Rebekah Crowder

Tell us your story- What is your background and what led you to become a dietitian?  

My grandmother told a surveyor one time “I get cat food every day at three PM” referring to the Boost pudding cups (in her mind she was likening it to the cat food in the pull tab cans she used to feed her cats before she had Alzheimer’s). My father passed away at MD Anderson in 1980, my step-father’s first wife passed away at MD Anderson in the mid-90’s and seeing the nutrition impact at MD Anderson vs. other places led me to think, “We can do better for our patients.” One of the first things I did when I became a dietitian was taste all the pureed and thickened foods that were available and work to make them more palatable for our patients!

What do you love about what you do at MD Anderson? 

I love my team!  I really work for my team rather than my boss!  I love seeing their passion and dedication to patient care and share in their joys when a 10 year TPN patient gets to eat for the first time or I get a letter telling me how much the dietitian changed their quality of life.

We often hear about the gaps in care for enteral patients. What challenges have you seen with your patients? 

Minimal support sometimes post discharge. Which is why I am happy to say we have a DME RD to help answer any questions, troubleshoot concerns and be a go to when patients are having difficulties.

Can you provide examples of how you've helped patients achieve their nutrition support goals? 

Just last week, I was with another dietitian and we showed a patient how to do her home tube feeding.  She was so confused and we found out the wrong connector was sent, so we got the right one and practiced doing a water sandwich – water before, enteral feed and water after.  I got to be the pole to hang the bag.  Sounds silly, but you know – she got it and was able to self- administer when we were done!

What advice do you have for someone who just started their tube feeding journey and doesn't know where to begin?  

Call us!! Your dietitian team is here to help. We know it is scary, confusing and yes, you will mess up.  Do you know how many times I have spilled a tube feeding, it is a process and there is a learning curve.

What are some of the biggest challenges you see your patients facing?  

Fear and nervousness!  Care is changing and the faster we can adapt the better. Supply and labor shortages have really affected this area and Dietitians are taking on more and more in outpatient care than ever before. But we want to be there for our patients!

How do you feel the FreeArm can support your patients and families?

Hands-free bolus, improved tolerance, improved feed rate, help with venting using an open syringe, ease of travel and less skipped meals.  Travel is the most often voiced concern and the FreeArm is fantastic for people having to travel… and no one would have to “be the pole!”

Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years?

Still at the #1 Cancer Center, MD Anderson. Hopefully I will have completed my doctorate!