Virginia Geter

October 2017

Homeless by accident

I was moving out of my apartment because I wanted to relocate somewhere new. I was out one day, and while walking in the crosswalk I was knocked down by a turning vehicle. It twisted me around, and I landed on my knee. I was on crutches and my sides hurt; so I saw a chiropractor. In the meantime, I became homeless. However, I did not feel like leaving Portland. Sometimes I feel like God knew I was not ready to go anywhere.

To be homeless and recovering from an injury is not easy.

I would go back to complain about stomach pain to the doctors at this clinic. I would never see my PCP. I was told to do exercises and was given a knee brace.

Bloating and loss weight

While in the homeless shelter I noticed weight loss. I just thought it was because I was walking. Then I noticed constipation and bloating. So, I went back to the doctor now, and they gave me laxatives. At the end of January I got an apartment — yea! By now my stomach was as big as a house—well, close to it. Back to the doctor I went to demand to see a specialist. He referred me to a gastroenterologist and gave me more laxatives.

The clinic said it would have to clear the referral with my insurance. That was the last straw, and I went to the emergency room. They pumped over 5 liters of fluid out of me and told to see my doctor asap. It just so happened I had an appointment to see my regular PCP that following week. In the meantime, I looked on the internet to see what could cause fluid in my abdomen.

Apartment

So there I was in a new year, in my new apartment at last and now with new health issues. It should have been a happy time setting up my apartment; instead I was researching what causes fluid build-up like I had. Well it all pointed to cancer. I was shocked; I stared at the computer monitor hoping for it to change to something else. The next week and a half was a long one.

Day at the Doctor

The day came, and my PCP positioned herself right in front of me, stared me in the eyes and said, “You have cancer”— or something like that. She said nothing else. I was now angry and said, “Now what, are you going to do something now?” She straightened up and blinked a few times. I hoped she was not looking for me to cry. I thought to myself that I already did that at home. For me this was not a time to cry. I needed to be proactive, story of my life. Anyway, she sent me on the start of my cancer journey. Go here, do this, meet with Dr Bla Bla Bla, next week cha-cha-cha. After almost 6 months of complaining I finally was getting somewhere.

Race is on

Now meeting with the gynecologic oncologist he sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher, “Wah, wah wah,” to me most of the time, then sometimes I would get every other word. However, I heard “biopsy end of the week” and then “start chemo next week” loud and clear. Then they left, and a resident came back to give me further instructions. She told me about possible side effects of the carboplatin and taxol. I remember her saying I had a good sense of humor and a good attitude and that I should do well.

Pray for help

The resident asked me if I had any support. Sadly, I said no. This was nothing new; I seem to go through life with no support. But this time was different. I knew I was over my head. I was still recovering from being homeless.

However, that night I cried and prayed all night long. Well it seemed like I did. I even called a spiritual sister to pray for me. I told what was going on, and she said she would. An hour or so later she called back to say that she and another sister would be there for the biopsy. I cried this time, a cry that I would not be alone. I cried when they showed up that morning — tears of joy.

During the procedure, they did some imaging. Next the man said, “We need to put you under.” I asked why. He said so he can poke a hole in my abdomen and stick something in and look around and take tissue sample.

I said, “You need to put me under for that?” He told me I didn’t have to be put under. I said, “Well don’t— I do not want to be put out.” He said he knew I wouldn’t do it.

During all this, I got awesome support from a community of friends who were there for me. They cooked, cleaned, went shopping for me, and so on.

Chemo

The first rounds of chemo went without a hitch with the carboplatin and taxol.

Bloodless clinic

As a Jehovah Witness, I do not believe in blood transfusion. I went to a bloodless clinic for help with my Advanced Directive. They suggested that I come there for my surgery. They also recommended a doctor (a gynecologic oncologist) who does bloodless surgery. So I did. I liked her energy. (Bloodless surgery means that there is no blood transfusion involved.)

She did my surgery in 2 hours and said I said I was clean inside. I had a total hysterectomy, and everything went fine. This happened in February of 2016, and I was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer.

Next came second rounds of chemo: Cisplatin and taxol. They gave me some problems. I was sick and tired and lost my hair. I was also so weak that I needed a walker. I did acupuncture and Chinese herbs before; now I went to one that dealt with cancer.

The road to recovering was long, and I am still dealing with weakness. But that did not stop me from going to the Ovarian Cancer National Conference in Chicago in July 2017. It was indescribable. My head was just spinning all over the place from fear, joy, sadness. The women were all ages, and stages in treatment. I was inspired by their stories and their bravery. I am very grateful to the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of OR/SW WA for their financial scholarship to attend the conference.