This is a post that Dawn Nichols wrote back in July 2012 after the 2nd Annual Panties Across the Bridge. Thank you Dawn for allowing us to share your story.
“While you are here..” This 4 word phrase has been in my head for a while now and has been my primary thought for the last week. My doctor began a sentence with this phrase 3 months ago. It could have saved my life.
I went to my doctor’s office 3 months ago for an unrelated illness, and she mentioned, “While you are here, do you mind if we do a quick pap test?” I had been in the ER all night and was coming down from morphine, so she could have convinced me to do almost anything. I obviously didn’t balk.
One week later, I went back to the doctor for a follow-up for my unrelated illness. Within 5 minutes we were discussing HPV, biopsies, and cervical lesions. She may as well have been speaking a foreign language. Within an hour, I was calling work to let my boss know that I wouldn’t be coming to the office. I needed biopsies that day. Long story short… I had surgery, I didn’t get clean margins and pathology results came back CIN3/HSIL. I am guessing we will start all over in September and more surgery is in my future. But hey, this isn’t cancer folks! This is precancer! I have very abnormal but noncancerous cells. What would have happened if my doctor didn’t say “While you are here…?”
I have always been involved in local organizations, whether it was fostering homeless animals or providing legal assistance to the low income community. SO while I was in the healing process, I naturally began to look for local organizations that are focused on awareness of cervical cancer. Although my health has been up and down over the last 3 months, my husband and I became involved with the ONE and only organization in the area that focuses on awareness for gynecologic cancers: The Jaymie Jamison Foundation for Hope.
This past weekend, the Foundation held its largest annual event, Panties Across the Bridge. I volunteered to help with the foundation’s first annual 5K run, so I didn’t make it down to the Newport’s Purple People Bridge (where the panties were hung) until later in the day. I was busy during the race and didn’t think much about why I was even there…I just had a job to do.
When I went to the bridge, I was reminded why I was there. There were bands and booths and even free popsicles, but I just wanted to see the bridge. My eyes glazed over and my feet took me there (admittedly with a slight distraction by a free popsicle). And when I got to the bridge I just stopped and stared, first at Jaymie’s photo and then at this huge bridge that was covered with panties.
I started walking across the bridge and all I could see to my right was panties. Some had funny sayings, others had tips for cancer awareness. And I started to cry. I cried for Jaymie, a woman I never met, but who had to die for this event to be held. I cried for the women who wrote messages of hope on their panties. I cried for the women whose names were written on panties, but had lost their battles. I cried for women who have full-blown cancer and are dealing with chemo and radiation. I cried for the volunteers who made this event possible. I cried for the idiots who were making fun of the panties and the disease. I cried for my husband who has held my hand through all of this. And for once, I cried for me…. Out of shame for being a burden and source of concern for my family and out of selfishness for this disease hindering my life. But mostly I cried for thankfulness for my doctor who started the sentence with “While you are here…”
And while I am here, I will care for my body. While I am here, I will not discuss cervical cancer, HPV, or anything else that comes with it in a whispered voice. While I am here, I will serve as your reminder.
If you would like to share your story please send it to: shelton@jaymiejamisonfoundation.org
