Thanksgiving 2014

1. THANKSGIVING 2014 –
NARRATIVE OF A LIFE-CHANGING YEAR
AND A TRIBUTE TO EVERYONE WHO
HELPED US NAVIGATE THIS CRAZY LIFE!
FROM THE SIMON FAMILY

2. 2014 STARTED WITH A DINNER WITH YUNLING’S FAMILY
FOLLOWED BY A NEW YEAR’S PARTY AT ANNA’S HOUSE…

3. …. THE VERY NEXT DAY
SCOTT AND I
DETERMINED THAT I
WAS PREGNANT (THIS
PHOTO IS AROUND 16
WEEKS)

4. BY VALENTINE’S DAY WE LET FRIENDS AND FAMILY KNOW

5. SCOTT’S JOB WAS GOING TO TAKE US TO
SAN DIEGO FOR THE SUMMER. WE WERE
NOT SURE WHETHER WE WOULD HAVE THE
BABY IN MARYLAND OR IN CALIFORNIA!

6. IN MARCH, VALENTINA
PRESENTED A COMPUTER
SCIENCE PROJECT THAT SHE
AND HER FRIENDS PETER AND
ADAM WERE WORKING ON ALL
YEAR

7. SCOTT SANG BACH’S
ST JOHN’S PASSION AS
MEMBER OF BACH IN
BALTIMORE CHOIR.

8. VALENTINA DANCED THREE ROLES IN PEABODY
DANCE’S MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

9. IN MAY, WE DECIDED TO MOVE TO
MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO BE
CLOSER TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
FOR YEARS, WE ATTENDED
JOURNAL CLUB MEETING AND
HOME CONCERTS. PLUS, NOW
KATYA’S COUSIN GARRIK AND HIS
FAMILY ARE 20 MINUTES AWAY.
WE WANTED THEIR BOYS AND
OUR GIRLS TO GET TO GROW UP
TOGETHER.
We rented out our
townhouse in Ellicott city
and found a beautiful rental
property in north Potomac.

10. ON JUNE 12TH, THE DAY AFTER
WE MOVED, SCOTT WAS
DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.
HE WAS 36 YEARS OLD
WITHOUT ANY FAMILY
HISTORY. I WAS 29 WEEKS
PREGNANT. WE DID NOT
KNOW THE STAGE OR THE
PROGNOSIS.

11. I CALLED MY MANAGER JOAN
DIAMOND AND MY FORMER
MANAGER LINDA HICKS RIGHT
FROM THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE. BOTH
LADIES GAVE US AN INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF SUPPORT AND
INFORMATION. WITHIN AN HOUR, I
HAD SOME NAMES. BY 5PM, I WAS
ABLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
WITH DR GEARHART, A COLORECTAL
SURGEON AT HOPKINS.

12. SCOTT AND I MADE A CHOICE TO BE OPEN
ABOUT OUR SITUATION AT MY WORKPLACE. I
EMAILED THE UNIT. THE NURSES CAME
TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. I FELT ENVELOPED BY
SUPPORT AND LOVE FOR THE NEXT 11
WEEKS. THE INCREDIBLE ATMOSPHERE ON
THE UNIT ALLOWED ME TO FOCUS AND TAKE
CARE OF MY PATIENTS. I RECEIVED MULTIPLE
THANK-YOU NOTES FROM PATIENTS AT THIS
DIFFICULT TIME. IT GAVE MY WORK
MEANING AND PURPOSE.

13. SINCE SCOTT HAD TO CANCEL HIS
CALIFORNIA TRIP WITH TWO DAY
NOTICE, HE DISCLOSED HIS HEALTH
STATUS TO HIS MANAGEMENT. SCOTT’S
BOSS TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO
ADVOCATE THAT HE SHOULD GET A
PROMOTION THIS YEAR, SOMETHING
SCOTT HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARDS
FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE DECISION
WAS MADE IN JULY.

14. TWO WEEKS LATER, VALENTINA GRADUATED VETERANS’
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH STRAIGHT A’S, ADMISSION TO
THE HOWARD COUNTY’S GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM,
AND AWARDS

15. DURING THE CEREMONY, DR GEARHART EMAILED US THAT SCOTT’S
CANCER WAS LOCALIZED AND TREATABLE. THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME
THAT I COMPLETELY LOST IT IN PUBLIC. ADAM AND PETER’S PARENTS
HAD TO HOLD ME SO THAT I WOULD NOT JUST COLLAPSE IN THE
SCHOOL HALLWAY. WE WERE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL AND HOPEFUL.
Valentina, Adam and Peter
with their GT teachers –
Ms Cutwright and Ms Lane.
Peter’s and Adam’s family
continued to provide support
and encouragement for the
rest of the year.

