A letter from Maria Yiannopoulos

My story began in June 2020 right in the midst of COVID. At that time, I worked as a marketer for an assisted living community and on March 13 we went into a complete lock down. We kept our residents safe, however I started feeling fluish and my asthma flared up. I was kind of surprised as I do not fall ill easily due to my strong immune system. I didn't give it much thought, but had a COVID test completed and of course, I was positive and was sent home.

As the days progressed my asthma became worse and on Easter Sunday I found myself in the ER with deep breathing treatments and still testing positive 21 days later. That puzzled not only myself but my primary care physician at Ochsner. She ordered an Rx (as that was the only way to get into a hospital for further testing and she also issued an order to have my regular mammogram that I never missed in 23 years. Imagine my shock, when I was called back to get a biopsy on the deep side of the right breast! Still, I though nothing of it until I could see for myself the mass during the biopsy.

On that day, June 6, 2020, my life changed forever. It was cancer. Did not know any stage, yet as that's assessed during surgery. I did not panic as I knew I was in great hands at Ochsner, but I certainly wanted to know everything. All PET scans, MRI's, etc. did not indicate any metastasis into the lymph nodes so that was a huge relief nor would I need chemo; until post surgery when I woke up with excruciating pain in my right arm. When the surgeon Dr. Kirk Bonner with Baton Rouge Clinic came to see me. He was shocked to have found metastasis into the lymph nodes and was declared stage 3. Two weeks later, I was right back into the surgery room to further clear the margins as it was so fast moving. 

That's when I searched for Oncologists who were not only experts in breast cancer, but also had a humanistic bedside manner. That's where I found Dr. Jahnette Kovtun! She took her time, she explained everything to me and my family and she was and still is my partner in this ardeous cancer road to travel. Six months of chemotherapy, one of those was with the red devil treatment that lived up to it's name, 36 rounds of radiation, two hospitalizations due to infections from the lymphedema, allergic to the chemotherapy that was supposed to decrease the rate of recurrence, nausea, malaise you name it. Yet, I made it. 

With the help of my two beautiful daughters, Sophia and Christina, my brother Nicholas and my team of loyal friends, supporters who held my hand, who gave up their time to bring me to and from cancer treatments, to staying with me overnight when the chemo was bad, to cooking meals, to my physicians who watched every step of progress, I made it!!! 

I'm in remission now for three years. I take daily oral medication to slow down the regrowth and I decided to live life to the fullest to the bitter end. ;) I started my own business, Bon Jour Social & Leisure Center, a senior citizen companionship club. During my isolation stage from cancer and COVID, it became apparent to me that having social interaction is key to human survival and existence. That's why I opened this senior social club to come and share and enjoy and laugh as that's the best medicine.

That's my journey ... for the time being ...

Thank you for considering me and I'm beyond honored.

Sincerely,

Maria Yiannopoulos