June Cancer Awareness

By Brenda Wilder

April Jourdan, cancer survivor, was born in Starkville, MS and graduated from Clinton High School in Clinton, MS in 1997. April met her husband, Chris, while in college at Mississippi State University, and they married in 2003. During their 17 years of marriage, they have lived in Brandon, Bolton, Clinton, and currently Flora, MS. They are parents to two beautiful young ladies, Maily Adeline (13) and Merritt Jean (10). Maily is an artistic, musically inclined child, and Merritt loves sports and being outside.

April began working at Baptist Hospital Cancer Center in 2003 as a receptionist in the radiation therapy department. This began her career in the medical field, which April considers amazing. In 2008 she began working for Medical Management Service as a receptionist at the Clinton MEA and now works at the corporate office as a Billing Manager. At work, April has many different areas of responsibility. She has 4 medical coding certifications, manages the auditing of provider’s charts and, offers education, as needed. She loves her job.

April’s cancer journey began when she noticed some blood in her stool and became concerned, but she kept it secret for 6 months, telling NO ONE. She finally told one of her doctors, who scheduled a colonoscopy a few days later. Looking back, April realizes there were other symptoms she had ignored, thinking they were stress related, such as weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, and irregular bowel movements.

Upon the diagnosis of cancer, April’s first reaction was shock. Chris was told she had a cancerous tumor while April was in recovery from the colonoscopy. When Chris told her, there were tears, lots of tears. In time by herself, she asked God “Why? Why me?” She was 36 years old with two beautiful little girls that needed her, and she needed them. “After a couple of days, I told myself to snap out of it and get back to the real world. This cancer wasn’t going to be the boss of me! I told the world and asked for prayers, and I got them. I believe a positive attitude and a strong belief in God can get people through anything. There is no room for feeling sorry for myself, I do not allow it.”

The first treatments April received were radiation and chemo in 2016. Radiation included 6 weeks of daily treatments. Chemo consisted of

wearing a chemo pump for 6 full weeks. April would go in once a week to change the needle in her chemoport and apply new dressings. After surgery to remove parts of the rectum and colon where the tumor was involved, there was the placement of an ileostomy or “poo bag,” as her children called it. This allowed what remained of her rectum and colon to fully recover (they were sewn back together, called an anastomosis). After 6 weeks the ileostomy was reversed, and all intestines put back in use. After 4 days in the hospital, April was discharged to go home. After 6 weeks of recovery, she received another round of chemo, which consisted of a weekly infusion. After that, no evidence of disease was found. April considers herself lucky to have had no side effects of the radiation and limited side effects from the chemo. The worse side effects

were tingling in her extremities and the inability to touch or drink anything that was cold.

In 2019 there was a recurrence of the cancer. April started having some foot pain in December, and the pain continued to grow to the point where she had to have pain medication to function, but even with the medication, the pain was never gone, just not as bad. Unfortunately, a cancer spot was found located in the soft tissue on the inside of her hip bone. Following a surgery with no results and a 2nd opinion, she was referred to MD Anderson in Houston, TX. A tumor was found on her internal iliac nerve that explained the extreme pain she was in. Finally, she had a diagnosis but was not one time sad or mad about it. She was just ready to fight it.

While at MD Anderson, April consulted with multiple doctors, who met to discuss her case. The only option was surgery. In July of 2019 she checked in for a 4-hour surgery, but the surgery lasted 14 hours. April faced a difficult recovery. There was an incision from her back all around the side and ending in the front. Her abdomen was wrecked with scar tissue from the other surgeries, which had to be repaired. As a result of the surgery, April no longer had the use of her left ankle and foot, called drop foot. She will be required to wear a brace the rest of her life, as well as take PT. She stayed in the hospital for two weeks and had many complications while there, developing a DVT in her left lower leg (blood clot), severe kidney infection, and several other issues. Her Mom, Karen Maily, stayed in Texas with April, assisting with daily activities and pushing April to get up and start using her leg, splint, and walker. After two weeks, April was able to leave Houston and adapt to her new life, using a walker.

During the last year, April has come a long way. She no longer needs the walker and walks everywhere on her own strength. This includes regular trips to the UMMC cancer center at the Jackson Medical Mall. Her physicians at MD Anderson

During the last year, April has come a long way. She no longer needs the walker and walks everywhere on her own strength. This includes regular trips to the UMMC cancer center at the Jackson Medical Mall.

coordinate with her doctors in Jackson so she can receive chemotherapy treatments at UMMC. After 6 treatments every other week in Jackson, April returned to MD Anderson for her progress to be checked. Scans were performed, and there was no good news. The cancer had spread to her spine (T4), and there were small lesions seen in her lungs. Since the lesions were too small to biopsy, it is still not known if they are cancerous. April started radiation and chemotherapy again in Jackson, and as a result, the lesion on her spine shrunk. More follow-up scans were performed, and a new lesion on her spine was found (S3/4). This area would be hard to treat because she had previous radiation treatment to the pelvis area in 2016.

