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| ISBN-13: | 9781504926270 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 08/31/2015 |
| Pages: | 176 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.41(d) |
Read an Excerpt
A Pilgrimage of Hope
A Story of Faith and Medicine
By Mary McCarthy
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2015 Mary McCarthyAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5049-2627-0
CHAPTER 1
Growing Up Catholic
I grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, the daughter of World War II veterans. My dad, John Beverly Cameron, enlisted in the Navy in 1940. Bev, as he was known, served on the Destroyer Escort USS Frost in the Atlantic. He served as Lt. Commander on the LST 1082 in the South Pacific. He retired as Commander in 1946 and returned to his home in Kansas City, Missouri.
My mom, Mary Monica Farrell, enlisted in the Army in 1943. As a college graduate with a degree in dietetics, Monica entered as a Second Lieutenant. The Army stationed her in Saipan in the South Pacific. At the end of the war, she enrolled at St. Louis University to earn her Master's Degree in Dietetics.
I am the second of seven children, four boys and three girls. My parents were devout Catholics and my primary role models. They planted a seed of faith and kept it moist to develop deep roots. I followed the Catholic traditions by taking part in the sacraments, going to Mass, and serving others by living the Beatitudes. As adults, my siblings and I are prayer warriors for each other when we encounter problems in our lives.
I attended Catholic grade school and high school. I learned the Catechism through memorization from the Baltimore edition under the watchful eyes of the Sisters of Mercy. As students, we didn't talk about ideas beyond the literal meaning of the printed word. I recited the answers: "Why did God make you?"
"To know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him in heaven."
I said my prayers as part of the Catholic ritual and Catholic guilt. I feared sin and disgrace. Practicing my religion became habit forming.
After I graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Business Administration, I married a wonderful Catholic man. Jim and I moved to Rochester, Minnesota so he could do his residency in Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic. We are now in our 35th year of that plan! Rochester was a good place to raise our family of two sons and a daughter.
Because my spouse and I both had a Catholic education, we sent our three children to Catholic schools in Rochester. These institutions did a great job of preparing students both academically and spiritually. Our commitment to the Church as adults was kept alive by participating with our children in the sacraments, liturgy, and in service to others. I continued to sprinkle the seed of faith that my parents had sowed. My convictions blossomed as I shared them with my family.
It was time to harvest my spiritual garden when my nest dwindled to empty as I sent each child off to college. My beliefs ran on autopilot, but my thirst for more enrichment became stronger. I explored adult faith formation programs through our parish.
The enhancements to my faith began in a subtle way. In 2001, I began to spend Sunday nights in quiet reflection with God through Eucharistic Adoration. I came to treasure that hour of private prayer in front of the Body of Christ in the chapel of our church.
I bought a study Bible so I could read God's word each week at Adoration. Reading the Bible as a novel didn't work, so I joined a Bible Study at our church led by Jeff Cavins. The name of the course was The Great Adventure: A Journey Though the Bible. His teaching of the Bible peeled back the layers of memorized Catechism. I started to understand the history and the message of the Bible. I thirsted for the knowledge of my religion and sought religious books and CDs on Catholicism and the Bible. Jim and I added a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Mr. Cavins when the opportunity and budget allowed.
In reflecting on where I am today, I am aware God has a path for me, but he hasn't shared it with me. I am amazed by God's unconditional love for me and I profoundly appreciate these themes: Silence, Listening, Trust, Challenge, Action, Thanksgiving, Family, Relationships, Wonder, and Awe. I continue to fertilize the kernel of faith on a journey to do His will. He has a plan for me.
CHAPTER 2Meet the McCarthys
Jim and I became proud parents when I gave birth to our first son, Tim, in 1978. He grew into a mild-mannered youth. He focused on details in his creative Lego designs, crafting a gingerbread house with exquisite candy décor, or sculpting his winning Pinewood Derby car. Tim excelled in school, dribbled the basketball, played saxophone in the band, and was an Eagle Scout. It did not surprise us when he earned a Master's degree in Architecture. He moved to London in 2002 to start his career as an architect. While he was working in London, he met his bride, Jane, a radiographer, who worked at Lister Hospital in Chelsea.