16. AFTER MORE IMAGING RESULTS
WERE OBTAINED, DR GEARHART
REFERRED US TO DR HERMAN’S
RADIATION ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENT
FOR A CLINICAL TRIAL AND
EXPEDITED THE INTAKE
APPOINTMENT. SCOTT’S CANCER
WAS CLASSIFIED AS STAGE IIIA. AS
MY L&D COLLEAGUES SAID, DR
GEARHART ALWAYS TAKES GOOD
CARE OF HER PATIENTS.

17. DR HERMAN SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR
CLEARLY EXPLAINING THE PROTOCOL TO
US. TO MAKE SURE THE CLINICAL TRIAL
WAS RIGHT FOR US, I SPENT THE WEEK
PRIOR READING. ATTENDINGS, FELLOWS
AND RESIDENTS IN L&D, AS WELL AS
FRIENDS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES,
HELPED US FIND AND UNDERSTAND THE
RESEARCH. BY THE TIME WE MET WITH
DR HERMAN, WE WERE READY TO
COMMIT TO TREATMENT PLAN AFTER
ASKING SOME QUESTIONS THAT WERE
NOT COVERED IN PUBLICATIONS UP TO
THAT POINT.

18. WHILE WE WERE CONVINCED THAT DR HERMAN’S
APPROACH WOULD GIVE SCOTT THE BEST ODDS OF
BEATING CANCER, OUR INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT
NORMALLY COVER INNOVATIVE TREATMENTS. HOPKINS
PUT TOGETHER A PACKET, STAFF MEMBERS SPENT HOURS
ON THE PHONE, I WROTE A 3 PAGE LETTER, AND EVEN
DR HERMAN HIMSELF ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY. FINALLY, WE
HAD THE APPROVAL LETTER IN HAND.

19. SCOTT’S TUMOR SHAPE MADE TREATMENT
DIFFICULT. DR HERMAN NEEDED TO TRY
AGAIN AFTER A WEEK’S BREAK. IN THE
MEANTIME, HE ASKED US TO BE READY TO
GO WITH PLAN B. DR SHANNON O’CONNOR
IN SHADY GROVE CAME INTO THE OFFICE
BETWEEN HOSPITAL ROUNDS TO WRITE
SCOTT A PRESCRIPTION IF PLAN A DID NOT
SUCCEED. HENCE, WE NOW HAD A
COMPLETE TREATMENT TEAM – RADIATION
ONCOLOGY, SURGERY, MEDICAL ONCOLOGY.

20. IN THE LAST WEEK OF JULY, DR HERMAN
WAS ABLE TO TREAT SCOTT
SUCCESSFULLY. WE ARE INCREDIBLY
THANKFUL TO DR HERMAN FOR HIS
HARD WORK. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE HIS PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
AMY HACKER-PRIETZ. SHE HAS PROVED
INCREDIBLY APPROACHABLE,
RESOURCEFUL, AND DEDICATED. PER
HOPKINS TRADITION, SCOTT RANG A
BELL WHEN HE WAS DONE WITH
RADIATION.

21. IN THE MEANTIME, SCOTT
AND VALENTINA WERE
STUDYING MATHEMATICS
EVERY DAY BECAUSE THE NEW
SCHOOL GAVE HER AN OPTION
TO GO STRAIGHT INTO
ALGEBRA 1 IN 6TH GRADE IF
SHE PASSED AN EXAM. IN
MID-AUGUST SHE DID!

22. OUR NETWORK OF FRIENDS PROVED AMAZING. FOLKS TOOK
THE TIME TO HELP US UNPACK, DRIVE VALENTINA TO BALLET,
WATCH HER WHILE I WAS IN LABOR, AND WRITE COMMENTS
ON MY BLOG. WE FEEL INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO BE A PART OF
THIS WARM, RIDICULOUSLY OVEREDUCATED, AND
INTIMIDATINGLY ACCOMPLISHED GROUP OF PEOPLE!

23. WE HAVE NOT HAD TO BUY ANYTHING FOR THE BABY. WE
WERE GIVEN BOTH NEW AND GENTLY USED THINGS, FROM
AS FAR AS TEXAS AND BOSTON. BOTH JHH L&D AND OUR
FRIENDS HELD BABY SHOWERS. WE ARE DEEPLY THANKFUL.

24. I WOULD LIKE TO PARTICULARLY THANK
THE L&D WOMEN WHO GENEROUSLY
SHARED FROM THEIR OWN LIFE
EXPERIENCE TO HELP US MAKE SENSE OF
OURS – TERRY WEBB, SANDRA LEVY, DR
MEREDITH BIRSNER, AND ELLIE AYD

25. THE MIDWIFERY PROGRAM I AM ATTENDING HAS
“CIRCLED UP” AROUND US IN A FRONTIER
TRADITION. FACULTY MOVED ASSIGNMENT
DEADLINES AROUND SCOTT’S TREATMENT, FELLOW
STUDENT MIDWIVES SHARED STUDY GUIDES WHEN I
HAD NO TIME TO MAKE MY OWN, AND ONE OF THE
MIDWIVES MARIA MAYZEL VOLUNTEERED AS A
LABOR SUPPORT PERSON.

