Kayla Goff
Kayla Goff woke up at 2 a.m. with shooting pains that were stabbing down the left side of her chest and back.
“My mind was racing,” Goff said. “I thought maybe I pulled something while juggling breast-pump, and baby, and pillows.”
Three hours later, Goff’s doctor advised her to go to the emergency room to check for a possible blood clot.
“We pulled into the exact same parking spot at Overland Park Regional Medical Center that we’d parked in one week ago, when I was in labor with our newborn, James. Now, we toted him alongside us as we walked into the hospital.”
After several tests, Goff was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
“I thought to myself, ‘But I just had a baby. My baby. He’s in the corner. His name is James. He’s eight days old. I need to feed him soon. We only brought two bottles. We were only supposed to be here for an hour or two. I can’t have cancer,’” Goff said.
Goff began treatment at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
“Sarah Cannon at Overland Park Regional Medical Center offers a comprehensive array of diagnostic services such as minimally-invasive technology for diagnosing and treating breast lesions, as well as a range of cancer care services from screenings, cancer treatment and survivorship,” says Nicole Hight, RN, MSN, Director of Cancer Services at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. “The site is staffed by skilled oncology nurses who provide a wide variety of oncology and infusion services.”
“The staff here is like my family,” Goff said. “Everyone from my doctor, to my nurses to the folks who check me in at the front desk.”
Goff underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and 15 rounds of radiation. She is currently in remission.
“I am so grateful for the care I have received here. I had my son here and it was an amazing experience,” Goff said. “The staff at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center had been highly accessible, always willing to answer my questions and concerns. They have become part of my family and have helped me cope with my diagnosis and treatment.”