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Patient Story |
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Teri L Smith Parma, OH United States female Living with Hodgkin Lymphoma for 21 years, 1 month Age: 59 Hello, my name is Teri Smith and I have been a cancer survivor for 11 years. I was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in August of 1989. It was certainly a shock to me. I have always been healthy and active and took good care of myself. I was married with two little girls. Alyssa was 20 months old and Michelle was 8 months old. I was so scared, but I knew in my heart that I had to beat this cancer because I wanted to be there for my daughters. So, we began the "ordeal", and what an ordeal it was. I found a doctor that I thought I could trust but he was only interested in enrolling me in an experimental program. There were a series of painful tests, which I later found were unnecessary. My husband gave me a book by Dr. Bernie Siegel and reading it truly turned things around for me. He believes that you are in charge of your own life and that you should be able to have complete confidence and trust in your doctor, and to even feel comfortable enough to give him a hug. Well I certainly did not feel that way about the doctor I was seeing. So, I went in search to find the "right doctor" for me. After two attempts I found him. I truly believe that the doctor I wound up seeing saved my life...twice. And, yes, I felt comfortable enough to give him a hug, and I did many times. I began chemo treatments and after nine I achieved a remission in May of 1990. Of course I celebrated and thought it was all over. Well it was for about 3 years. In 1993 the "nasty bugger" returned and this time with a vengeance. My doctor advised me that my only option was to have a bone marrow transplant. Scared out of my wits, I said, "Let's go with it." My sister, brother and even parents were tested as possible donors, but they all failed. So, Plan B was to do the stem cell procedure. I must admit that the ordeal before the actual transplant was worse than the transplant itself. A catheter surgically inserted into my chest was probably not one of my favorite things. I walked into the Cleveland Clinic scared, anxious and determined to walk out of that clinic cancer free. Twenty-eight days of being without my family and friends, isolated in a room seeing just doctors and nurses was not my idea of a good time. I read a lot of books, watched TV and even played cards with the nurses. I attended a support group that helped a lot. Of course, I was sick and weak for a while. But after the actual transplant, things did get a little better and I was very anxious to go home. So, 28 days later I walked out of the Cleveland Clinic cancer free and 11 years and 2 months later I am still here to talk about it. My advice to anyone facing cancer is to do as much research as you possibly can, find a good doctor, and basically fight this disease with everything you have and even more. There were times when I didn't think I could do it any more, but with the love, support and prayers from so many people, I always found that little bit of strength to get me through. I want to take this opportunity to thank my loving and supportive husband, Frank. He was always there for me with encouragement and support. I know it was difficult for him, but he remained focused on me and did everything he could to get me though this. My late mother was an angel. She helped Frank take care of the girls, she wrote me letters, called me and was so supportive. My dad was right there with her too. My sister, Sandy, was also a very important part of keeping me focused on getting well and stepping up to help whenever she could. Thank you all for everything. |
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