Support for our loved ones

[NavyProudInWashington]

My son Ross has been in the Navy for 16 years - reading about everyone’s Boot Camp experiences brings back memories – saying goodbye; getting the box with his clothes; the cat wandering around the house meowing and looking for him. . .

Today I want to share a more recent experience about how the Navy takes care of our loved ones. 

It started 2 years ago with an unexpected call from Ross – “Mom, I’m in the hospital – there’s a growth in my chest; they did a biopsy and drained some fluid.  No you don’t need to come, I’m just laying around waiting for the test results.  Chief said that everyone in the unit is my battle buddy and they will give me any help that I need.”

He was in Georgia and I was in Washington State.  It took everything that I could muster to not hop on a plane, I kept telling myself that he was an adult and I had to respect his wishes.  On the 3^rd day he said one of the Doctors thought it was lymphoma even though the biopsy results weren’t back yet – I didn’t ask if he wanted me to come, when we hung up I told my husband it was time to go.  We called Ross from the airport and told him we were on our way.  We were with Ross 2 days later when he got the diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Ross had a cough for 3 weeks and wasn’t ordered to go to sick call, but was strongly encouraged by his Chief and co-workers.  Initially he was diagnosed with allergies and given some meds for the cough.  The Doctor later told me that he doesn’t usually order a Chest X-Ray in these circumstances, but Ross was coughing so badly that he ordered one.  The next day Ross got a call at work telling him to report immediately to the hospital for a CT scan, from there he was direct admitted.  The internist on hospital duty that day was also an Oncologist, he immediately started ordering additional tests.  The growth in Ross’s chest was causing secondary heart and circulatory issues.  If he hadn’t gone to sick call when he did, he easily could have gone down in his apartment over the weekend, being single he might not have been found until he was AWOL on Monday.  His guardian angels were his Command, Unit and Doctors.

Since Ross went to the hospital from work and didn’t expect to be admitted, all he had was what was in his pockets.  Chief went to his apartment to pick up personal items and electronics.  (Who needs Mom when you’ve got your handheld electronics?)  Chief was also asking Ross on a daily basis if he was sure he didn’t want us to come. 

When we landed Chief was at the airport to meet us and took us to the hospital (on base and it was after hours to get a security pass).  Chief told us that we were there for Ross and he was available to do anything else that we needed.

Having always been healthy, Ross didn’t fully comprehend how much this would turn his world upside down.  His prognosis was good and Chief explained that he had the option of a medical discharge or limited duty and the impact limited duty would have on his career.  Ross chose to stay in the Navy – I was skeptical, but that was now the goal.

The Navy wanted to transfer Ross to the Northwest so that he would be close to family during treatment.  The military facility closest to our home was short staffed in the Oncology department and could not take Ross as a patient, so it became his choice of where to have chemotherapy.  He chose the University of Washington in Seattle. 

Ross had his first 2 chemo treatments in Georgia.  The support from his command continued

• At least one Chief stopped by every day to check in and give us any needed help
• The unit brought us meals
• A team from his unit packed up Ross’s apartment and cleaned it so that he would get his deposit back.
• The command took care of getting his car shipped to Washington and arranged for our airline travel.
• Chief helped us through the base check-out process.
• Senior Chief took us to the airport

After 5 weeks Ross was medically cleared to travel

• Ross was transferred to Everett Naval Station for temporary limited duty during his treatment and recovery – initially he was only required to do phone muster each day
• Safe Harbor (the Navy’s Wounded Warrior program) was ready for us when we arrived in Seattle, we were “handed off” to a Senior Chief for continued support. He helped us navigate the ups and downs for the next year+. 

They can’t say Ross is cured until he’s disease free for 5 years, but the Oncologist said that this type of cancer doesn’t hide and you know when it’s active.   (It’s been over a year since his last treatment and his scans have all been good.)

Financially Ross continued to receive his pay and housing allowance making it possible for us to rent an apartment in Seattle instead of commuting from our home.  Even though he was being treated outside of the military system, his medical bills were covered and the only co-pay was when he saw a Neuro Physical Therapist.

During recovery, he was able to work part time in an office which allowed him to get back into the routine of Navy life and help him feel more “normal”.    Ross still has some residual side effects, but passed his Physical Readiness test 1 year 3 months after his diagnosis.  Earlier this year the Medical Review Board removed his limited duty status and in May he got new orders and moved to Maryland – it was a bittersweet move for me.  It’s hard to have him across the country once again, but it represents how well he’s doing.   

Whenever I expressed our appreciation, the response I got was “We’re family and this is how we take care of each other”.   They may say family, to me these men and women are angels among us who went above and beyond to help us.  I’m so thankful that the Navy has the programs and structure to support our Sailors when they are wounded or are ill.

[anasazigypsy]

So sorry you and your son had to go through all this. Sounds like you had amazing support along this medical journey, and so glad for you all that things are looking so much better. Thanks for sharing. I'm going to share with my sailor who plans on getting out in February.