Miracles Still Happen

Kate’s Story

Written by: Kate Ammons

My life has been a tapestry, woven with many colors. The most wonderful aspect of my tapestry has been my lovely daughter, Mary Beth.

My mom always taught me to serve others and to help; I have tried to do that most of my life.

I have worked at Chick-Fil-A, spent time as a nurse’s aid, was a registered nurse in ICU and home health for several years, and then went on to medical school and residency. My daughter and I moved here in 1995, and I began practicing Internal Medicine.

Time passed by and on July 4, 2006, I experienced a traumatic brain injury; on the 11th, Mary Beth (who was 11 at the time) was told “Your mom is going back on life support, and she won’t survive the night.” When I did survive, she was told “Your mom will be in a nursing home for at least a year, learning to walk and talk, if she is able to get off life support. She will never be your mom and she will never work again”.

Well, they didn’t know the Jewish carpenter I work for; I was back at work four weeks later; Mercy and Grace.

Time passed by, Mary Beth grew up, graduated high school, studied interior architecture in Chicago, was offered early internship where she witnessed people working on plans for 16 hours which she said, “really didn’t make a difference.” “I just couldn’t see myself doing that, mom.” She came home, worked with wonderful people at The Season Events (who have become wonderful friends during this journey), and is now studying to be a Chef in Virginia, while continuing to play guitar and perform when she can. Life is Good. Mercy and Grace.

Time continued to pass by; I was enjoying serving the lovely people I am privileged to serve (blessed to have a wonderful staff to help me care for the patients we see), taking care of my animals and plants, and playing guitar and piano whenever I could.

I was changing clothes after work on 23 January 19 when I noticed a lump on the exterior of my right breast. I had mammogram and ultrasound on 25 January 19. The ultrasound revealed a solid mass, a radiologist tried to aspirate fluid but could not, so biopsy was performed. As a patient, I walked out hopeful; as an Internist, I walked out knowing I had breast cancer. So, much of that weekend was a blur. I let Mary Beth know I had had the biopsy and told her, hopefully, it would be benign like the one I had years ago. I didn’t want her to worry until the pathology was available. I experienced so many emotions that weekend and, tears as well. I spent time praying and playing my guitar; my mantra has always been, “God has this” and, most of the time, I remember. However, sometimes in the early morning, it is easy to fall into a dark place.

I was seeing patients on Monday when I received the call; the biopsy was malignant. That week was filled with staging CT scans, a bone scan, a breast MRI, and genetic testing.

I was progressing along my journey; then, I received the call: “Your tumor is triple negative and ki -67 94%” (means a very aggressive tumor). I hung up the phone, thought, “That’s a death sentence.” I walked to my bed, fell in, and sobbed and prayed for 15 minutes. Then God said, “Get up, get a plan, I’ve got this.” Mercy and Grace.

“It’s a journey, and the rough spots will end; I am not alone— God has this, and he has me.”

Ms. Holcomb (LaDonna), a Nurse Practitioner with Cancer Navigators, has been my coach and has become my very dear friend during this journey. She arranged for the MRI to be moved up, met with me regarding tumor markers, and explained it just meant I would have to use IV chemotherapy instead of oral.

I had a lumpectomy, a sentinel node biopsy, and a placement of mediport on 4 February 19; everything went well. The lymph nodes were negative, and the staging scans, bone scan and MRI were negative. Mercy and Grace.

I had my first chemo on 21 February 19; Melissa has been wonderful; all the staff at the Cancer Center are inspiring and encouraging. They are bright lights on this journey. Dr Khan has made this walk seem less daunting, his kindness is much appreciated.

My genetic studies came back positive. NCCN guidelines recommend bilateral mastectomies the geneticist I spoke with recommended bilateral mastectomies, and Dr. Khan recommended bilateral mastectomies. Since my cancer is aggressive, I will complete five months of chemo then head back for surgery to reduce the area for another primary cancer to recur.

While it can be so easy to get lost in data and feel very dark, I know (as I share with patients) as a Christian, I am ok either way, I will continue to wake up on God’s beautiful earth, or I will wake up and gaze upon His beautiful face. I went to confession in December after my head injury and was asked by my priest, “How does it feel?” I asked, “How does what feel?” He replied, “I know of living miracles, I just have never been this close; I gave you last rites, yet, here you are” I replied, “It’s humbling; I pray daily for God’s guidance, I am humbled to be alive, to be Mary Beth’s mom, and to be working.”

We must remember Lazarus, the widow Naim, the woman who bled for 12 years, and most importantly, the resurrection of Jesus. Miracles happen every day.

I have worked most every day having chemo; I take off Fridays; Mercy and Grace.

I have been amazed at the support I have received during this journey; Dr Baker and his wife Candi, Tim Blalock, Tiffany Jones, Mary Spears, April Bryan, Cindi Dotson, Midge Watford, Holly Lynch and others at The Seasons Events, and so many other people have been so kind and helpful. Mercy and Grace.

In two weeks, I will complete Adriamycin and Cytoxan, take off two weeks, then twelve weeks of Taxol; then back to surgery; it’s a journey, and the rough spots will end; I am not alone— God has this, and he has me.