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Yttrium 90 Microspheres Education and Support
When The Improbable
Is Possible
Lisa'a Story
“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings before the dawn."
This quote was on the cover of a sympathy card that was given to me almost twelve years ago when my beautiful mother died at the age of 50 from colorectal cancer. As I cared for my mother, I never thought that I would wind up with metastatic cancer myself. I remember everyone always saying, “What a tragedy to have cancer at such a young age.” She was diagnosed at 47; I was diagnosed at 37. Yes, it is quite horrible to have cancer as a young woman, but a tragedy it is not!
The reason I don’t feel “tragic” is because I have great faith and hope! I have never forgotten these words of comfort, and thankfully, I know them to be true. Let me tell you my story of hope and my experience with the magical, magnificent, miraculous beads (you all refer to them as magic beads – but I had to take it one step farther.)
For my 37th birthday I was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer that had spread to my lymph system, bones, and liver. My liver is covered from end to end with tumors (too numerous to count), and when I was diagnosed, my oncologist could actually wrap his hand around my distended liver. I had no idea, no warning. As the top breast cancer surgeon at John Hopkins told me, “you have a crappy case of bad timing.” You see, my son was only two when I was diagnosed – the pregnancy and birth of my son had masked any symptoms. When you are pregnant nursing, your breasts change. Plus I had not lost my pregnancy weight so my belly hid my distended liver.
One of my first miracles was that despite the heavy burden of disease, my liver functions were normal (and continue to be normal) and I felt good. No one thought I could beat the enormous odds stacked against me, but I did. I am not only beating them, but redefining them! It has been two and half years now since my diagnosis and I know that I am a walking miracle – I am truly blessed! And I believe that my journey (even with a few emergencies along the way) have led me to Suzanne Lindley and Dr. Charles Nutting. It was meant to be!!
I just had the spheres implanted on January 31st with Dr. Nutting. I traveled from the Washington, DC area to Denver specifically to be under his care. I am ecstatic to report that all went well and that I am home recovering nicely. I would up traveling across the country to see Dr. Nutting because my first attempt at embolization failed due to an artery that was crooked and very small. Within hours of the failed attempt I was speaking to Dr. Nutting from my hospital bed in DC. He told me not to worry – that he was confident that he could help me. From that moment on, I was calm and knew that I would be alright!
The initial call with Dr. Nutting was on Friday evening and I spoke with his staff first thing Monday morning. Jeanne, his collaborative nurse, J’Shawna his intake coordinator, and Kim the insurance coordinator knew exactly who I was. They are the most caring women and treated me like I was their only patient. They immediately initiated the process of hooking my surgery into Dr. Nutting’s tight schedule , calling me repeatedly to update me on the progress with the hospital and insurance. They are a wonderful team and I can’t thank them enough for their support.
Within a few weeks I was in Colorado to have my miracle SIR-Spheres. I went in for the embolization on January 29th and Dr. Nutting was able to block off additional arteries and work around the “uncooperative” artery. At the end of the procedure, he said that he had done it and that everything went beautifully. I let out a big “yahoo” right there on the operating table! He even told me that he could implant the beads into both lobes of the liver at the same time. I was meant to be in Dr. Nutting’s gifted hands!
Until I met Suzanne at a “Life With Cancer” meeting – presented by Dr. Neithamer – I didn’t believe I could see my boys grow up. She was the first person I met that had a liver like mine and I was so fortunate that Dr. Neithamer had asked her to tell her story. From the day we met, she inspired me and gave me hope. She has an amazing light about her – and I was touched and warmed by this beautiful light. I knew I had found a life-long friend.
Through YES, I was introduced to two other FRIENDS. Erika Hanson-Brown (www.stellarbiz.com) called to welcome me to Colorado, though we didn’t actually get to meet and another now life-long friend, Jolanta Stettler also welcomed me. Jolanta lives outside of Denver and has had SIR-Spheres twice with Dr. Nutting. We met right before my surgery and she insisted on visiting my right after my surgery. I reminded her of the three day, 15 minute rule, but she said, “Honey, I’ve been radiated so many times you aren’t going to hurt me.”
I definitely have found a new group of friends on the YES web-site! What an amazing and supportive group. I am so grateful for all of the emails and phone calls I have received. May we all continue to live well with cancer. It doesn’t have to get the best of us. It doesn’t have to define us. Our loved ones and friendships, our dreams and our joys – these are the things that define us.
Finally, as we celebrate Valentine’s Day, I need to share my love for my husband, Matthew. I am so fortunate to have this amazing husband, father and friend in my life.