Faye’s Fight: Finding Strength and Support Through an Unexpected Diagnosis
When Faye arrived at Memorial’s Emergency Department, she was experiencing severe stomach pain. Little did she know, this visit would change her life.
A Surprising Diagnosis
Faye’s daughter, Cathy, recounted how surprising the diagnosis was. “We went to the hospital because she was having stomach pain. We thought it was just constipation and assumed we’d be going home shortly. My dad didn’t even come with us. But after a CT scan, the doctor came back in, and his exact words were ‘You have cancer.’”
The news was overwhelming, but Memorial’s team immediately took action. Cathy shared how impressed she was with the efficiency and care, saying, “The doctor told us, ‘You’re not going home today.’ They had already contacted a surgeon. And then, here comes Dr. Rimmer.”
Faye and Cathy know Dr. David Rimmer personally, as he’s a friend and neighbor. Seeing him after receiving such difficult news gave them a sense of relief.
Life-Saving Surgery
Dr. Rimmer quickly performed surgery to remove the cancerous mass in Faye’s colon. Reflecting on the experience, Faye said, “When he told me I needed surgery, I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ He made me feel like everything was going to be OK. After the surgery, he was so positive. To me, he is like a miracle man.”
The surgery revealed that the cancer had spread to Faye’s liver, requiring chemotherapy. From there, she was referred to Oncologist Dr. Sidra Khalid.
Despite the challenges ahead, Faye maintained her optimism, sharing, “I’ve yet to feel like it’s not going to be OK because that’s how Dr. Rimmer and Dr. Khalid make you feel.”
A Team That Cares
Faye and Cathy couldn’t speak highly enough about the care they received from Dr. Khalid and the rest of her team. Cathy said,“They are so responsive. If I send a message through the portal, we get an answer in an hour. And it’s not just a quick reply—it’s a full explanation, step by step. They make sure we understand everything and never make us feel bad for asking questions.”
For Faye, the kindness and attentiveness of the staff made all the difference. “Dr. Khalid is so calm and caring. She always takes the time to ask, ‘Do you have any questions?’ It feels like they truly care about you as a person.”
Finding Joy Through the Journey
Throughout her treatment, Faye has kept a positive outlook, crediting the Memorial team for much of her strength. “I could go on and on about how wonderful everybody is. I’m probably one of the few people who comes home from chemo saying, ‘Yes, that was great!’”
Despite her diagnosis, Faye focuses on the things she loves, like spending time outdoors and gardening. “I just want to be outside all the time,” she shared, her optimism shining through.
Gratitude for Memorial
For Faye, the kindness and expertise of the Memorial team have been life-changing. As she put it in a thank-you card she sent to Dr. Khalid, “My journey has given me two miracles. The first was having Dr. Rimmer in the ER on August 1, who is my friend and neighbor. My second miracle was having you walk into the hospital and introduce yourself. At the time, so many came in and things were a blur. Thank you for always being there to answer questions. The Lord will get me through this, and of course my two miracles will too – you and Dr. Rimmer.”