Inspired by Dr. Rachel Mandel, this unit helps blood cancer patients move through one of the most difficult stages of treatment.
For many Albertans facing blood cancer, treatment can mean weeks in hospital, away from home and the everyday moments that bring comfort and normalcy. Advanced therapies such as CAR T-cell and stem cell treatment require close monitoring, often extending a hospital stay even after patients begin to recover.
That stretch of time between hospital and home can be one of the Mike Tighe and Chase, son of Mike and Dr. Rachel Mandel, with Rachel’s parents, Lynn and Stephen Mandel hardest parts of treatment. Patients can often be well enough to leave inpatient care but still require specialized medical support nearby.
The Rachel Mandel Cell Therapy Unit was created to help ease that transition.
Named in memory of Dr. Rachel Mandel, an Edmonton health care professional whose compassion and dedication touched many lives, the unit reflects what Rachel believed deeply: that compassionate care should always stand alongside scientific excellence. Rachel’s own experience with blood cancer, and the challenges she faced during treatment, inspired her family and friends to help create a space that would make this journey gentler for others.
For Rachel’s parents, Stephen and Lynn Mandel, and for her entire family, seeing this unit created in Rachel’s memory is profoundly meaningful. It is a tribute not only to who Rachel was, but to the care and comfort they hope every family can experience.
“The hardest part of Rachel’s treatment was getting sick in the middle of the night and ending up in the emergency room instead of coming to the Cross. Knowing this unit exists means families can come to a place filled with care. The staff here were phenomenal — truly the most wonderful people in the world. They treated Rachel with such kindness and respect.”
—Stephen and Lynn Mandel
The Rachel Mandel Cell Therapy Unit
The Rachel Mandel Cell Therapy Unit is a transitional care space for patients who no longer require full inpatient care but still need close medical oversight.
Open seven days a week, 12 hours a day, the unit provides fast-tracked access to clinical support or hospital readmission if needed. With three inpatient beds, three specialized assessment chairs and an interdisciplinary health-care team, it supports both recovery and independence, giving patients and families greater peace of mind during a critical stage of their journey.
Its impact reaches beyond the individual patient experience. By providing transitional care, the unit helps free up inpatient beds for those who need more intensive treatment during or after therapy, creating greater capacity across Alberta’s cancer system.
“There are no words to express how much donor dollars are making a difference here. Our patients feel seen and valued. That same value is felt by the team, as we’re supported in doing what we do best: providing patient-centred care.”
—Courtney Ambury, registered nurse and unit manager
