Mercy Cancer Services
Patient Stories - Michele Barr
This past spring, while everything was breaking
ground with bursts of green, 39-year-old Michele Barr was feeling more
and more tired. The thought of spring cleaning, starting new projects
and taking on anything beyond what was already on her plate was
unthinkable.
“I’m a busy mom and I work all the time and I go 90
to nothing,” said Michele Barr, RN, BSN, infection control coordinator
at Mercy Health Center. “I thought if I just exercised more and ate
better, I’d feel better.”
But she didn’t. The exhaustion continued and by
July, a large lump appeared on her throat. Although most neck nodules
are benign and only 2 to 6 percent of people test positive for cancer,
Michele would soon learn she had thyroid cancer.
A team of Mercy physicians worked together to
diagnose, treat and provide everything in between for Michele’s
care—everyone from Michele’s Mercy Health Network primary care physician
Stanley Corley, M.D., to Vance McCollom, M.D., who performed her needle
biopsy, and from Rick Visor, M.D., ear, nose and throat specialist, to
surgeon James Totoro, M.D., and endocrinologist Wynter Kipgen, M.D.
From start to finish, her care was seamless. Within two weeks of diagnosis, Michele was in and
out of surgery in August and on her road to recovery. But beyond
excellent medical care, one of the biggest godsends through it all was
Lara Gaston, Mercy nurse navigator. At every turn, Lara lit the way.
“Everyone needs their own Lara to guide them
through,” said Michele. “She told me what I needed to know and what was
going to happen next.”
Beyond listening and providing calm, Lara was the
one who navigated Michele through all the twists and turns in the cancer
journey. She was the answer to all the questions that now flooded
Michele’s mind.
“I didn’t lose any time,” Michele said. “Lara knew
the relevant places to send me. I got the best information from a
professional. She had done the research for me.”
Lara, herself a thyroid cancer survivor, provided
guidance and directed Michele to the best resources—including the most
up-to-date and accurate websites, books, and a list of doctors Michele
would need to see.
“There is so much misleading information on the
internet,” said Michele. “I needed the most relevant information, the
evidence-based data about thyroid cancer. Lara steered me clear of all
the patient information that would only scare me and do little to inform
me. There was this huge relief to have someone focused on me and what I
needed at every turn.”
Not only did Lara identify possible pitfalls and map
out what was just around the corner, she looked out for Michele’s
family.
“Lara not only thought of me but she thought of my
two daughters and my husband,” said Michele.
To give Michele the words to tell her children about
her cancer, Lara provided a simple book, “In Mommy’s Garden,” to open
the doors. Instead of creating fear, the book helped Michele talk about
her cancer and alleviate any misconceptions her children might have.
Through a two-month whirlwind cancer journey, Lara
and Michele talked, exchanged e-mails and occasionally supped together.
“If I was experiencing some kind of symptom, I’d
e-mail Lara and she’d give me the verification I needed,” said Michele.
“It was this great relief to know that I wasn’t crazy. She was the
sounding board I needed. She continues to keep my spirits up.”
Although tired after her post surgery radioactive
iodine treatment, Michele is gaining strength every week.
“Although no one would ask for cancer, it really
woke me up,” said Michele. “I’m more alive today because of cancer. I
appreciate everything.”
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