In 2006, Jane married Tim in Hamilton, New Zealand, where Jane's family lives. The story of their courtship and marriage rivaled that of a best-selling novel. They encountered miles of red tape as they tried to get Jane's Green Card. This international couple wanted to move to the U.S. On the other hand, Tim had no trouble when he applied for and received British citizenship.
In 2010, when Jane was ready to deliver their first child, Emma, it opened their eyes to the National Health System in London. It was nothing like in the U.S. Tim and Jane had to pre-schedule a taxi to take them to the hospital, provide their own food and towels, as well as everything for the baby, including diapers! After Jane delivered her precious baby girl, she was in a ward with six other women.
Tim and Jane called us on Christmas 2010, to say the Permanent Green Card application was in order. Jane could enter the country and Tim could transfer his job from London to New York. This news delighted us!
They arrived at JFK during one of the worst blizzards in history. Old Man Winter did not concern them since this move had been their focus for nearly five years. We flew to New York to visit them in March 2011. They had a spacious apartment in a quaint village north of Manhattan. Jane was taking driving classes, and she did a good job of giving us a ride on the "correct" side of the road.
* * *
In 1980, we welcomed the birth of our second son, John, to our family. He brought a lively spirit to our household. John was athletic, and he tried a variety of sports: hockey, basketball and baseball. He was a guy-on-the-go with an engaging personality. John played trumpet in band and was an Eagle Scout. He studied Economics in college and later he merited an MBA. While in college, John met his wife, Lindsay, also an Economics major.
John married Lindsay in 2005, in Minneapolis. John works in real estate financing. Lindsay works three days a week at a job at General Mills. When they started a family, I had the honor of driving one hundred miles each way on Mondays to be a Granny Nanny. Reagan was our first granddaughter, born in 2007 and Dylan followed twenty months later. I held that position from January 2008-December 2010. Commutes during the Minnesota winters were a challenge, but like the old post office motto, "The mail must go through" so too, "the granny must go through." A deer encounter late one night on the drive home didn't dampen my commitment.
While engaged with granny care in the nice weather, the grandchildren were happy to ride their bikes or draw with chalk on their driveway. Summer outings included walks to nearby parks, or even to the Pet Smart in a strip mall to view the animals in their cages. When it was naptime, I would say, "It is prayer time." I wanted them to develop a faith foundation. I napped when they napped in the afternoon so I could be alert for the drive back to Rochester.
The two-hour commute up and back gave me time to listen to CD classes. I developed an appreciation for the religion courses offered by The Teaching Company (check out www.thegreatcourses. com). I also listened to Bible Study CDs taught by Jeff Cavins.
* * *
In 1988, God blessed us with our daughter, Kathleen. She was the second girl born to the McCarthy clan over the last five generations. Her two older brothers spoiled her. They entertained her by reading books and gifting her with enthusiasm for life. Whenever Tim or John had a scouting, music or sporting event, Kathleen attended. Girl Scouts kept her active, and she liked to camp. In high school, she played trumpet and baritone in the band and chased tennis balls around the court. In addition, Kathleen developed a love for Latin due to her teacher's passion for this classical field. Her affinity for the classics started when she was just ten-years-old when our family traveled to Rome: she soaked in the Roman history, culture, and architecture.
Kathleen attends the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She will graduate with degrees in both Classical Languages (emphasis in Greek and Latin) and Classical Humanities. When asked what a person with a degree in the Classics does for a job or profession, Kathleen admits that she does not have a clear vision of her career. However, she is an academic girl with a Ph.D. in her future.
