This Is My Story continued….

But, having had the gift of this extraordinary, highly-skilled surgeon just for the biopsy step, I couldn’t help but be reassured that God’s hand was guiding this whole journey. I took Dr. Albertson’s advice and didn’t worry---until he called me back on Monday, September 22. He carefully broke the news to me that the pathology report indicated that I had a “papillary carcinoma” which is, in lay terms, the garden variety of thyroid cancer. I will always be grateful for his gentle and clear and reassuring conversation that day. Because we have no family history of cancer, it was a big shock to me to hear that I had a malignant tumor. I don’t really remember the whole conversation.

Ruthie’s research kicked in while my mind was reeling. Since my daughter, Christi lives just 5 minutes from Duke Hospital, I had enough sense to tell Dr. Albertson that I would like to check into the possibility of having the surgery at Duke. He was very helpful and said he had a friend at Duke and offered to call and make the referral. His friend/colleague was Dr. John Olson—the same doctor my sister wanted me to see. Amazing.

Dr. Olson’s office replied to me after Dr. Albertson’s referral and set up an appointment. Dr. Olson is not an easy man to get to see. October 8 was the earliest possible appointment. My sister drove down to go to the appointment with me. The 3 hour wait to see him was an education of its own. The waiting room was filled with people waiting to see him. One family had driven up from Florida for their appointment with him. And when I finally had my face-to-face time with him, I could see why the wait was worthwhile. He was very thorough, very humble and very helpful. He had studied my pathology slides and my records. His exam and ultrasound leads him to believe that my cancer has already spread to at least a couple of lymph nodes which, apparently, is not unusual or worrisome (as it is with other cancers). The probable spread of the cancer to the lymph nodes means that he will schedule me for a radioactive iodine treatment at Duke about 5 weeks after surgery. He was amazing. I knew right then that, whenever he could work me into his schedule was when I would have the surgery. As I have been telling people, The GREAT PHYSICIAN (in whose hands my life has been held for many years) is going to be very ably assisted by the Chief of Endoctrine Surgery at Duke on November 4!

November 4 was the date he assigned. Of all dates! I went back to Statesville and called the Board of Elections for the first time/place for early voting! Every newscast broadcasts a countdown to my surgery. I have laughingly told my churches that I sent word to the presidential campaigns that I think we should proceed with the election even though I will be out of it for most of the day. Maybe the date is a touch of God’s grace to help me not spend the day drowning in worry about our country!

By any normal account, finding the tumor, finding the right doctor and the setting of the surgery date would be the end of the story. But there has been nothing normal about this. A couple of weeks ago, my colleague on the Winston Salem District called and said, “You’re not going to believe this!” (And, coming from Bill Medlin, he is likely to be right. He can tell some tall tales). He said he had just come back from his regular physical and that his doctor (who he thinks the world of) had just had the same surgery that I am going to have –and his doctor’s surgeon was the same surgeon who is going to do my surgery! This unsolicited confirmation took my breath away. I felt like God was really going the extra mile to tell me that everything is going to be all right. Bill’s doctor said he would be happy to talk to me and gave Bill his cell phone number to pass along to me. And when I talked to this recent patient of Dr. Olson’s, he said that he would go around the world to go back to Dr. Olson…that he is the best doctor anywhere.

                           
Prev Page             Next Page

Click here to send Mary John a message.

Phone: 704-873-6162 Fax: 704-873-8271 Email: sdumc@wnccumc.org
District Office Address: 941 Thomas Street, Statesville, NC 28677