Suzanne Foster married Jim Foster in 1999, became pregnant in 2002, just ahead of Jim’s being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma a second time.  Simultaneously, Suzanne faced two mammoth tasks: going through pregnancy and being chief caregiver for Jim as he battled cancer.  While making her debut as an expectant mom and holding down a job, she crafted a meticulous gameplan, including friends and family, to spearhead Jim’s care.  She gave birth to a healthy daughter, Jessi, while Jim underwent a successful Altologist stem cell transplant and found his way to remission.

 

In March 2002, Jim felt a lump in his neck.  After seeking medical attention, he underwent a PET scan, which necessitated a biopsy.  It indicated a second diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

 

Suzanne recalls having to attend meetings and classes and learning how to do food prep for Jim.  She recalls a nurse giving her voluminous instructions to how to care for her husband, instructions that were nothing shy of overwhelming. 

 

While juggling all the challenges of pregnancy, Suzanne devised an organized schedule for Jim’s care.  This included what she had to do and the roles of friends and family.  There were instances in which Jim was too sick or tired to drive himself to his appointments.  Suzanne, while pregnant and part of the workforce, would find a way to provide Jim’s transportation.  At a time when sleep was at a premium, Suzanne would give Jim at IV feed at midnight, 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.  In addition, there were pills she had to give Jim and that required following a schedule.

 

Suzanne says she was able to stay on top of Jim’s care by writing everything down and putting it in a notebook.

 

Thanks to a stellar team of doctors, nurses and Suzanne’s care, Jim found his way to remission.  Daughter Jessi enjoyed a healthy childhood and adolescence, competed in sports in high school, before going on to college.  The three of them make numerous trips to their land in Wyoming to be in nature and ride horses.

 

Additional Resources:

 

Jim’s website: https://www.cancerinterviews.job