After consulting with the radiation oncologists in Houston and Jackson, April knew more radiation was a risk, but with a good plan and careful treatment, she received 24 more rounds of radiation (two a day) to the pelvic area. After that was completed, more follow-up scans indicated the lesion on T4 was GONE, the lesion on S4 was GONE, and the lesion on S3 appears to be shrinking. Lung lesions were the same, with no change. April believes that is scarring in her lungs, not cancer.

The current 2020 treatment is chemotherapy every other week. Monday, May 18th, 2020, was her 18th chemo. The side effects of this treatment have not been easy, but April knows they could be worse. She has EXTREME fatigue, stomach issues, and loss of hair. April took a bold step and bought a wig with real hair that is matched to her regular hair color.

April returns to MD Anderson in June for a follow-up visit. She is ready to WOW the doctors with the miracles that have been happening in her life. It is rare that a metastatic disease (which spreads to other parts of the body) goes completely away. April is hoping the spot on S3 is gone. She knows her life is a miracle.

In dealing with cancer, the Jourdan family has tried to keep life as normal as possible, and there were basically no issues until COVID-19. Their children are now 100% quarantined because of April’s medical condition. April considers herself lucky that God gave her a husband who is willing to be the maid and cook, along with two beautiful daughters who want to help make her as comfortable as possible. April has two amazing parents that have loved and supported her throughout life and an older sister, Layne Bonner, with whom she is super close since her cancer diagnosis.

April’s Mom, Karen, has been with her EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, handling all the mundane activities their trips, assisting with appointments, shopping, and cooking. Karen has not been sad, stressed, aggravated, or boring. She helped April do things a grown woman should never have to ask her mother to do, but it was done with no complaints. Karen made April get up and walk, not allowing her to lay in bed and feel sad for herself. Karen is now one of April’s best friends and confidants, and they talk daily.

A silver lining to the cancer experience was a closer relationship with April’s entire family. They gave her strength, which encouraged April to not allow cancer to take her chance to be with her daughters as they grow up. April and her Dad, Bill Maily, have always been close and talked pretty much every day. The cancer diagnosis has brought them even closer, making them talk about serious, not fun topics, causing a deeper love between the two.

The Jourdan in-laws, Cecil and Myra Jourdan, stayed with Chris and the girls while April was in Houston. Myra keeps their freezer stocked with food, using her amazing cooking skills - something useful for the entire family. April’s brother-in-law, David Jourdan, has also been a strong support system during the cancer journey.

April believes in “God things. I believe he was preparing me for this fight when he placed me at MEA. Having a background in the medical field has helped me, because through this journey, I actually understood what was happening healthwise. I am thankful to work for an amazing company that has stood behind me and supported me for the last 4 years. I have NEVER stopped working and just took off for my surgeries. My work friends have been by my side throughout the ordeal, and I can’t imagine life without them.”

April takes inspiration from other cancer survivors and their stories, but she also inspires herself daily. “Can’t stop, won’t stop!” is her mantra. She refuses to feel sorry for herself and will continue to fight!

A favorite scripture for April is Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence for things not seen.” This encourages April to have faith in things for which she hopes, prays, asks God, and those things not seen. “I believe from the day you take your first breath on this earth, God has a plan. This is my life, this is my plan, and I embrace it. I recently read that you have to love your cancer. Hate only brings bad thoughts and those are not allowed,” says April.

Another favorite scripture is Psalm 23:4 “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” April says, “One of the most important things you have to remember is that even through all of this, He will never leave your side. He is always there to talk to, and sometimes the responses are surprising. It is also surprising to learn the way an illness can help others.”

April’s advice for women recently diagnosed with cancer is that, “it’s ok to be scared, there is no shame in that. Take on your emotions, make them a part of you. Own them. There will be days of being scared, unsure of your future, in pain, and feeling seriously ill. Take the time to grieve these things for yourself. Get your cry out, get your mad out, and then accept these things. Don’t let them take you down, you have the strength to overcome.

Be your own advocate, speak up at doctors’ appointments when you have questions or concerns. Embrace the cancer diagnosis and make it part of your daily life and family. The diagnosis of cancer doesn’t just effect the patient, it effects every single person in your life. And as horrible as it seems, you have to be the one to control the reactions of everyone around you. Be positive.”

One of April’s pain management doctors had never met her. He came to visit and said “I had to come meet you face to face. I hear so much about you and your positive attitude, and so do all the other staff in this clinic. They admire your attitude and your fight, you inspire them to be better people, to live a more positive life.” This made April’s day/month/ year/life. She wants an attitude that inspires others.