* * *
I retired from my Granny Nanny position in January 2011. Volunteerism had been something I had taken to heart during the years of raising our three children, so I changed my center of attention for Mondays. I worked to create a new program for the recently formed St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) conference at our parish, the Church of the Resurrection. The "Helping Hands" ministry would be a voucher for a meal and bus tickets to be distributed to less fortunate members throughout the community. I applied for a $5000 grant from the Knights of Columbus, and was awarded the funds on April 1, 2011. The Helping Hands ministry became a reality in the SVdP Society in each Catholic parish in Rochester.
There are many other things I enjoy doing in my free time. I delight in my perennial garden outside my front door. It is like seeing old friends when they emerge from the ground after a cold snowy winter.
I make it a point to go to the gym three days a week. It is a social outing as much as exercise. My endorphins are noticeably higher on the days I exercise.
I had the opportunity to work part-time at the local Herberger's department store, where I am legendary for sniffing out the best deals. I could go broke saving us money. Jim jokes that my tombstone will read, "This, too, was on sale."
* * *
Jim is a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. He has brought joy, laughter and wisdom to our 36 years of marriage. Jim is the Chair of the Division of Nephrology (kidney) and Hypertension at Mayo Clinic. He is challenged by the ever-changing health care system in the U.S. Playing golf has been an obsession with Jim since the days of his youth. Jim has a single digit handicap. Genealogy and wine-making are just two of his other hobbies.
We both love to travel despite the security hassles and airline schedules. When I put together the reservations, I go into "Mary Mode." I should have been a travel agent. Our favorite vacations have been on sailboats in the Caribbean or South Pacific. Jim pursued his dream of scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, while I preferred to snorkel. It has been fun for us to experience the diversity of cultures, geography, food, and climates around the world.
Most of our family remains in Kansas City, so we often call on friends in Rochester to share the joys and trials of life. We are blessed to have the richness of friends woven in our lives.
CHAPTER 3Journal Entries Emergency Room and Diagnosis
April 5, 2011
On my way to work today, I began my holy quest. I mailed a deposit for our January, 2012 pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Jeff Cavins, a Bible scholar from Minnesota, would lead the group. Jim and I had been taking Jeff 's classes for several years and desired to expand our knowledge of the Bible by traveling to the sites where the gospels had taken place. The timing and funding for this trip had come to maturity. I had no inkling the pilgrimage would have a detour before we would leave.
After I finished working an early shift at the department store, I came home to eat lunch at the kitchen table. Jim and I were flying to Vancouver the next day so Jim could attend a nephrology (kidney) conference. I crossed things off my "to do" list as I ate; it appeared the only tasks left to finish were the laundry and packing. After I finished lunch, I cleared my plate and glass to the sink.
The next thing I remember was waking up in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor. I sat up and pulled myself up to a kitchen chair. As the fog in my head eased, I remembered that I was getting ready to pack.
I made my way to the near-by bathroom and looked in the mirror. My face resembled the face of a boxer with black eyes, a broken nose, and misplaced teeth. What had happened to me? I must have been in shock as I shrugged off the spell.
I thought I must have fainted. Fainting didn't seem like a big deal. Warning bells should have gone off in my mind. I realize that now. It never occurred to me that something might be dreadfully wrong. I downplay medical emergencies as evidenced in an event in 1991.
* * *
On Halloween, 1991, a snowstorm approached southeast Minnesota. Jim had tickets for himself and our two sons, ages ten and twelve, to attend the Chicago Bulls basketball game on Friday, November 1st. They also had tickets to the Notre Dame football game in South Bend, Indiana, on Saturday, November 2nd. Jim, Tim, and John left early for the road trip to Chicago on November 1st because they needed to get ahead of the storm.
I stayed home with our three-year-old daughter, Kathleen. She and I intended to go to a juvenile concert in Rochester on Friday night, but the blowing snow led to its cancelation. We were sorry that the concert had to be canceled, but remained upbeat with the inches of winter wonderland that were accumulating. The chance to go sledding this early in the season made Kathleen happy.
