who simply got it, my struggles, frustrations, and joys. American nurses have lost an outstanding advocate. Ebi was and still is amazing. @ebieats was the place to just be us. I’d spend too many times mornings before work just scrolling through the stories. I felt like I won a Grammy whenever I got reposted. We need more people like him in the world. He was definitely taken from us too soon. I hope he knows how much we love him and miss him. ❤️” wrote another.

We can continue to mourn Ebi’s passing here at Scrubs Mag. Remember to pay attention to your health as you continue to care for others.