Open Mind, Strong Body, Beautiful Soul by Coco Dorsey

November 17, 2006 - First set of scans - CT, bone scan, MRI, chest xray : First visit with Brad Baltz

I arrived at Hematology Oncology Services of Arkansas at my scheduled time. I paused as I opened the door to the office....surely this isn't the right place...I looked up at keith with tears welling up in my eyes....I had to sign on the line...I was the patient here...at the oncology clinic....how did I get here? The woman at the counter, Belinda, was a warm, jolly, comforting soul. Belinda could see the sheer fear and desperation in my face....this I am sure of....She led me to the lab to an equally cheerful, calm, good-hearted lab technician named Marvin. Marvin hooked up my i.v. and sent me on my way. God put them there for a reason...I had absolutely no idea at that moment how much a significant part God, or Belinda, or Marvin would play in the success of my treatment.

I scurried off to Pro-Scan for my tests.....I endured countless hours of ct scans, mri, bone scans, chest xrays....I had to return to HOSA at 5:30 to meet with the doctor.

I returned that evening to Brad Baltz's office only to find my friend blake and Patrick Schueck, a two-time cancer survivor and dear friend...another one of god's gifts. Just who I needed to see at that moment...I needed the comfort, knowledge, support of someone who had done all of this before...a patient.

Dr. Baltz eventually made it to our exam room where he informed all of us that the cancer had not spread to any of the organs or bones....thank you lord! I pledged to all the men... in that room ...at that moment ... "I will do whatever it is you ask of me. I will not ask any questions. I will not complain. I will do exactly as you wish. Just tell me what it is I need to do to survive this. I have three children to raise. " And that is precisely what I have done....to this day....I have followed each and every piece of advice, order, perspective and treatment step to my ability....to assure my health....my survival!

Keith, blake and I returned to my house where my parents, the Lindsey family, and betsy Parkinson were distracting my kiddos.....we told them that the doctor felt the cancer was contained....i remember my father bursting into tears. As he wept he told my loved ones in that room "I never thought I would be so happy that my daughter has cancer... that the cancer she has hasn't spread."