My visits to
Cancer Treatment Center of America have become fairly routine. My husband and I follow my schedule, going
from floor to floor, clinic to clinic for my various appointments. This visit was a little different. I left my husband at home and took my
mom. Actually, she took me. During my darkest times this year, my mom
came over nearly every afternoon to help care for me, relieving my husband so he
could work and do necessary errands. She
shared the duties with two lovely friends of mine. When I ended up as an inpatient at CTCA in
March, my mom and stepdad traveled to GA to see me. My mom didn’t get to see much of the
treatment center because she stayed with me in my hospital room. (Sometimes,
despite our age, we just want our moms)
I really wanted her to meet the people who’ve helped me so much at CTCA
and who spoil me with kindness and love.
We headed
out bright and early in the morning with our sights set on Georgia. We were so excited, we gabbed the whole trip
about nothing and everything, giggling like little girls. When we finally arrived, we unloaded the car
and checked ourselves in. We unpacked
then made a quick trip to a couple nearby stores before dinner. As soon as we walked into the café at CTCA, I
spotted our friend, Jeannie. She
welcomed us with a smile and a hug.
Soon
we got more hugs from our other café friends, Alexis and Beverly. After enjoying our meal we joined the others
who were gathering to play Bingo. Many
people volunteer at the center to provide activities for patients and
caregivers such as Bingo, art classes, craft making, etc. It wasn’t long before my mom was yelling,
“Bingo!” and picking out her prize from the donated gifts on the prize
table. We played again and she yelled
“Bingo!” again. I was so happy for
her. We played some more and then again she was yelling, “Bingo!” This time my
happy face turned into a scowl.
Seriously? I was afraid we’d need
to request security to walk us out (ha-ha).
Her prizes were piling up on our table.
After that, she finally let some others win and we all had fun. We even discovered the ladies sitting next to
us live about 25 miles from us! What a
small world! After Bingo and meeting new
friends, we headed out barely able to carry my mom’s loot! We were dropping stuff and laughing so hard
we were snorting. Back at our room, we
got ready for bed and lay down for the night.
The
following day was my appointments. We
woke up and went to the café for breakfast, again seeing more familiar
faces. While I was standing in line, my
chiropractor came in and saw me. He came
over to say hello in case he didn’t get to see me this visit. I told him he was on my schedule in just a
couple hours. He said he’d just go back
to his office then and practice until I got there. When we finished our breakfast we went to the
second floor for my follow up appointment at 9:00 with my wound care
nurse. She hugged me, happy to see me
and was quite pleased with the progress she saw. Then we were on our way to see my
chiropractor. He made necessary
adjustments and discussed my progress and gave me some additional exercises to
do each day to provide more mobility to my right arm. 10:45 nurse assessment next with my friends
in Pulmonary. Without my husband to
direct me in the quickest way to get to the fourth floor clinic, I had to stop
and think for a minute. As I was thinking,
up walks my friend from housekeeping, Commie.
She was showing a new employee around but took five minutes to walk us
to the elevator that would open up in the fourth floor lobby – right where I
needed to be in about one minute! In pulmonary, a tech
took my vitals then my nurse came in to hug me and ask all her usual
questions. Then right on schedule at
11:00 my pulmonary doctor came in. Hugs
again, then I introduced my mom. After
removing my Pleurx catheter last month the doctor wanted to do an ultrasound during this visit to
see how much fluid had accumulated. He
asked my mom if she wanted to look at the screen. He described what she was seeing: my lung,
diaphragm, liver and the fluid…”Wow!” he said.
The fluid had diminished to about 10cc instead of increasing! There was only a little bit of fluid
there. Not even enough to drain. My doctor was pleasantly surprised. (Thank
You, Lord!!) (Happy dance!!) We said our goodbyes then headed
downstairs. My next appointment was a
lab draw on the first floor at 12:30.
That meant I had just enough time to grab something to eat.
We saw Yolanda getting some potatoes to take
back to her room. Yolanda is having
radiation treatments and has been at CTCA since October, I think. She said she wasn’t feeling the greatest and
potatoes was about all she could eat right then. She was a little nauseous, tired and wasn’t
able to taste her food due to her treatments.
I was glad to see her smiling and walking around. She was doing her best to overcome. After
I ate we walked to the Peach clinic and checked in for my lab draw. They called me back quickly and the nurse got
all the blood he needed effortlessly.
