The Silent Battle: A Tribute to my Mother's Fight against Uterine Cancer

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A heartfelt tribute to the woman who not only birthed me, but also became the cornerstone of my career path, my dear mother. Recently, we said our last goodbyes to her after a brave battle with the aggressive clear cell uterine cancer. Her journey is a testament to her resilience - from the initial diagnosis in 2012 to the multiple treatments, periods of remission and relapse. It's a journey that took us to the sunny state of Florida, and introduced us to the invaluable medical team at the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville. 

With the passing of my mother, I am reminded of the immense gratitude I bear for hospice care, specifically the team at Community Hospice in St Augustine, Florida, who were there for my mother until the very end. They provided the comfort we needed during those challenging times. The treatments she underwent - chemotherapy, radiation, and biologics like Ketruda and Lmvima - were a bittersweet rollercoaster of emotions. I dedicate this episode to her strength, her courage, and the indomitable spirit that inspired me to pursue nursing. So, if you still have the chance, hug your mom for me today and every day.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey and welcome to nursing with Dr Hobbock.
This is going to be a littlebit different than what I
usually do.
I just wanted to take anopportunity to Honor my mother.
We lost her on Friday, july21st 2023.
Today is the 23rd.
She left us early in themorning and it was a peaceful
death.
My dad and I were both able tobe there with her when she

(00:22):
passed and she was at home, andI would definitely encourage
everyone to take advantage ofhospice as as soon as possible.
I know it's hard to say I'mready for hospice, but hospice
is an amazing Organization and Iwant to shout out to community
hospice in St Augustine, florida, who helped my mom.

(00:44):
I really loved my mom and Ifyou listen to my podcast long
enough, you'll probably hear metalk about her.
She was an amazing woman.
I think that not a lot of peoplecould go through what she's
been through.
She was originally diagnosedwith clear cell uterine cancer,
which is a pretty aggressivetype.

(01:04):
In 2012, she actually presentedwith DVTs from her toaster
groin and a massive pulmonaryembolism.
She had a very large tumor thatwas Subsequently removed.
She was treated with Intent toCure and she was cancer-free, as
far as we knew, for four years.
In 2016 we found it again inthe summertime.

(01:27):
She went through severaldifferent types of treatments.
She had chemotherapy again andradiation.
She went through some of thebiologics.
She had ketruda and lmvima.
That seemed to work for alittle while.
We had multiple times where wethought it was going to be over.
She had some protein spillagethere for a little while in

(01:50):
After some of her medicationsand we thought that that was
going to be the last medicinethat they had available.
And then the FDA approved theketruda and lmvima combination,
so she did that for a while.
It was in there that I moved toFlorida so that mom could be in
Florida.
She always wanted to live inFlorida and I thought if I moved
that they'd follow and they did.
We moved to Florida just intime for the Pandemic, so

(02:12):
unfortunately, everything kindof shut down.
She continued with the maleclinic in Jacksonville, which
was amazing and shout out tothat team, to Dr Otero, cologne
and Schwabna, who was her nursepractitioner and I fortunately I
don't know her full name, butshe was amazing.

(02:33):
She was the best nursepractitioner I think that I've
had the pleasure of working with.
So I'm trying to hold ittogether.
I've recorded this a couple oftimes.
It's really off the cuff.
But anyway, I wanted to honormy mom.
I don't think that I would behere without her the way that I
am.
I don't think that I'd be innursing and I really.
She was a strong lady and,anyway, thanks for listening.

(02:59):
My mom was such a strong ladythat I started crying the day
before she died and she wascomforting me.
She was telling me it's okayand she was not fully aware of
what was going on, as far as Ican tell, but she was comforting
me.
So strong lady.
Again, thanks for listening andif you're lucky enough to have

(03:22):
your mom, give her a hug from me.
That's all I got for you todayfrom nursing with dr Hobbock and
I'll see you next time.
Hug your mom.