9
I talked to Dr. Figueroa
about my feelings. He
drewme a diagram of a
diagonal line that went
from the bottom of the
page to the top, but before
it got to the top it had a
dramatic drop down and
then swirled aroundmany
times. Then he drew
another diagonal line as straight as a
ruler. He said, ‘A lot of people think
reaching their goals should look like
this,’ while pointing to the straight
line, ‘but it really looks like this,’
pointing to the rst line he drew.
That really stuck withme. I couldn’t
stop living life just because I had
cancer. I had to get up everymorning
and do what needed to be done.
“
One year after my surgery, on
Aug. 2, 2011, I began working out,”
Kathy says. “I sought out a per-
sonal trainer, and I took one step
at a time. I began losing the weight
I had gained and started to regain
my con dence.”
Kathy had conquered one of life’s
deepest valleys, the one we call
She underwent surgery to remove
the tumor on Aug. 2, 2010. Fol-
lowing her recovery from surgery,
Kathy began chemotherapy treat-
ments at MMCR’s Outpatient
Chemotherapy Center.
“
I never missed an appointment,”
says Kathy. “I looked at taking
care of myself as my job. Mercy’s
infusion center is top-notch. I got
to know a lot of the nurses. They
were always supportive.”
Into thevalleyandup to thepeak
Even with the support of all those
around her, the burden of cancer
began to weigh Kathy down.
“
I felt like I had lost con dence in
myself,” Kathy admits. “I felt sad.
Kathy Hammond and her husband, Bob, have
committed to living a healthy lifestyle. Exercise
has become a large part of their lives together.
cancer, and was ready to climb her
way to the peak.
“
My husband and I decided we
were going to summit a mountain.
Mt. Whitney has the highest peak
in the continental United States, so
that became our goal,” Kathy says.
After months of training, Kathy
and her husband, Bob, climbed
Mt. Whitney together.
“
Cancer has given me a
new perspective on life,”
says Kathy. “I go up
to people I see with
cancer and talk
to them now. I no
longer wait until
tomorrow to start
doing the things I
want to do.”
Outpatient chemotherapy
available at Mercy Regional
Cancer Center
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer or any
other type of cancer, Mercy Medical Center Redding’s Regional Cancer
Center offers an outpatient chemotherapy department. Designed
with healing in mind, the area is conveniently located on the north
side of the hospital campus with a beautiful view of Mt. Shasta. This
center is staffed by experienced oncology nurses, specializing in the
administration of chemotherapy and biotherapeutic agents.
Dignity Health North State