When I stopped at the imaging center, I was on my way to get ice cream; chocolate chip with cherries, vanilla, or both…that was the big decision on my mind…
I had planned a little party for my mom’s birthday; she was 85 and didn’t get out much, so I invited people over for a special celebration. I went to town to get some last-minute things like ice cream and balloons. And I had made an appointment to get those extra mammogram images made that had been requested.
I live in Pennsylvania and was in Kentucky where my parents and most of my family lived. I grew up a farmer’s daughter. I had undiagnosed allergies and hated the constant breathing issues. I blamed it all on the farm. I committed at a very young age to going to college and NOT being a farmer. I appreciate the farm life a lot more now. At 87, my dad still farmed and I lived far away. Such conflict – can’t go back and can’t stay away. I had been there for about six weeks because Dad had been very sick. He was feeling better and I planned to go home the next day after the birthday party.
So, I found the imaging center at Central Baptist Hospital and thought I’d be there about 15 minutes, half-an-hour tops. After being there half-an-hour, they finally called me in for the images. After the images, they said, “Well, now we need to do an ultra-sound” and they had called in a doctor. I said OK and we did the ultra-sound…interesting. After the ultra-sound, they said, “Well, now we need to do a biopsy” and the doctor was starting to get serious. NEEDLES? I said, OK and we did the biopsy. Ouch, that hurt! After the biopsy, the doctor came in looking very serious and said, “OK, who do you want for your surgeon? It looks like you have cancer.” SURGEON? CANCER?? YOU WANNA CUT ME WHERE?? NOT ME!!
But, what I said out loud was, “Hole on jest a dang minute!!! Sorry, but I’m hostin’ a birthday party tonight and it’s time for me to get back to my shoppin’ for it.” And in that moment, my Southern accent came out, full force, like I rarely hear.
Three hours had gone by. The nurse said she would call me Monday with the more exact results of the biopsy. I knew they were wrong. No one in MY family has breast cancer; strokes and heart attacks yes, but not breast cancer. Monday came and you know how that story ended…or should I say began.
By the way, my Mama loved her birthday party!