"I don't know what I would have done without you all"

The first time I was diagnosed with Lymphoma was in 2007. At that time I lived in Port Richey and lymphoma was found in my stomach was treated with radiation. At that time I was in remission, although I was told with the type of Lymphoma I had, it would most likely come back. And indeed, three years later it was back , this time in both lungs.

At that time I was in with Florida Medical and under the care of Oncologist, Dr. Kawouchi. He choose to leave the practice and move closer to his family in the north, that is when Dr. McDonough came to FMC. I told him that since this was my second encounter, I would like a second opinion. He said he understood and I went to Moffitt Cancer Center. This time with FMC I was given chemo, and introduced to his chemo staff. Anita White, was the charge nurse, and from the first time I met her, I felt like I had known her forever. She made me feel so comfortable and at ease and understands the physiological effects cancer has on patients. Well, again I made it through and was once again in remission. Six months later, my pulmonary doctor, Dr. Cevallos, upon looking at one of my scans saw something suspicious in my lung and sent me to Dr. McDonough. After a PET Scan it was determined that I had 2 types of Lymphoma in my lung, one a very aggressive large B Cell and the other a MALT, which is what I had in the past. Well, I heard the same thing from my physician at Moffitt, that I heard from Dr. McDonough. In fact they worked together in my treatment. And once again I was told the chemo worked and I was again in remission. However, there was a new drug, a liquid radiation, that could be used that would delay my MALT Lymphoma from coming back for up to 7 years. So I went to Moffitt for this procedure……and it now been almost three years since my last episode. I want to thank Dr. McDonough and his magnificent staff, for their encouragement, love, caring and understanding during the most difficult times in my life. I don’t know what I would have done without you all….you are family, and when and IF my Lymphoma returns I know you all have my back and will be there for me. A special thanks to my red headed step sister, Anita….
You are a blessing from God and Dr. McDonough thank you for you have done for me and for caring!

- Debby C.