Sometimes when
you think you have everything figured out, life changes in an instant. Things are not always what they seem. That is a life lesson I have definitely
learned in the last year!
At the end of last year, I
was on the road to becoming an elementary school teacher. I completed coursework and testing in order
to get my educator’s license, and I aced a phone interview with a public school
system. Life was great! Everything was falling into place. Or so I thought.
As I was busy planning for
my new life as an educator, I found out I was pregnant. I was totally shocked. Although I was thrilled about the new life
growing inside of me, I was concerned about how I would deal with my new career
and being pregnant at the same time. I
decided I would wait to start teaching, and try to enter the school system mid-
year. That way I would have time to bond
with my newborn before jumping into a classroom full of second graders!
One night I was lying in
bed when I noticed a small lump on the right side of my neck. I thought little of it at the time. But as my pregnancy progressed, I noticed the
mass was growing larger. That is when I
became alarmed. I mentioned the lump to
my OB-GYN, because I thought maybe my hormones had triggered the enlargement of
my thyroid gland. My obstetrician
referred me to an ENT doctor who performed a needle biopsy on the mass. During his examination he also discovered
additional growths in the back of my neck.
However, results from the biopsy came back inconclusive.
Because I developed
pneumonia at that time, I didn’t return to the ENT doctor for awhile. But by the time I returned to the doctor my
neck had doubled in size. The mass on
the right side of my neck was almost as large as an orange. Although the doctor performed several other
needle biopsies, they were all inconclusive because the samples were too
small. On my next visit the physician removed a
cervical lymph node from the back of my neck.
The pathology from that
large lymph node put me in shock. The
doctor had a diagnosis. It was
cancer! I had Hodgkins lymphoma.
Although
I was stunned by this diagnosis, I did not allow myself to get down about
it. I had faith. I was five months pregnant at that time. I began coming to West Clinic, and was
confronted with the possibility of either terminating my pregnancy or starting
a mild form of chemo while yet pregnant.
My doctor and I researched the drugs I would be given, and decided that
my unborn child could tolerate the drugs.
So I moved forward with my pregnancy and with treatment.
For weeks, it seemed I was
always at a doctor’s office. I started
my first round of chemo and was more nervous for my son than I was for myself. I had to fight feelings of guilt that I was
using a drug which could possibly affect my son’s development. On the other hand I knew I had to fight for
my own life, so that I and my son
could live. I was focused on being a
mother to my unborn son.
I
struggled with my feelings for a couple months.
My doctor stopped chemo so I could give birth, and anticipated that we
would start the hard-hitting chemo as soon as possible after the baby was born. Aristen Keith Polk was born three weeks
early, absolutely healthy, weighing 6 pounds 15 ounces! What a blessing. And two weeks later I started the heavy-duty
chemo.
Thankfully, I have a very
supportive family who helps me. Chemo is
horrible! But I am not one to ask, “Why
me?” I don’t ask that because I realize
things could be so much worse. I know I
have more good days coming than bad.
For me, it’s all about
faith. I have to have it and keep it, no
matter what! I am projected to complete
all my chemo in three months. Life isn’t
what I planned for, but that is okay. I
have life, and I love it! And I love the
people I have met on my journey. I thank
God for giving me the strength to fight this cancer, care for my son, and keep
the faith. And I have faith to believe
that this, too shall pass!
Veronica Polk, age 24
Hodgkins lymphoma
November 15, 2011