Afterwards, we had almost an hour before my next appointment so we
grabbed a drink from the coffee shop and sat in the gallery watching people and
relaxing. My next appointment was at
2:00 in the Magnolia clinic. I checked
in a little early and was taken back within five minutes. Dee weighed me first then took my vitals as
she always does. The scale showed I’ve
gained 40 pounds since my first appointment at the end of March. Fantastic progress! My mom and I are taken to a room where I wait
to see my PEC team. Right on schedule at
2:30 my oncologist, nurse and PA come in.
We all hug and I’m thrilled to see my nurse looking great! She has been undergoing treatment at CTCA for
cancer, herself. She is beaming with joy
and I have to get a picture with her!
My
doctor is happy to hear how well I’m feeling and to meet my mom. We discuss various issues and he gives me
some homework. He conducts his own
survey and asks how we feel he is doing as my doctor. I appreciate that he asks this directly. He has a quiet confidence and authority that
I value. I can’t imagine being more
pleased with his care for me. He gives
the term “health-care” the meaning it should truly have. Next my naturopathic doctor came in at
3:00. Another hug! She reviews my labs and other info then asks
some questions. She makes some
adjustments to my supplements then leaves us with a smile. At 3:30 my dietician walks in and I get
another hug. We discuss my labs, which
she says look wonderful, and my diet then she answers some questions I
have. After our appointment ends she
takes us to see my personal scheduler, Alethia.
She is a cut up and we all giggle as she adds future appointments to my
schedule, per my doctor’s orders. From her
office, we head for my 4:30 appointment in Infusion and wait in the lobby for
me to get my hormone therapy. One woman
is lying on a couch covered up and sleeping while another woman is talking on
her phone and crying. I’m reminded of
where I was health wise not that many months ago and how fortunate I am to be
where I am now. Eventually my nurse asks
if I’m ready. I endure the injection
that seems to go on and on. Finally I
get a Band-Aid and I’m done. It’s a
little after 5:00 now. We go down to the
first floor straight to the café. We
look around to see what we should eat and I spot Yolanda again. I ask if she’s feeling any better than she
was at lunch. No. But she is still sporting a smile and
positive attitude. She’s getting some
food to take up to her room again so she can rest. As I’m standing next to her a CTCA employee
walks up behind Yolanda and puts a fuzzy, colorful blanket over her
shoulders. Yolanda’s smile grows
brighter as the woman tells her she made it especially for her. Another example of true “health-care”. As we sit at our table eating, Mark, the
music therapist, stops by to remind us of Drum Circle at 6:30.
I tell him we plan to be there then he
introduces us to his friend (a patient) who is personally associated with the
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Mark and his
friend tell us about their concert they recently attended and show us some
video of the concert. We finish eating
and make a quick stop at our room before heading off to Drum Circle. There are about 15 people in attendance
tonight. We all grab instruments to
play.
No experience required. We have a special guest, Dean, who’s just a
little guy with lots of energy. He makes
us all laugh.
My mom decided to color
while the rest of us made loud racket, but we all laughed and enjoyed
ourselves.
Some shared a little about
their experience at CTCA while I wiped away tears at hearing their
stories. One woman I met and talked with
afterward lives in Sanford, a city near my hometown. She said she’s scheduled for brain surgery
Monday (today). Again, I reflected on my own
situation, grateful I haven’t had to endure such a thing. After a long day of appointments, we call it
a day and go to our room for the night.
The next morning, as we prepared to leave for home, We bump into Yolanda
again. She is passing out little gifts
to CTCA employees and other people she knows.
I said to her that she looked like she was finally feeling better. She said she was still struggling. We encouraged her and gave her a hug as we
left.
As we
traveled back home to Florida, I thought of our visit. We enjoyed meeting many new people and we
were encouraged by many others. So many
little joys had added up to make a delightful trip despite where we were and
why we were there. I thought of Yolanda. Even though she had not been feeling well,
she refused to let it overcome her. She
persisted in spreading love and joy. All
these things reminded me of a card I keep that my grandparents sent me many
months ago. This is what it says:
Having a beautiful
life isn’t so much about getting that one big thing
or reaching
that one great goal.
Having a
beautiful life is more about
seeing the
wonder in the little things,
the everyday
things that life washes onto your shore.
Gathering
them like pearls,
And
realizing what a treasure you’ve collected.
Do that, and
you cannot help but have a beautiful life…
The one you
are meant to live.
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