Nancy Pitts

I was 9 weeks into teaching, when on a Sunday morning I began getting sicker and sicker.  Finally, after feeling like I was having a gall bladder attack, my mom took me to Urgent Care.  After 6 hours of tests and throwing up, I was sent home with the diagnosis of having a “Liver Stone.”  This sure didn’t make sense so off to the ER.  I was admitted that night and after many hours of testing the following day, they did exploratory surgery and found an “enlarged and leaking” appendix.  The surgeon did not feel this was my only problem. 

Each time I tried to return to work for the next 6 months, I landed back in the hospital.  I had an ERCP done at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale which revealed my bile duct was spasmed shut. Since he rushed the surgery it caused acute pancreatitis which put me in the hospital for 3 days of no food or water.  Finally, through one of my aunts who at the time was a UMC nurse, I went to there and she made sure I saw the head of every department.  Ultimately, Dr. John Cunningham did another ERCP and found the pancreatic duct was also spasmed shut, both as a result of a gall bladder surgery I had in January, 2000. 

However, all the work done to repair the ducts caused Chronic Pancreatitis.  I continued to get sicker, had to quit work, could no longer walk through a grocery store, and began taking more and more narcotics to battle the debilitating pain.  In December of 2005 I was told this was my life, Chronic Pancreatitis could not be cured and there was no taking out the pancreas without causing more severe symptoms.  So, I learned to cope with my limitations.

Throughout this ordeal, God remained faithful to me.  My life had been so hectic, that I did not have time to really read my Bible and absorb all the love God has for me in the pages of his Love Letter.  Since I was slowed down dramatically, I began spending more and more time in prayer and Bible Study, and tending to my husband and children.  I was so blessed by people during this time, reaching out to help me however they could.  One of the highlights was started by a friend who told that God wanted her to help me and I needed to tell her how.  That began Monday morning errand day—different women took me and my wheelchair out grocery shopping and whatever other errands I had.  We had so much fun, people looked forward to seeing us and I worked hard to make others in wheelchairs smile by asking if they wanted to drag race in our wheelchairs.  To every black cloud, there is a silver lining!  I’m so blessed that my silver lining is God and His children! 

Thinking this was my life, I quit doctors, except when I needed to up the pain medication or was having an attack of the pancreas and needed an ER visit.  The hospital always treated my like a drug addict seeking a fix, so I had to have a “Pain Contract” with them to be treated.  Prior to surgery, I was using around 600 mg of narcotic per day and was in bed on a “good day” by 1 p.m.  Otherwise, I never made it out of bed. 

September 2009, my uncle who suffers from diabetes and never gave up hope that there was help out there, saw a local news program about the newly opened “Clean Room” at UMC for the purpose of Islet Cell Transplants.  He perked up, called my mom knowing I was sick of well-meaning people offering all kinds of “potions” for healing my body.  I immediately called UMC for an appointment, this did not sound like “snake oil.” 

I was seen in October and was found to be a good candidate for the Pancreatectomy with Islet Cell Transplantation.  My next problem came when my insurances would not pay for such a surgery and I would need to raise $150,000.  A dear friend came up to me and said, “I’ve never baked $150,000 worth of cupcakes before, but I’m willing to do it if that will pay for this surgery.”  So I asked her to be my “financial campaign manager.”  Like her husband says, she’s a pit bull when she puts her mind to something. 

In just 2 months all $150,000 was raised and I was ready for surgery!  That is a modern day miracle if I’ve ever heard one.  Then, surgery was delayed due to an enzyme problem.  However, God was still at work, because while I waited from June to September of 2010 to have my surgery, the team went to Washington and lobbied Medicare and won to have the Pancreatectomy part of this surgery covered.  Something I did not learn until the day before the surgery.

The surgery was September 9th, 2010 and took 12 hours.  I was then in UMC for 9 days and had the BEST nursing care I’ve ever had.  I then spent 10 days recuperating locally until I was strong enough to make the 75 mile trip home. 

In September of 2011, I was asked to go to Seattle and be tested by an Endocrinologist who had worked with the pioneer of this surgery and his testing revealed all 885,000 transplanted islet cells are working at full capacity!  My need for insulin is very low. 

The healing process has been a challenge, but nothing compared to the debilitating pain of the chronic pancreatitis.  Detoxing off the narcotics also offers challenges as I try to balance the pain without taxing the islet cells.   I am currently down to 45 mg of narcotics a day.  One needs a strong support system to recover.  I have been blessed by each and every one of them, especially my husband and parents, and the uncle who found the surgery.  His wife, my aunt, surprised me the night before my surgery by arriving from Texas and kissed me on the cheek to wake me up, something she made a habit of doing while I was in the hospital, as well as providing donuts to the nursing staff!  This recovery has been a team effort. 

This amazing surgery allowed me to attend and thoroughly enjoy my son’s wedding.  It also always me the wonderful privilege of caring for my 2 year old granddaughter while her mom is working. 

There are no more wheelchairs or walkers in our home! There are no words to express my gratitude to Dr. Rilo, Dr. Gruessner, Dr. Khan, Rob Diana, P.A., and everyone else who had their hands in me during surgery and the rest of the team who gave me such amazing care prior to and since the surgery.  They should wear capes because they are my heroes!