{"id":3878,"date":"2018-08-23T11:00:09","date_gmt":"2018-08-23T16:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=3878"},"modified":"2018-08-09T10:02:58","modified_gmt":"2018-08-09T15:02:58","slug":"oncology-patient-co-workers-prove-love-in-bloom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/oncology-patient-co-workers-prove-love-in-bloom\/","title":{"rendered":"Oncology patient’s co-workers prove love is always in bloom"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not all superheroes wear capes, and some guardian angels live right here on earth. Just ask Kathleen Harms. She was showered with love from a few co-workers who rallied together to do an act of kindness for her during one of the most difficult times in her life.<\/p>\n

Navigating difficult times<\/h2>\n

To say Kathleen has had a tough four years would be putting it lightly. The triage nurse at OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute<\/a> in Rockford, Illinois, lost both parents within 13 days of each other in March 2014.<\/p>\n

Then, in June that same year, Kathleen received a phone call from her sister saying that Kathleen\u2019s brother-in-law had a massive heart attack, unfortunately passing away four days later.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose were extremely difficult times,\u201d Kathleen said. \u201cBut I always felt supported by my work family.\u201d<\/p>\n

After losing three beloved family members, Kathleen was hopeful the second half of 2014 would get better for her and her family. But another tribulation would soon emerge in a few short months.<\/p>\n

Devastating results<\/h2>\n

Kathleen noticed her stomach would hurt when she bent over and when she turned in bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI made an appointment with my doctor, thinking it might be an ulcer from the rough year I\u2019d had,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

A CT scan and blood tests were ordered.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next thing I know I was told I had a mass, and an oncologist would be coming to talk to me,\u201d Kathleen said.<\/p>\n

Kathleen was diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)<\/a> \u2013 a rare form of cancer that generally starts in the stomach or small intestine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m stage 4 and terminal, but my plan is to live with it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

For two and half years, Kathleen took an oral chemotherapy drug to try to shrink the tumor. However, it had already metastasized into her liver.<\/p>\n

Because the chemotherapy wasn\u2019t working well, Kathleen\u2019s oncologist recommended she seek input from a specialized GIST cancer institute. She was approved to go the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.<\/p>\n

Kathleen had her first evaluation at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in March 2018 where it was \u00a0recommended she come back in the fall 2018 to take part in a phase 3 clinical trial \u2013 one phase shy of going to the FDA for approval.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, Kathleen\u2019s health deteriorated. Doctors ordered another CT scan and sent it to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for review.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few days after Dana-Farber received my CT scan, they called me to say there was a spot that opened up in the phase 2 trial and would hold it for me if I could get out there,\u201d Kathleen said.<\/p>\n

Desperate to get relief, Kathleen made the journey to Boston for the second time in May 2018. She underwent a week of testing where doctors discovered Kathleen had a blood clot that made her ineligible for the trial.<\/p>\n

Feeling defeated, Kathleen went home. Little did she know, her work family was planning a well-deserved surprise.<\/p>\n

Love when it\u2019s needed most<\/h2>\n

\"\"After returning home from the airport with her daughter, Kathleen was standing at the kitchen sink when she saw some of her flower pots in the backyard had been planted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI turned and looked at my daughter, and she said \u2018you have the most wonderful friends in the world, mom,\u2019\u201d Kathleen said. \u201cI went out back to take a closer look and realized all my flower pots were filled, and my garden was planted with a variety of vegetables. I just stood there in amazement. I couldn\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because the tumor in her stomach causes pain when she bends over, Kathleen has been unable to garden for a long time \u2013 a passion of hers.<\/p>\n

Kathleen\u2019s co-workers wanted to remain anonymous for their work. But with a little persistence, Kathleen was able to get them to confess there were about 10 people who helped with the planting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI call them my garden fairies,\u201d Kathleen said. \u201cSometimes you can feel pretty alone during hard times. But this made me feel so loved and cared for. I just can\u2019t say enough about my co-workers. I\u2019m surrounded by the most beautiful, caring people, and I have felt supported since day one of working here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Kathleen is continuing to enjoy her beautiful flowers and a bounty of fresh, organic vegetables from her garden. She is scheduled to take part in the phase 3 clinical trial at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute this fall, where she hopes to get some answers and help improve her diagnosis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Not all superheroes wear capes, and some guardian angels live right here on earth. Just ask Kathleen Harms. She was showered with love from a few co-workers who rallied together to do an act of kindness for her during one of the most difficult times in her life. Navigating difficult times To say Kathleen has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":3908,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[176],"tags":[655],"coauthors":[690],"class_list":["post-3878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers","tag-osf-cardiovascular-institute"],"yoast_head":"\nOncology patient's co-workers prove love is always in bloom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Not all superheroes wear capes, and some guardian angels live right here on earth. Just ask Kathleen Harms. 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