Dr. Cathy Graham, An Angel To Be Sure

There is a wonderful quote from the book “Pilgrim’s Progress” which says “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who cannot pay you back.”  Dr Cathy Graham, and the kind and wonderful staff she had surrounded herself with in her practice live this dictum.  Let me share my story.

I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in March of this past year.  Although it had moved out of “situ”, it was very early stage and, certainly, a cancer people live with and through.  The problem came after the lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy when I was experiencing some rather benign symptoms. To be safe, Dr. Graham ordered a chest x-ray.  These x-rays used to be a matter of course before any surgery but with current insurances mandates, it never happened.  I got a call from Dr. Graham’s office that they wanted to see me and made time for me to come in at the end of the day – her long day of surgery and office visits.

She took me into her office looked me straight in the eye and said, in her own immutable way, “You have one big honkin’ tumor in your right lung.  It is very big and it was very serious.  But we are going to help you take care of this.  We are not going to leave you to fight this alone.  I will be with you every step along the way.  And she was.  The staff stayed that night until they knew I could leave and safely drive home.  She called in a favor to find a surgeon to take my case.  She visited me in intensive care and made sure I was okay on the surgical floor.  She facilitated my transition to the cancer center and my other angel, Dr. Nock.  She even made sure that it was she, and no one else, that put the port in my chest so that they could give me chemo much more easily since my veins are so hard to access.

I stopped by her office yesterday to give her a Christmas hug and let her know what was going on with me presently.  At a time in our country when we have a lot of negative things to say about health care, physicians, we all need to know that there are more healers and angels.  And, Dr. Cathy Graham, you are one.  Thank you!