Cervical Cancer Awareness Month- Aimee's Story

I am Aimee's mother and I will try to tell her story.

 Our lives changed in March of 2011. Aimee decided to go to see a doctor, her period would not stop. I think her last visit to see a Gynecologist was about two years before this visit. Aimee was supposed to go back for some type of ablation. She told me it had nothing to do with her cervix. I remember her telling me that she had been bleeding for about a month!!! I told her then she needed to get in to see a doctor because that isn't normal. Aimee visited a clinic, she had quit her job to do her clinicals to be a surgical technician . What a time not to have insurance!!  Aimee was referred to see Dr. Pavelka, a gynecologist. Aimee said as soon as they seen her cervix she could tell by the way they talked it wasn't good. They drew her a picture to show her what the cervix looked like. The cervix was covered by a tumor, a biopsy was taken that day. Aimee had to go back to get the results and find out what the plan of action would be. I remember that day clearly....it was CANCER, a rare cancer that is usually found in the lungs!!! Small cell cervical cancer!!!  Aimee would start chemo on May the 7th, 2011. Aimee would endure chemo 3 days straight once a month for six months then have a  PET scan. Those treatments did a number on her body to say the least.  We ended up in the ER several times because she was passing out and having other issues with the kind of chemo she was getting. When Aimee was feeling good, between treatments,we stayed busy doing things together. We had Kings Island passes so we stayed at that park, she loved it. We went to festivals and walked and walked....she rarely complained. We started taking her a wheelchair so she could sit when she was hurting. At the end of the 6 months we were so happy, chemo would be over, have a hysterectomy and the cancer would be all gone. At least that's what we were praying for. The scan showed the tumor was pretty much gone but......the cancer had spread to lymph nodes in her chest and pelvic area. The chemo did not kill the cancer so more chemo. Aimee had one more treatment and decided she had had enough. She started having severe pain and was hospitalized several times. The pain doctor decided in order to stop her pain they would have to insert an epidural and do radiation. The pain got better but never went away.  Aimee got to spend Thanksgiving with the family but ended up at the ER a couple of days later. One of her legs had tripled in size and I noticed she wasn't urinating. The day she was being dismissed from the hospital she talked to the doctor and ask how long she had. That was the first time any doctor had told us it was stage four cancer. That was on Monday, the doctor told her she had about 18 months. Aimee died four days later, surrounded by lots of people that loved her dearly. 

 Aimee complained of low back pain and said she couldn't sleep on her side, she complained of the side pain for a couple of years. Aimee did visit her family doctor for the low back pain. He told her to have breast reduction!!!! Aimee fought it hard, but just couldn't beat it. Aimee was 33 years old when she died. She was the mother of one child, a daughter named Devin who was 12 years old. Aimee was going to school and was months away from graduating and loved what she was doing. Listen to your body if something doesn't seem right it probably isn't. Early detection is the key.