Traci’s Story

Site created on April 11, 2010

Welcome to my CaringBridge website. I've created it to keep friends and family updated as I travel on this journey with lymphoma. Get started by reading the introduction to my website, My Story.

Visit often to read the latest journal entries, visit the photo gallery, and write us a note in our guestbook.



As most of you know, it all started with severe stomach pain in July, 2008.  I was diagnosed with having gastritis.  After several more attacks, back to the doctor I went.  After an ultrasound was done, I was then diagnosed with having a gallstone.  A very big one.  In October, 2008, I had my gallbladder removed.  The surgery went well and I was back to work after a long weekend.    

After a couple of weeks, the attacks returned with a vengeance.  Vomiting and diarrhea were added as new additions to my attacks.  I was sent to a gastroenterologist who performed an endoscopy and diagnosed me with gastritis again.  As I took all of the medications prescribed, I continued to have attacks.  These attacks would bring me to my knees for up to 4 days with extreme pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue.  As I struggled with giving up most of the food I loved and to quit smoking, I continued to lose weight.

I had a reprieve from March, 2009 to August, 2009 from the attacks.  Thinking that the worst was over, the attacks returned.  After becoming more frequent, I contacted the gastroenterologist and he scheduled another endoscopy and a colonoscopy to be done at the same time in September, 2009.  They came back with the same diagnosis.  I begged this doctor to fix me.  He continued to tell me it was because I smoked too much.  I told him that I was trying to quit and had gotten down to 10 cigarettes a day.  He continued to blame me for these attacks.  He prescribed more medications but nothing worked.  I continued to lose weight.    I didn't believe him any longer.

I sought out another specialist for another opinion.  This doctor agreed with me and began another battery of tests and took me off all but one of my medications.

On January 15, 2010, I went home early again from work after I felt another attack coming on.  This time it was a doozy.  After it was all over, I was so weak that I finally agreed for Steven to take me to the ER.  That was on January, 19th.  After running a CAT scan, the ER doctor called in a surgeon, Dr. Saxe, who after consulting with a radiologist determined there was something in my upper intestines but they couldn't figure out what exactly it was.  They admitted me.

For 4 days, they ran a battery of tests.  Dr. Saxe called me his mystery patient because they couldn't determine exactly what was causing all of my symptoms.  After consulting with a few doctors and residents, it was finally determined that it was a tumor and it needed to come out immediately.  My surgery was on January 26th.

When Dr. Saxe visited me the next day, his eyes were tired and weary.  I couldn't tell if he was teary because of me or because of his day; but, he told me that he got the tumor and that it was cancer.  He also told me that he saw it in other places in my abdomen.    I cried softly and asked what kind.  He couldn't tell me until the pathology tests came back.  I didn't know that he had already told my family after the surgery.  Thank goodness.  The thought crossed my mind as to how I could possibly tell them.

The lab reports came back.  It was  Large B-Cell Lymphoma, the aggressive kind.  I needed to heal quickly and get the needed cancer tests done immediately.

For a woman that has only been in the hospital once and that was for outpatient fertility surgery, 13 days in the hospital was WAY too much.  This illness took my weight down to 103 pounds when I finally came home.  I have spent most of my adult life struggling with my weight.  I couldn't even enjoy that I had gotten down to my high school weight.

After 4 weeks at home recuperating under the care of my husband, we went to see the cancer doctors.  That is what I call them.  It doesn't sound so clinical as oncologists.  They scheduled a Bone Marrow Biopsy to be done that day and got me in for my PET scan to follow quickly.

The results came back that the cancer had already created two rather large tumors and had spread to several other lymph glands in my adbomen.  I am in Stage 4.  Chemo is scheduled immediately.  Steve & I cried together for awhile and we had to admit that we were TERRIFIED.  How were we going to tell everyone?  Were we were going to tell everyone?  After the immediate shock wore off, we agreed everyone needs to know.  Who were we to tell first?  He took one cell phone and I took another and so it began.

Newest Update

September through December, 2020

Journal entry by Traci Hale-Johnson —

Medical First

A month after reducing my immunosuppressant, I noticed problems swallowing my pills.  After every meal, I would cough a lot and have to clear my throat for a couple of hours.  The swallowing test showed nothing.  Back to Dr. Ahmed who scheduled an endoscopy to take a closer look.  While there, he stretched my esophagus; but, it didn’t work.  He told me that most people only have a slightly sore throat afterwards.  Well, not this “mystery” patient, I couldn’t talk for two days and it hurt to drink water for a week.

Early October, I went to Dr. Pandit  (Rheumatologist), who ordered blood tests and CT scans, to look at my hip joints.  They found Arthritis in my left and Bursitis in my right so back to physical therapy I go.

My old dentist retired.  So I had the first of many meetings with my new dentist, Dr. Mashni, to discuss the plan to fix my disgusting mouth.  He is young and very knowledgeable about GVHD.  I liked him right away.  To be continued…

Physical therapy started with Liz in November.  She is part of the McLaren Cancer Center and works with weak individuals like me.  As the months flew by, I got stronger again and the pain in my hips seemed to dissipate.

As all of you know, I always fear late fall and winter.  For some reason, my body seems to break down.  Well, this was just the beginning.

 

Cottage and Fun Times

September was not a great weather month but the next two fall months were beautiful.  It had been years since we got to enjoy the outdoors while we put everything away.  Greg & Malisa joined us the second weekend in October to help, rake and burn, and play Euchre.  We took the last boat ride of the season and I took a lot of colorful pictures.

We had more raking and burning to do so Greg & Malisa came up again the second weekend of November to close up.  We actually sat out by the fire for a little while; but, had to play cards inside.  That was the last weekend up there until March, 2021.

2020 Holidays were worse than 2019.  To be safe, no one got together for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  Steve cooked a nice dinner for the four of us and a great Christmas dinner for just him & me.  I hope we can do better at celebrating this year.

Read More of the journal titled "September through December, 2020"
Patients and caregivers love hearing from you; add a comment to show your support.
Help Traci Stay Connected to Family and Friends

A $25 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like Traci's for two weeks. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?

Leave a comment of support for Traci

Did you know? A quick comment, no matter the situation (positive or negative), can boost morale by 28.2%.

Comments Hide comments

Read More Journal Entries

Show Your Support

See the Ways to Help page to get even more involved.

Personal Fundraiser
Support Links
Helpful Requests
Go to Ways to Help
SVG_Icons_Back_To_Top
Top