Meet some of our patients

Meet Teofilo Olmedo

Age: 71
Diagnosis: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Van Elslander Cancer Center Doctor: Dr. Al-Katib
His story:

From time to time, my family doctor would send me for a blood test. About five years ago, he called and told me there was something we needed to read again. In retrospect I realize he probably didn’t want to give me blunt bad news. He referred me to an oncologist. My wife and daughter went to the appointment with me, and it was terrifying. This oncologist basically showed me the rest of eternity in front of my face. My wife and daughter were in tears. I then went to another oncologist, but after a year of seeing him, I wasn’t making any progress.

Finally, a family friend referred me to Dr. Al-Katib at the Van Elslander Cancer Center. He was such a positive person — all the people at the Center are saintly, kind, understanding, compassionate and very competent. Dr. Al-Katib began treating me immediately which, oddly, the previous doctors had not done. He and the nurses spent a lot of time with me educating me on what to expect. This was very different than my other experiences. It sounds simple — education and communication with the patient. But it meant so much. You can sense they’re really listening to you. I felt like I was the only patient they had to work with. You are a special, unique person to them. They treat you individually.

I’ve now been through four or five rounds of chemotherapy. Dr. Al-Katib educates you, prepares you for it. I’ve had weeks of relief. People who are suffering need special people to work with. At the Van Elslander Cancer Center, they must have decided to find the very best professionals they could hunt out. It was definitely worth the effort for me to find this place. The nurses and technicians, all these people have extended kindness, understanding, compassion, courtesy, and even cheerfulness. All those things in an ambience where there is worry and different levels of suffering, this is fantastically positive. I’m lucky to be rather cheerful and possess a positive disposition towards life, and you have to try even more to stay positive when you have cancer. You learn to accept the disease, do the best you can with the vitality you have.

The biggest lesson I learned:

Attitude is your strongest ally. Accept the reality of cancer, because as they say, truth will set you free. You have to accept the truth of life. Stay positive in the face of whatever you are facing.

 

Meet Dawn Criger

Age: 39
Diagnosis: Breast Cancer
Van Elslander Cancer Center Doctor: Dr. Aref

The first time I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 – I was 29 and had just found out I was pregnant. I had the lumpectomy and started chemotherapy when I was seven months pregnant. Everything was fine until nine years later, when I found a lump in my other breast. I didn’t think too much about it, it was a tiny pea-sized lump, no big deal. I knew it was going to be nothing, because nine out of ten lumps are benign. I waited about a month, checked it again and it was still there, so I thought I’d better go in. I went to the Van Elslander Cancer Center.

It was my first time there, and I loved it — it was so brand-new. I actually liked going there every day. Within a week I had my mammogram, an ultrasound and had the surgery, and then May 1st went in to do the chemotherapy. Four treatments, one every 21 days. I finished that up and went into eight weeks of radiation. Upstairs they have the Healing Arts Center, where I got involved in the reflexology, reiki and took a Ch’i Gong class, too. I did it all. The mind, body and spirit kind of thing. I decided, I can’t keep giving up things. I’m very healthy. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I take very good care of myself, and yet I thought, something’s not right. I need to start adding things to my life. So I added the Healing Arts Center. And that made a big difference – a huge difference, I really feel it helped my recovery. You’re so stressed running back and forth to the doctor’s office all the time, having things done; it was a wonderful place to be. Dr. Aref saw how much it was helping me, and he started suggesting it to his other patients. You feel like you need to do other things for your body – find new ways to stay healthy. I used to finish up my radiation on Fridays; after I was done I’d go upstairs for my weekend treat. Before I started going to the Van Elslander Cancer Center, I didn’t even know what reflexology was; I didn’t know what Ch’i Gong was or any of that… absolutely nothing. I started reading about it and then got involved. When you’ve had cancer, you’ll do anything. Anything to get into a different frame of mind. It’s an attitude thing. Being more positive, healthier, and feeling better. The less stress you have in your life, the better it is, and that’s how I looked at it. It’s another world up there at the Healing Arts Center. It’s an alternative, and it’s there for you.

The biggest lesson I learned:

Take each day one day at a time, live that day to the fullest. Don’t worry about next week, don’t stress over the little things. The road rage. The marketing calls you get all day long. That stuff is so little compared to the other things in life. Enjoy the things around you and the people around you.

 

Meet Dominique Patterson

Age: 7
Diagnosis: Leukemia
Van Elslander Cancer Center Doctor: Dr. Sawaf
Her story:

I’m in second grade, and I started treatment for leukemia on January 18, 2000. I used to go for treatments every week; then later on I only went every month. And this July, I finished all my treatments. Dr. Sawaf says I’m doing great. He’s funny and nice. He listens to my heart and asks me how I’m feeling. The nurses are nice too, and they give me toys. I have a lot of toys from there. I also take a karate class there, called Kids Kicking Cancer. They teach me how to do karate kicks. I like all the people at the Van Elslander Cancer Center. If one of my friends had cancer, I would tell her not to be afraid. In school, my favorite class is science, so maybe I’ll be a doctor one day, too.

Biggest lesson I learned:

Hospitals aren’t as scary as the ones on TV. You don’t need to be afraid.

 

Local Olympic torch bearer “triumphs over one of life’s great tests”

Peter Morgan, “is not dying from lung cancer, he’s living with it,” says his wife Peggy. That’s the philosophy that Peter continues to live and inspires others with, since being diagnosed with lung cancer in December, 2000.

