In mid- 2002, we were basking in the glow of our recent wedding and pending arrival of our first child. Soon thereafter, Mom finally decided to start complaining about her pains in her stomach. Those pains were two football sized tumors on her ovaries. Mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer. At that point on, I began to learn intimately about the healthcare system in the United States.
Mom had a 5 hour surgery in the fall of 2002 to remove the tumors but the surgeon at the University of Florida-Shands Center told us that this wasn't the end of the cancer. After Mom underwent chemotherapy in the months that followed, the cancer was beaten for now. Well, we always knew it would come back. Sure enough in 2004, it spread to her colon. Yes, another battery of tests and surgery at Citrus Memorial in Inverness to remove the cancerous legions. Then another large tumor was found in her brain. In 2005, yet another series of tests and then surgery at George Washington Hospital to remove the tumor (which was malignant). Mom never complained and took every opportunity to spread her good humor with her caregivers.
In 2007, the cancer spread back into her brain and she endured another battery of tests and then radiation. Later in the year, we learned that the tumors grew and the oncologist told us there was nothing more to be done. Yet, Mom kept her chin up and lived each day as it was her last. Sadly, Mom's last day was Sunday on a warm, rainy morning in her nursing home bed in Warrenton, VA.
During this painful time, we watched her savings eaten away by the mounting medical bills. Medicare paid for a large amount but only 80% of the costs. Her secondary insurer, United would only pick up the cost if she paid a huge deductible. I witnessed first hand the professionalism and compassion of all the doctors, nurses and just plain old volunteers. They welcomed Mom's view on life and it gave them a bright spot in their day. The doctors and nurses were clearly overworked and carried themselves through on limited time for their own families. It was overwhelming to see the amount of the bills that came in during this time. I gained a perspective on both sides of the health care reform issue first hand. "Why can't Mom get that drug?" I would ask but she would get some other lesser known or less efficient drug. When her pain would go away because of one of her prescriptions, we were thankful. We realized that a lot of R&D, money and resources went into that drug to get it to the market. We also knew that there were another 9 or so drugs that didn't make it to that stage. I also knew that the younger generation who has less health issues were paying the premiums so my Mom could be kept alive and keep her treated so she could see her grandkids. Lastly, the continuous interactions between Mom and her caregivers were important and never driven by what she could afford. The goal was always on what would be done to help her.
As we get deeper and deeper into debate about the health care reform bill, the costs, criticisms of the current system and positions, let's remember that the current health system while it has its problems, it does have tremendous benefits. We were able to have Mom with us for another 6+ years but the lack of a cure for cancer robbed us of her wonderful presence for an unknown amount of years.
Cheers.
