Dode Hammack

<< All Hodgkin's Lymphoma Survivors

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I've always been an "Evil Kneivel" type. I've broken so many bones I've lost count. I work hard and play hard. I just never thought that the same philosophy that resulted in so many injuries and emergency room visits would one day save my life but it did!

I was only forty seven years old when I was diagnosed with stage IV, Hodgkin's lymphoma. That was back in March 2001. I was told I had a very aggressive form of cancer. My thoughts immediately turned to my family. Who would take care of them? At the time, my oldest son was eighteen, my daughter seventeen and my two youngest sons, thirteen and ten.

In January 2001, I had developed a cold. That, in and of itself, was not unusual. I had yearly bouts of colds or pneumonia ever since I first developed and was treated for endocarditis in 1990. This particular infection, though, seemed to linger. When in March 2001, I continued to experience sharp pain between my shoulder blades, my family physician decided it was time for a full workup. My spleen was enlarged. A CAT scan revealed a grapefruit sized abdominal mass. The lymph nodes throughout my body were enlarged. My family physician conferred with two oncologists at the community medical center who confirmed the diagnosis by biopsy. I was then informed that chemotherapy could possibly ease the process but that the disease was so far gone, there was little that could be done.

I am writing now because I want to do for you what a dear friend did for me. She called and told me about Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). I had not heard from this person in years. She had been to CTCA's hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She said, "Don't let anyone tell you you're going to die. They treat the mind, body and spirit. I'm a miracle now because of what they've done".

My wife and I immediately contacted CTCA. My wife and I flew out to CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) in Zion, IL. We decided to go to Zion because of its stem cell transplant center. When we arrived at the airport, we were greeted by a limousine driver from CTCA. We were driven to the facility with another patient who had previously been to the facility and who shared all sorts of positive experiences with us. By the time we arrived, we already knew so many things about CTCA and were already beginning to feel comfortable. I was so scared but this other patient basically said, "You're going to love this place and here's why." The intake process upon our arrival went very smoothly.

We then met with my medical team. I shared with them that I was particularly fearful of chemotherapy. I had heard all sorts of horror stories about the side effects of treatment. I did not want my boys to have the memory of seeing me getting thinner and withering away. I did not want to be ravaged by the effects of chemotherapy. My fears were allayed. The doctors told me that they didn't believe in medicating or administering drugs unless they believed that they were going to work. I was reassured that there would be vitamin and nutritional supplementation and counseling to ensure that my body would withstand the effects of any medications that would need to be given. In short, they were going to treat not just my disease but all of me.

I agreed to and received a six month course of chemotherapy as well as radiation treatment . Additional tests were then run. Then, one day before what we all now refer to as 9/11, I was told that I would need to consider a stem cell transplant. My wife and I sat in our hotel room for the next five days since the airports were all under security lockdown and all flights had been cancelled. I had plenty of time to think.

I then remembered. If you're going to do something, do it 110 percent or don't do it at all. My wife and I looked at each other. We have a chance to fight this! When we were finally able to fly back home, we spoke with our family and advised them of our decision. I underwent the transplant in January 2002 and did not return home until March 15, 2002. Even after I returned home, I had to be so cautious given the risk of infection that no one could get within 30 feet of me for a period of time. All carpeting, drapes and curtains had to be removed from our home.

When I returned to CTCA in May 2002, there were no signs of tumor growth. I returned for follow-up exams every six months and am now on an annual follow-up schedule. To this day, there are no signs of tumor growth.

My doctors at CTCA didn't promise that they could save my life. I didn't want them to make promises unless they were sure they could keep them. Honesty and integrity are too important to me. They did promise me that they had the technology, skill, passion and commitment to help my body fight the disease and asked for the chance to do just that. We agreed that I couldn't fight the disease myself, that they couldn't do it by themselves but that together, using mind and body, there was a good chance of winning the fight.

A friend shared with me a story about an individual who visited a CTCA facility shortly after being told by another provider that her condition was terminal. She was told to take her socks off. The doctor at CTCA looked at the soles of her feet and informed her that there was no expiration date. My reason for telling this story is that no one knows for certain when your time is up. Had I given up and had my friend not called to tell me about CTCA, things would be very different for my family right now.

If you want to fight, CTCA will be right there fighting with you. While others take away hope, CTCA provides hope. My philosophy was to always give 110 percent and that is what CTCA did as well. When I was too ill to give the situation my full 110 percent, CTCA picked up the slack. Not a day goes by without my thanking this wonderful hospital and its dedicated staff.