Jim called after the basketball game to say the Bulls had won. Tim and John saw Michael Jordan, the star of the Chicago Bulls, play a good game. The boys were excited to head to South Bend the next morning.
When I got up on Saturday morning, I wasn't feeling well. I had nausea and cramps. I gave Kathleen permission to climb on the counter to fill her bowl with Cheerios for breakfast. (In retrospect, I can't imagine encouraging a three-year-old to reach for a dish and cereal.) The dog needed to go out, so I crawled to the door to let him out. My mom called from Kansas City to inquire about our record snowfall of twenty-two inches. I said I had the flu. I rested on the sofa while Kathleen played and watched way too much TV. We went to bed early on Saturday night.
Jim and the boys joined the crowded stadium of fans at the Notre Dame game to see the Fighting Irish win their game. They drove back to Chicago to spend the night before returning home on Sunday.
On Sunday morning, I could hardly stand. I crawled down the stairs in military fashion and paged through Jim's medical books. I considered my symptoms and wondered if I had an ectopic pregnancy. The description correlated to what I was experiencing.
I called Jim before he started his drive home from Chicago. I told him how I felt. He asked me to call our good friends, and neighbors, Kathy and Tom, and ask them to take me to the Emergency Room at Saint Marys Hospital.
Immediately after talking to me, Jim called Kathy and Tom and told them I had a ruptured appendix. Later, we learned how accurate his phone diagnosis had been. Kathy drove over to pick me up. She recognized I was sick when I opened the door wearing my glasses, not my contacts, and a robe over my nightgown. It shocked Kathy to see the ransacked house. Kathleen played with anything she wanted and did not have to put her toys away. Kathy dropped Kathleen off at their home to play with her daughter and husband and whisked me to Saint Marys Hospital.
I recalled answering a litany of questions in the ER about my health history and medications. They took x-rays. The staff poked my abdomen as if I was the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Our cardiologist friend, André, showed up in the ER as a substitute in Jim's role since he realized Jim was driving home from Chicago. I overheard the staff when they said that they intended to insert a subclavian catheter. I shrieked. "I do not want that."
André calmly stated, "This is what Jim would want."
I had heard the term for this catheter before and I understood it was larger and used to allow fluids to be delivered faster. I didn't realize how sick I was.
After confirming that I had a ruptured appendix and was septic, they took me to surgery. Sepsis is a life-threatening infection in the blood stream caused by toxin-producing bacteria.
Jim arrived at the hospital as the orderly wheeled me out of the operating room. I lived on a respirator in the Intensive Care Unit for several days. When I improved, they moved me to a regular room for a week of nursing care. I have little memory of either my ICU or hospital stay. I recalled Jim brought our children to the hospital to visit me. He wanted the kids to see that sick people recover. Optimism is Jim's middle name. Kathleen brought her Fisher-Price doctor kit to check me over.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A Pilgrimage of Hope by Mary McCarthy. Copyright © 2015 Mary McCarthy. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Table of Contents
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, VII,INTRODUCTION, IX,
PART 1 DIAGNOSIS,
Chapter 1 Growing Up Catholic, 1,
Chapter 2 BD[Meet the McCarthys, 4,
Chapter 3 Journal Entries Emergency Room and Diagnosis, 8,
Chapter 4 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, 23,
Chapter 5 Hospitalization Rehab April 20-25, 2011, 32,
Chapter 6 Out and In Again Radiation and Hospitalization April 26 – May 19, 41,
Chapter 7 The New Normal, 56,
Chapter 8 A Reprieve, 64,
PART 2 TREATMENTS,
Chapter 9 Round 1, 73,
Chapter 10 Round 2, 83,
Chapter 11 Round 3, 93,
Chapter 12 Round 4, 104,
Chapter 13 Round 5, 113,
Chapter 14 Round 6, 118,
Chapter 15 Blessings and Going Forward, 127,
Chapter 16 A Holy Land Pilgrimage, 130,
APPENDIX: The February 2012 Health Report, 161,
EPILOGUE, 163,
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, 165,