26. OLGA BOGATYRENKO FROM
CHASING MOMENTS
PHOTOGRAPHY HAS
GENEROUSLY DONATED A
PREGNANCY PHOTOSESSION
FOR US. THESE WERE TAKEN
ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE
BABY WAS BORN. WHAT A
WONDERFUL GIFT FROM A
TALENTED FRIEND!

27. OUR DAUGHTER ANTONINA DONNA SIMON WAS BORN ON
AUGUST 31ST AT 11:29PM – OR, AS A FRIEND PUT IT, SHE
MADE THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY KINDERGARTEN CUT-OFF
BY 31 MINUTES.

28. THROUGH THE WHIMSY OF SCHEDULING, EVERY SINGLE
MEMBER OF OUR BIRTH TEAM WAS SOMEHOW INVOLVED
WITH SCOTT’S CARE FOR THE LAST 11 WEEKS – THEY HELPED
DO THE RESEARCH, WROTE ME TEXTS ASKING HOW TESTS
WERE TURNING OUT, OR JUST TALKED TO ME IN THE HALLWAY
AT 3AM. THANKS TO THEM, I HAD A PERFECT COMBINATION
OF SAFETY AND A NATURAL APPROACH. SONIA KAGNA AND
MARIA MAYZEL TOOK TURNS PROVIDING LABOR SUPPORT.

29. A WEEK AFTER “TOSYA” WAS BORN, A FRIEND DONATED A
PHOTOSESSION. NATASHA WAS ABLE TO GIVE US A
MEMORY TO LAST A LIFETIME.

30. IN THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER,
VALENTINA AUDITIONED AND
OBTAINED A ROLE IN BALLET WEST
NUTCRACKER IN THE KENNEDY
CENTER. DURING THE REHEARSALS,
ANTONINA MAY WELL HAVE SET A
RECORD FOR THE YOUNGEST
BREASTFEEDING BABY IN THE HALL
OF NATIONS.

31. WHEN THE BABY WAS THREE
WEEKS OLD, SCOTT HAD
ABDOMINAL SURGERY TO
EXCISE WHAT WAS LEFT OF HIS
CANCER AFTER RADIATION
TREATMENT. SCOTT’S MOTHER
CAROL CAME TO HELP US
DURING THAT TIME AND STAYED
FOR TWO WEEKS. I COULD NOT
HAVE MANAGED THE LIFE OF
THE FAMILY WITHOUT HER HELP.
While scott was in Hopkins, I wore both
of our wedding rings because he could
not take the ring with him to the
operating room. When I took Scott
home, I put the ring back onto his finger.

32. SCOTT HAD AN AMAZING
RECOVERY CURVE. HE WENT
HOME A DAY EARLY, AND DROVE
HIMSELF TO WORK AT 2 WEEKS
AND 2 DAYS POST-OP. ORIGINALLY,
HIS WORK NOTE STATED AN EIGHT
WEEK EXPECTED RECOVERY
PERIOD. DR GEARHART AND L&D’S
OWN DR MITTMAN (ANESTHESIA
MD) DID A PERFECT JOB.

33. PATHOLOGY REPORT A WEEK LATER
CONFIRMED WHAT DR GEARHART
SUSPECTED DURING SURGERY –
SCOTT HAD A COMPLETE RESPONSE
TO RADIATION. DR HERMAN
BURNED THE ENTIRE ORIGINAL
TUMOR WITH BRACHYTHERAPY.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A HOPKINS
MIRACLE.

34. TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF THE
CANCER COMING BACK, SCOTT STARTED
CHEMOTHERAPY AT 3 WEEKS POST-OPERATIVELY,
AND IS IN THE MIDDLE OF
HIS 5TH CYCLE OUT OF 12. HE HAS BEEN
TOLERATING THE MEDICINE WELL. DR
O’CONNOR HAS BEEN AVAILABLE AND
CONSIDERATE AT ALL TIMES. SHE IS A
VERY CAREFUL PHYSICIAN, FOR WHICH
WE ARE THANKFUL. DR DONEHOWER
FROM JHH HAS GENEROUSLY ASSISTED
AS OUR CONSULTING PHYSICIAN.

35. IN THE MEANTIME, BABY
ANTONINA GAINED 4
POUNDS BY 8 WEEKS OF
AGE, AND BIG SISTER
VALENTINA GOT
STRAIGHT A’S IN HER
FIRST QUARTER OF
MIDDLE SCHOOL. HOW
CAN WE BE WEAK WHEN
OUR CHILDREN ARE SO
STRONG?

36. ON THIS THANKSGIVING DAY OF 2014, WE ARE
THANKFUL FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, MEDICAL TEAM,
AND COLLEAGUES THAT CAME TOGETHER TO
HELP US DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIME. WE
ARE NOT DONE, BUT THANKS TO THE TEAM
EFFORT, WE MADE GOOD PROGRESS.
WITH LOVE,
THE SIMONS