That attitude has not gone unnoticed, and actually helped his selection as one of the official Olympic Torchbearers when the torch relay came through southeastern Michigan in January 2002 — one year after his first chemotherapy treatment. Peter’s sister, Vickie, saw his attitude and observed the way he has lived his life, and nominated him to carry the Olympic torch, when she wrote that “would represent triumph over one of life’s great tests for Peter and thousands of cancer victims like him.”

Community judging panels across America read more than 200,000 stories submitted by people whose lives have been touched and inspired by someone special. The panels’ task was to choose a few special people who are the light of inspiration in our nation to serve as torchbearers for the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay.

The torch relay celebrates the inspirational fire found within every U.S. community. The Olympic Flame is carried throughout the country for 65 days covering more than 13,500 miles.

Peter carried the torch dressed in official U.S. Olympic garb.

He recently concluded treatments at St. John Hospital and Medical Center’s (SJH&MC) Van Elslander Cancer Center in Grosse Pointe Woods and participated in an Olympic Torchbearer in Training event at Hamilton Chevrolet in Warren. He prepared for his leg of the relay without a wheelchair and without oxygen, which he currently requires, but which could be dangerous near the torch’s flame.

“Peter faces this disease with an incredible mixture of humor, calm, stoicism and humility. He is selfless, steady and kind, despite the adversity he faces. His two grown sons (ages 25 and 21) are a testament to his even temper and quiet wisdom,” Vicki said in her nominating letter.

His physician, oncologist P. Thomas Porter, on staff at SJH&MC, says that “Peter is an inspiration to all who are fighting cancer. His courage and determination have had much to do with his success in battling his cancer.”

“Activity helps overcome depression. The more active you are, the less sick you feel,” Peter, a retired Ford Motor Company employee, says.

He is one of 11 children, raised in Grosse Pointe Park. Many of his siblings flew in to see Peter carry the Olympic torch.

 

Meet John Staub

My name is John F. Staub. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November of 1995. I was 66 years old. The cancer was discovered during a routine insurance physical. I really didn’t have any symptoms to speak of. I later learned this is not uncommon with prostate cancer.

At the time my wife and I had just built a home down south and were enjoying our retirement. We were busy planning another lifelong dream: a trip to Asia. A prostate biopsy indicated a malignant tumor with a high Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) level. Not good. My urologist, Dr. Schervish, explained my options. I could wait and monitor, undergo a radical prostectomy with the possibility of impotence and incontinence, have a radioactive iodine seed implant or have radiation therapy. After considerable research, and with guidance from my wife, Dr. Schervish, and a close personal physician friend, I selected the iodine seed implant, feeling it was the least damaging for a healthy vital man and offered potential eradication of the tumor. According to Dr. Schervish, I was an ideal candidate for the procedure thanks to my overall good health and the stage of my tumor. The most difficult part of the experience, after the initial emotional impact, was the decision-making process and the pre-surgical diagnostic testing.

Recovery was quite uneventful. In less than 60 days we were enjoying life again. I’m grateful to report my PSA was 0 in September of 2001. I never dreamed I’d face another cancer in my lifetime. However, at the age of 70, a biopsy of a suspicious-looking mole confirmed I had melanoma, or skin cancer.

Before this diagnosis I was enjoying my retirement in South Carolina. My dermatologist there said I would need a wide excision for the removal of the melanoma and a sentinel node biopsy to see if the melanoma had spread. This was really my only option. I could have had the procedure in South Carolina, but I felt more confident coming back to St. John.

I learned from a friend about Dr. Cheryl Wesen. What an incredible person. So caring. So talented. Because I was out of state we did a lot of planning on the phone with the help of family and friends. I was so surprised when Dr. Wesen herself called one day. She spent a lot of time on the phone with my wife and me answering our questions and preparing us for the upcoming surgery. She even called back to answer last-minute questions. I was amazed at her level of commitment and concern.

In December 1999 I came up for the surgery. A few days later, Dr. Wesen confirmed the cancer had not spread. When she told me the news, I knew she really cared and was as happy and relieved as I was.

To anyone facing this problem, I would say be informed and ask questions. Also, you have to have 100% faith in the people helping you. That’s why I chose St. John Hospital and Medical Center.

 

Meet Tom Barnes

My name is Tom Barnes. I was diagnosed with leukemia in January 1995. I was 12 years old and in 6th grade. I had a lump on the side of my neck. I didn’t think it was anything. But my mom did.

They took me to the doctor. He also found purple dots all over my body called petachaie. It’s when your blood vessels are close to the skin because your platelets are low and your blood can’t clot. He said he didn’t want to jump to conclusions until they tested me, but he said it could be mono or leukemia.

The blood test the next day said it was leukemia. We went to St. John and met all the doctors… they looked me over… I was in there a couple of weeks. I had a bone marrow aspiration and they put a catheter in me to take blood out. By February, they told me I was in remission. I didn’t know what that meant, but everyone said it was good.

Then I went through a three-stage treatment. I had chemotherapy for two and half years and also radiation for about a month. I felt tired a lot and sore, like after you work out. My mom also said I was moody. It was kinda hard; I was beginning junior high.

At the end of one year I was going every other week for shots. The third year, I think I was in 8th or 9th grade, I came in once a month for a checkup. Then it was every two months. Now it’s every three months.

If other kids are wondering if it’s going to be bad, I want to tell them it will be hard, but it does get better after awhile. Everyone who helped me was so cool, too. Today I’m not taking any medicines and I feel fine, normal. I have a part-time job, and I’m looking forward to running track again next spring.