Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
On May 16th, 2017, while working at the YMCA and feeling a little stressed, Peggy had her blood pressure taken. Being that it was high, senior management thought it was in her best interest to go to Patient First. When she got there, her blood pressure was 190/99. An EKG found an irregularity in her heart beats requiring ambulance transport to Chippenham Hospital. There she was kept on monitor and did a CT scan to better address irregular heart beat. CT scan found malignant “neoplasm’ lung mass. Since Chippenham is a cardiovascular hospital, they sent her to Johnson Willis Hospital which was said to be better equipped to handle surgeries and cancer. At JW, her blood pressure was regulated by medication with additional CT scans for her heart finding an addition suspect of cancer in the enlarged lymph node surrounding the aorta. Biopsies of both lung mass and enlarged lymph node came negative, yet the physicians insisted both were cancerous. On May 23rd, Bob’s and her 42nd wedding anniversary, she was released from Johnson Willis.
Peggy contacted Virginia Commonwealth University's Massey Cancer Center and quickly got in to see Dr. Sherman Baker, an Oncologist. She had a PET scan where they found 2 'hot' spots, one being on her upper left lung, diagnosed as cancer. The 2nd hot spot found was the enlarged lymph node attached to her aorta. Both the lung mass and lymph node are inoperable. With the cancer spreading from the lung to the lymph node, it is suspected to be at stage 3.
On Tuesday, June 20th, Peggy will undergo a more invasive biopsy surgery to determine the precise stage and type of cancer she is dealing with. Biopsy cultures take time to develop so she will have a follow-up with Dr. Baker July 3rd.
Peggy is very grateful for your prayers and heartfelt wishes. She hopes you understand how difficult it is for her to respond to every friend that cares. She has a long and stressful road coming. Updates will be posted on this website as soon as possible after Peggy's appointments, tests and treatments.
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