Michael Parrish, Pancreatic Cancer Patient, Grateful Patient
Almost five years ago, Michael Parrish had the first of what would be many conversations with oncology nurse navigator Holly Griffith. Like most newly diagnosed cancer patients, Michael arrived to that appointment feeling scared and uncertain; just weeks earlier, a trip to Fairfield Medical Center’s Emergency Department for severe stomach pain had led to a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and Michael had a lot of questions about what his future looked like in terms of treatment.
“I didn’t know a lot about the role of an oncology nurse navigator, so I was completely surprised with how immediately invested Holly was in my care from that very first visit,” Michael said. “One of the first things she did was give me her contact information so I could get in touch with her whenever I had a question. That simple gesture alone immediately made me feel like I was cared for and in good hands.”
Holly is one of two caregivers at Fairfield Medical Center’s Cancer Care and Infusion Center who has been by Michael’s side from the very beginning to guide him down the long, uncertain road of cancer treatment. Rhesa Guess, an infusion nurse who frequently administers Michael’s treatments and has seen him through both good days and bad, has also been one of his strongest supporters.
“Rhesa has taken stellar care of me; a soft touch with all the tests and poking and prodding that come with it,” Michael said. “I always feel safe with her, and we always find common ground to talk or laugh about every single visit. She has a great ability to build rapport quickly and remembers old discussions of family or history, following up to ask about them and making you feel like she genuinely cares.
Earlier this year, Michael recognized both Holly and Rhesa through the FMC Foundation’s Grateful Patient & Family program. Staff who are recognized through this program receive the title of “Legendary Caregiver” and receive a pin for their badge. Michael said when he heard about the program, he immediately knew what caregivers he wanted to recognize.
“Everyone at the Cancer Care and Infusion Center has been fantastic, but Holly and Rhesa have really made a special impact on my life,” Michael said. “When you are going through cancer, you want as many family members around you as you can get, and I consider Holly and Rhesa to be family.”
As someone who suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease and h.pylori, a condition that causes peptic ulcers, Michael has battled stomach pain for years. But in December 2020, he experienced a severe bout of pain one evening that felt different from previous episodes. “It was so bad, I was doubled over in the fetal position on the floor,” he said. “Finally, my wife told me, ‘This is ridiculous, you need to get checked out’.”
Michael went to Fairfield Medical Center’s Emergency Department, where a CT scan confirmed the presence of an ulcer – and something else. “Next to the ulcer was this mass that looked like a fog, so they advised me to get further testing,” Michael said.
The tests confirmed that the “fog” was pancreatic cancer, a disease that typically starts in the ducts of the pancreas and is rarely caught in the early stages. Severe stomach pain is often one of the first symptoms a patient experiences once the cancer becomes more advanced.
“I feel fortunate because pancreatic cancer is pretty aggressive and here it is five years later and I’m still around,” Michael said. “I almost see it as divine intervention that I had that ulcer because without it, they wouldn’t have discovered the cancer.”
While his doctors told him the cancer appeared to be in the early stages, they explained that the tumor was intertwined with nearby blood vessels and could not be surgically removed. Michael’s best option for treatment was chemotherapy and infusion, and one of the first decisions he had to make was where to go for his care. While Fairfield Medical Center ranked at the top of his list, he also felt like he should research all his options.
“I ended up looking into a couple of other places, but they all told me the same thing: There wasn’t anything they could do for me that Fairfield Medical Center couldn’t,” Michael said. “I appreciated that transparency. It basically came down to this: Did I want to be sick and drive two hours for treatment, or be sick and only have to drive a mile up the road?”
The short commute was just one of the reasons why Michael chose FMC. His wife, Deborah Parrish, was an employee, so he was familiar with the hospital and knew some of the staff. His first meeting with Holly removed any doubt about whether he had made the right choice in staying with FMC for his care.
“Cancer is 100 percent a fear monger, so on those days when the fear and worries take hold, it’s nice to know that I can pick up the phone and call Holly,” he said. “I know she will get right back to me and answer my questions and give me some relief.”
While Michael’s cancer has never been in remission since his diagnosis, he has been able to take short breaks from his treatment over the years when the tumor starts to shrink. His longest break from treatment was 18 months before the tumor started to grow again. Each time he has had to resume his treatments, Holly and Rhesa are there to lift his spirits and provide encouragement. Currently, Michael has chemotherapy every other week and infusion treatments twice a week.
“I have two analogies I like to share with patients, and I say them often,” Holly said. “First, cancer is like a roller coaster ride, both emotionally and physically. It’s going to have its ups and downs, but we will get through it together. I also like to remind patients that it’s easier and less overwhelming to focus on one step at a time instead of the whole staircase.”
Like many other healthcare workers who care for patients long-term, Holly and Rhesa have become invested in Michael’s journey over the years and are committed to staying by his side for the long haul. When Holly’s caseload switched several years ago to caring solely for lung cancer patients, she put in a special request to keep Michael as her patient. Currently, Michael is one of only a few non-lung cancer patients that Holly continues to work with.
“She came to me when her position changed and said, ‘Can I keep you?’” Michael said. “She said she felt really close to my case and still wanted to be a part of my care and that made me feel good.”
Holly said the decision to keep Michael as a patient was important to her. “I was really able to connect with Michael and his wife,” she explained. “I wanted to continue to follow his journey because I felt like I could truly make – and continue to make – a difference for him.”