Wednesday, August 20, was Autumn’s consultative appointment at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. Neither Autumn nor myself had any 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, I 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 Autumn.
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Within hours of posting part 5 of Autumn’s cancer journey and mentioning our trip to Jacksonville, I received a message from my dear friend from Memphis days, 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 pictures and videos of the campus, particularly of their dining facilities. I wish 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.
As I write this update on August 26, Autumn sent me a text from the Ascension office, where she meets with her oncologist and receives chemotherapy treatments. She included a picture of green mold growing in the coffee maker, which is placed not far from the bowl of hard candy at the reception desk. Hmmm, doesn’t cancer thrive on sugar?
Mayo, Finally
Aside from the 3 p.m. appointment, we were unsure how long our stay would last, so we booked our hotel for just one night. Would they run tests or possibly refer her to other physicians in the following days? We didn’t know, but we had a backup plan in case her stay extended beyond a day.
Autumn waiting in an exam room at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL (OneSouthernMedia)
I should also mention that we had a third passenger with us, Moby, Autumn’s 15-year-old chihuahua. We consider him an “unofficial” service animal, and he tends to take up much more bed space than his size would suggest.
We arrived early enough to check in and get Moby settled before making the short drive to Mayo’s sprawling campus. Just walking around the impressive grounds and through the Davis medical building produced a calming ambiance. Everything was new, clean and organized.
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Speaking of impressive, we found a large dining area and decided to grab lunch considering we had an hour and half to spare. One of the best parts for me was people-watching. People of multiple nationalities mingled with healthcare workers enjoying lunch breaks, especially in the shaded outdoor dining area.
Our only hiccup occurred when the kitchen misplaced our order, delaying our meal and causing us to worry if we had time to eat before our appointment. However, Mayo’s impressive culture isn’t only relegated to their medical care. Once the restaurant manager realized our dilemma , she offered a genuine apology and reversed our meal expense, which we 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., we waited less than ten minutes before a nurse called Autumn’s name. I’ve never seen nicer exam rooms in a healthcare setting.
Treatment Confirmation
Dr. Rishitha Bollam was assigned to Autumn’s case. A well-trained and educated breast cancer specialist, she has a calm and professional demeanor. After a ten minute discussion, we felt better knowing that Dr. Bollam agreed with Autumn’s prescribed treatment protocol. We discussed the ongoing infection and surgery issues. Thankfully, Dr. Bollam referred Autumn to Mayo’s Infectious Disease and Surgery specialists for future appointments.
The day’s best news came after Dr. Bollam examined Autumn. 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.
After picking up Moby from the hotel, the three of us headed to Jacksonville Beach, where we found a lovely patio at a Mexican restaurant to relax and enjoy a meal. We also strolled down to a beach walkover to take in the views of the Atlantic coastline.
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It was much nicer than I expected. However, there’s no beating the sandy white beaches along the Emerald Coast. We’re fortunate in so many ways. We even got to swing by and see the “Van Zant House,” where Southern Rock icons Ronnie, Donnie, and Johnnie Van Zant spent their formative years.
Travel and medical expenses are adding up quickly, and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed to the cause! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!
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.