To use a sports analogy, successful teams require a competent quarterback—someone who takes command of the field. Gaining access to Mayo Clinic has been an incredible blessing, but there have been several challenges in Autumn’s breast cancer journey that we needed to overcome. 

RELATED: Autumn’s Cancer Journey; I Never Thought It Could Happen to Me

One of her latest challenges has been an infection around her port. Her chemotherapy treatment was interrupted after two rounds to address this infection, which has lasted much longer than we anticipated. Dr. Price, an Infectious Disease (ID) specialist, and her team in Miramar Beach provided excellent treatment. 

Additionally, the oncology team at Ascension Sacred Heart in Miramar Beach removed her PICC line. As you can tell from previous updates, we are no longer fans of this hospital system—at least not the facilities on the Emerald Coast. I understand that some of you may have received adequate care there, and I’m thankful for that. We also encountered a few good providers along the way.

The quality of the facilities and the expertise of some health care providers assigned to Autumn’s care are subpar and far below what we should expect. Describing the difference between Ascension Sacred Heart of the Emerald Coast and the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville as “night and day” is an understatement. Nevertheless, we are thankful and blessed for the care provided by Mayo.

After her first trip to Mayo, Autumn returned with renewed optimism. They confirmed that the chemotherapy treatment protocol prescribed locally was correct. However, the most pressing issue was addressing the port infection.

Returning to Mayo

On Sunday, September 7, Autumn returned to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for an appointment with one of their ID specialists. We questioned whether the appointment was necessary, but ultimately, any treatment at Mayo is beneficial, and this visit proved that to be true. Because the wound was not healing properly, the Mayo doctor needed to perform surgery to repair the area where skin was growing inward. They also conducted a wound change and provided instructions for ongoing wound care.

Of the many blessings we’ve encountered, one we are especially grateful for comes from a generous individual in Jacksonville Beach. Sheryl, a retired former employee of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, reached out to Autumn after reading one of her updates. She generously offered Autumn a room in her condo and, if needed, the option to drive her to and from appointments. We are genuinely thankful for Sheryl’s hospitality; it has been a significant blessing for Autumn.

The following week, Autumn had nine appointments at the Mayo Clinic over the course of three days. Monday was particularly important because it would determine whether their surgical oncologists would accept them. Autumn mentioned that she had to “beg” on more than one occasion, urging her providers to schedule her surgeries and major treatments at Mayo instead of Ascension Sacred Heart. So far, her requests have been honored.

Port Surgery Repair

Tuesday involved preparing for surgery, which included lab tests, pre-operative assessments, wound care, and all the necessary preparations. Wednesday was surgery day, during which Autumn underwent two separate procedures. The first procedure involved removing a knotted stitch from her elbow, left by a surgical oncologist in Panama City, while the second was a 3″ x 3″ repair of skin tissue.

Autumn mentioned that she and the staff had a great time in the OR before the surgery, discussing her TikTok videos. However, once the surgeon arrived, it was all business. Both surgeries were successful, with the doctor inserting a wound vac to help the tissue heal more quickly. After recovering at her friend’s home in Jacksonville, she drove back to Freeport the following day.

Today, September 22, she returned to Jacksonville for a post-op follow-up appointment, hoping to have the wound vac removed. The next step is to schedule another surgery to install a port on the right side, after which chemotherapy treatments will resume.

Her surgical oncologists at  Mayo asked Autumn to participate in two five-year lymphedema research projects. Mayo’s research is among the best in the world, and participation means that she stays “in the Mayo system” as a long-term patient.

Thank You for Your Help  

Travel and medical expenses continue to accumulate. Thank you to everyone who has contributed; your kindness and generosity have been incredibly encouraging.

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.