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Trinity Regional Medical Center
802 Kenyon Road
Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501
515.573.3101 |
Creating memories. My life, my Trinity.
Norma Rinard may credit her husband, family and physician for being a rock for her during her recent illness, but after spending time with Norma, one cannot help but think it's the other way around. Diagnosed with breast cancer in late September of 2009, Norma has rolled with the punches with grace and laughter while surrounded by her family.
"She's been amazing through all of this," shares her daughter, Leanne speaking of her mother's strength and resolve over the past several months to fight her cancer.
"I was really scared," admits Norma's other daughter, Kim, but those fears were calmed when the Rinard family entered into the care of Surgeon, Laura Miegge, M.D.
"Dr. Laura is amazing," shares Norma. "I have never been so comfortable. She was so in tune with my feelings and those of my husband's. She even encouraged my girls to call anytime with questions they had, and she always made time for them."
After a mammogram performed at the Women's Center confirmed to Norma and her general practitioner that their concerns were justified regarding Norma's breast, things moved very quickly. "I really didn't have time to stop and think about what was happening," explains Norma. "I met with Dr. Laura and she got the ball rolling with each test and procedure that needed to be done, I just had to show up. In situations like this you just have to do what you have to do."
Norma was diagnosed with Invasive Ductile Carcinoma - Stage I, and within a few weeks of discovering
the cancer she had a complete mastectomy. "Everyone I encountered at Trinity was so caring and understanding from my biopsy to my pre-surgical exam. I always trusted the level of care I was receiving," states Norma. "Dr. Laura explained my surgery to me by sketching everything that she would be doing. She explained it so well that my husband, Chuck, is now an expert and can tell you anything you want to know about it," chuckles Norma.
Perhaps the ability to laugh during life's struggles is what gave Norma fortitude to endure the following months of chemotherapy. Norma gives credit to the Trinity Cancer Center with getting her through the rough moments of nausea and weakness caused by the chemo. She especially appreciated the "Look Good, Feel Better," program, a monthly program at Trinity to help women undergoing cancer treatment cope with appearance-related side effects of treatment and regain a sense of self-confidence and control in their lives.
Today, Norma is gaining back her strength and continuing to make memories that will last a lifetime with her family.