The day finally arrived that I was going to see a GI surgeon at the University of Miami. If you're asking why a GI surgeon, because the tumor location is my lower spine (sacrum), pushing against the lower nerves and rectum. Still at this point we didn't know EXACTLY what was going on. We knew I had some sort of dangerous mass but no answers or even if we found a beginning yet. I can't tell you exactly what led us to this doctor or how we even fell exactly in her hands, but from the millions of doctors we had called this one stuck. The morning driving to Miami we were all sorts of anxious! Deeco and I of course brought my Mother along, and the three of us were crossing our fingers that this would be the start for everything.
Pulling into the University of Miami, I'm pretty sure we all were saying in our head at the same time, "Wow". This place is honestly amazing, Name a problem.... They have a building full of doctors to treat anything. I couldn't wrap my head around everything. Traffic everywhere, Doctors and Nurses crossing the street from building to building. Every one's in a rush. We were too. The parking garage was rather far from the Sylvester Cancer Institute where my doctor, Dr. Heidi Bahana was located. Our only option was to valet park. Valet Park? Who would of thought at a hospital. I'm a small town girl, our local hospital has probably never even thought about "Valet Parking" :)
As we pulled into the valet parking line, my stomach started turning and my heart started breaking. I looked at Deeco with fearful eyes and he shook his head. He knew exactly why I did that. I was now surrounded by people being treated by chemo and others in wheel chairs with machines. His shake of the head was silently telling me, "Stop, we aren't walking in with that mentality". My heart was breaking for the people suffering around me. This is where one of my biggest lesson's come in to play, Someone out there is always fighting a harder battle than you. I'm sure many of them would love to be in my shoes, rather than where they are. My problems seemed so minor to what I was surrounded by.
As I stepped out of the car, I looked up to find a gentleman that appeared to be around my age. I'll never forget him. He was recovering from a Rhinectomy (surgical removal of nose). It was covered with bandages. I began to get weak, I had never seen anything like this. He turned to the lady that appeared to be his mom, he made a remark and started laughing, She giggled along with him. What he's laughing? He's happy? How, in such a tragic time of his life? I learned because no matter how much bad is happening it can NEVER out weigh the blessings each and everyone of us have. He still was breathing and he still was ALIVE, LIVING life with his loved ones. So why wouldn't he laugh and carry on? Without us even exchanging one word, he had made an impact on my life. To this day he doesn't know it, But it gave me that boost to walk into that building with confidence and hope. My whole attitude changed and we walked in.
We went straight to administrations, I registered, received my ID bracelet, and we all patiently waited for my name to be called. All of our spirits were pretty high during out wait. We laughed, fought over who got to use the one iPhone charger we brought, played each other on words with friends, and the draw something game. Soon we learned the waits at our small town hospital/doctor offices are NOTHING, these weren't minutes that feel like hours. They WERE really hours lol :) No way you could see multiple doctors in one day, you never know how long you will be in one office. We just made the best of the wait, and boy oh boy was it all worth it :)
I'll never forget the picture above. I wore Bella's favorite lipstick as good luck. We used to fight over this lipstick, She always had to hold it in her hand, and I always wanted to keep it in my purse so we didn't lose it. It was the LAST one when we bought it :) Figured I'd rock a piece of her with me for the day! Finally we were called, Again I went through the normal procedure with the nurse and placed in a room. I'll never forget the day Dr. Bahana walked in. I was stunned. Tall, Beautiful, Latin woman. She was not your average doctor. She was right up my alley :) High tan pumps on and a tight short dress. Yes, I know... What a hot doctor right!? She was glowing when she walked in! I instantly felt at ease. We went through the whole story of what brought us to her office that day. She said little in front of everyone except, that she was going to help us out. Dr. Bahana then asked Deeco and my Mother to step out of the room. No doctor had ever asked them that. She wanted to do an exam, see if she could feel the tumor. She could. After I had got dressed, she looked at me as she was sitting in a stool below me. I looked at her and she placed her hands on my knees. With eyes full of compassion and sensitivity she said "You're going to have this baby and I'm going to make sure of it". I started crying and said "Every thing's going to be okay"? Her response was along the lines of if she promised me I'd be okay and if anyone else did they would be lying. But she could promise me I was going to have my baby. Right there was enough for me. That's all I wanted. She continued to tell me that it is a known fact that my son had saved my life, and without my tumor being found because of my pregnancy, I would have NEVER lived a full life. My son truly saved my life. This has been reiterated to me over every doctors appointment, when I started to lose hope. Now it was my turn to save my son's life :)
As I cried with happy tears, tears of hurt, and tears of relief she held me. A complete stranger that had never laid eyes on me until today. She said "She couldn't imagine the road I've been on, and we were going to do this as a team". I've never felt so connected with someone in my entire life. She honestly was my ANGEL. Dr. Bahana now needed to set me up with an OBGYN. I hadn't found one since the day I left the high risk OBGYN's office. She set me up with a well known high risk doctor at the UM. A few of her doctor friends had him deliver their children and even twins. Dr. Bahana was confident that he would take on the challenge. This woman has made such a postive impact on my story. She has went above and beyond to help us along this journey. Her personal assistant deals with each and every incident that deals with me, I have direct contact for anything I need with her or her assistant. Anyone that's been at a large hospital, knows how much of a pain it is to get directly to anyone. I'm so blessed and thankful to have found her. I'm confident to have her on my side as we fight this.
My next journey leads me to the high risk OBGYN, Dr. Yasin. Time to now focus on my son and having a pregnancy as healthy as I possibly could, I now was going to still treat for my tumor, but put that second in line. All my focus now was going toward's the birth of my son. Dr, Yasin is the angel that then saved my son's life.
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