I want to make you aware of the gem that you have working in the Memorial Breast Care Center. Kelly Mailloux has absolutely been my guardian angel and I can't say enough about how great she has been to me in making my breast cancer journey as good as it could be.
I had a routine mammogram on a Wednesday and received a call on Thursday saying I needed to come back in for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. I got the message too late to call back and when I called on Friday there were no openings in the near future. They said I could call back daily to see if there were any cancellations. You can only imagine my anxiety level at having to wait. I called back Monday and Tuesday mornings but there were still no openings. This is where my guardian angel came in. Kelly happened to come up to 11 south to visit a friend who was a patient. She saw me in my office and came in to say hi and give me a hug. She asked how I was and I told her not good because I was trying to get into the breast center because of an abnormal mammogram and was not having any luck. She said that she would see what she could do and called me later that day to ask if I could come in on Wednesday. When I went in, Kelly was right there holding my hand and giving me comfort and encouragement the whole way. I could tell right away that things did not look good and then the doctor told me that I needed to have a biopsy. I said I was ready right then but of course there is more to it than that.
My guardian angel stepped in again. Kelly asked if I could wait for a while. I went out to tell my husband the bad news and then Kelly came out to take us back to a conference room. She was also very supportive of my husband this whole time. She proceeded to get the order for the biopsy from my PCP, called the insurance to get the pre-cert, and talked the doctor into doing the biopsy that very day! I had the biopsy and she gave me breast cancer information to read.
Kelly came and gave me the positive biopsy results the following Monday and then again went into action after comforting me. She proceeded to get me in to see the oncologist that Wednesday and in to see the surgeon and radiation oncologist that Thursday. I know how lucky I was to have her in my corner expediting those appointments. Things would never have moved along that quickly without her.
Kelly was with me the day of surgery and took me over from ACC to the breast care center for my needed localization procedure and radioactive injection for the sentinel lymph node biopsy. She held my hand and offered comfort throughout. She continues to keep in touch and provide support even now, all while having a family member with his own health crisis. I can't thank her enough for all she has done for me and I wanted her to know how much she is appreciated.