Wednesday, August 20, was Autumn’s consultative appointment at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. She had no idea what to expect. Nonetheless, simply receiving the appointment elevated her mood. Dr. Price, the infectious disease physician and the navigator in her oncologist office also agreed a second opinion might be beneficial.
Mayo’s outstanding reputation for cancer treatment remains second to none. Inside the cancer gossip, rumor mill, Autumn heard that England’s Princess Kate is, or has received treatment there too. If Mayo is good enough for the future Queen of England, then it’s certainly good enough for her.
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Within hours of posting part 5 of Autumn’s cancer journey and mentioning our trip to Jacksonville, Autumn received a message from Nora Witmer. Her former husband was undergoing advanced treatment for a stage 4 diagnosis, and they had been at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for several weeks. Their prognosis seemed extremely challenging, which deepened my appreciation for Autumn’s journey.
Nora’s connection proved beneficial in many ways. First, it was comforting to gain an up-close perspective from a reliable source. She forwarded Autumn pictures and videos of the campus, particularly of their dining facilities. I’m sure Autumn wishes the CEO of Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast would visit the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and take detailed notes, especially regarding service, cleanliness, and food offerings.
Mayo, Finally
Aside from the 3 p.m. appointment, Autumn was unsure how long her stay would last, so she booked her hotel for just one night. Would they run tests or possibly refer her to other physicians in the following days?
Autumn waiting in an exam room at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL (OneSouthernMedia)
She arrived early enough to check in and get her dog, Moby, settled before making the short drive to Mayo’s sprawling campus. Just walking around the impressive grounds and through the Davis medical building presented a calming ambiance. Everything was new, clean and organized.
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Speaking of impressive, she found a large dining area and decided to grab lunch considering she had an hour and half to spare. Autumn mentioned that one of the best parts of the trip was people-watching.
Her only hiccup occurred when the kitchen misplaced her order, delaying our meal and causing her to worry if she had time to eat before the appointment. However, Mayo’s impressive culture isn’t only relegated to their medical care. Once the restaurant manager realized the dilemma , she offered a genuine apology and reversed the meal expense, which Autumn never requested. Again, superb service and care for patients traveling great distances makes a huge impact.
The patient waiting rooms, like everything at Mayo, were impressive. After checking in at exactly 2:45 p.m., Autumn waited less than ten minutes before a nurse called her name.
Treatment Confirmation
Dr. Rishitha Bollam was assigned to Autumn’s case. A well-trained and educated breast cancer specialist, Autumn said she had a calm and professional demeanor. After a ten minute discussion, Autumn felt better knowing that Dr. Bollam agreed with her prescribed treatment protocol. They discussed the ongoing infection and surgery issues. Thankfully, Dr. Bollam referred Autumn to Mayo’s Infectious Disease and Surgery specialists for future appointments.
Autumn’s exam was beneficial. The cancer mass in her right breast and underarm area had shrunk. Even with the infection issues, the cancer drugs were working. Dr. Bollam also recommended that Autumn resume antibiotic treatments, along with the two targeted meds. Chemo treatments will resume once the infection clears, hopefully in three or four weeks. Even better news is that Autumn doesn’t need to undergo surgery for another port installation and can use her existing picc line.
Overall the trip proved successful with her next Mayo appointment on September 2, followed by another on the 15th.
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Autumn’s travel and medical expenses are adding up quickly, and she wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed to the cause!
There are two ways to contribute to Autumn’s medical expenses:
Venmo: @AutumnMJohnson
Tax Deductible Contributions can be made through PayPal at DwightFest. Please specify “Autumn Johnson” in the notes section.