63-year old Harvard employee Ewa Erdman knew she had been working hard, but the way she felt was more than just fatigue. Her hands were swollen, she was feverish, and had a complete loss of appetite. Numerous tests and visits to six doctors could not find anything wrong.
Months later, Ewa was admitted to the hospital with a high fever. After 10 days of tests she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She also had a blood clot in her leg, likely caused by paraneoplastic syndrome, in which cancer-fighting agents of the immune system attack the body's nerve or muscle cells.
She was transferred to Brigham and Women's Hospital where her cancer was diagnosed as Stage 3. Ewa's lungs failed during her first chemotherapy treatment and she was admitted to the ICU. Some doctors said she would never go home again. Others said she would be reliant on oxygen for the rest of her life.
After her stay in the ICU last May, Ewa slowly started making strides in her recovery. She was discharged to Spaulding Hospital Cambridge where she resumed her chemo treatments. Ewa was anxious about her recovery, was still on oxygen and unable to sit up by herself. Soon, Ewa was able to take 12 steps by herself, using parallel bars for support. She was making slow progress but was determined to meet her goal of going home.
Monica Arrigo, her physical therapist, pushed Ewa to climb up just one stair. Ewa, shedding tears of frustration and joy, met this challenge, thinking about the 17 stairs she would need to climb in her home.
Ewa's team continued to set short term goals that she could work toward, meet and celebrate the achievement. She eventually was able to perform her own ADLs and ambulate with a walker. Her chemo treatments finished, she was now ready for the next phase of her rehabilitation.
Ewa was discharged home in with Partners HealthCare at Home. She had a walker, but no muscle control to lower herself into a chair. Liz Koral, her PHH physical therapist, worked with her to practice sitting over and over again. As Ewa grew stronger, Liz worked with her to climb those 17 stairs in her three-story Victorian home to reach the bathroom on the second floor. Liz pushed her towards this goal and Ewa was eventually able to reach the second floor.
Three months later, Ewa was strong enough to undergo a double mastectomy and receive radiation therapy through the holidays. She continued to gain back her strength, both physically and mentally. Four months after that, Ewa was back to work at Harvard full time.
Ewa had kept in touch with her therapists, Monica and Sara Paddock from Spaulding Cambridge and Liz from PHH, and had told them about her dream to complete a 5K. The women encouraged her to pursue this new goal, and also offered not only to train with her, but to join her in the 5K. In June, the group completed the "Krit Classic", a 5K Race/Walk in Andover.
"I am most touched by the fact that these women gave up their free time to keep in touch with me and train for the 5K right along with me," says Ewa. "They care for so many people, but they took the time to really get to know me. I am so grateful to have them with me as I continue this journey."
Ewa will continue to stay close to her therapists, as she is now cheering for Monica as she trains for the Boston Marathon as part of the Spaulding Race for Rehab Team. As Monica says, "Treating people like Ewa reminds us how lucky we are to be in the profession of helping others. We are coming full circle! It will really mean a lot to me to see her on the sidelines of the Boston Marathon."
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