"Lu I didn't just come to Philly to visit. I came because I…I…I need your help you." Dana stuttered as she and Lu sat down to lunch on the patio of the Rittenhouse Women's Health Center.
"What? What do you need? You know I'll be happy to help you." Lu said.
"Well back in Virginia I started to get really sick, "Dana explained. "I've been to three different doctors since and none can tell me what's wrong. I want you to tell me what's wrong. Please Lu, you're my only hope of getting better."
"Sure Dana, anything." Lu said now concerned for Dana. "You want to do the exam now?"
"Sure, the sooner I figure out what's wrong with me the better."
Lu and Dana went back into the hospital where Lu took Dana in to the exam room. Lu asked Dana about what she was feeling, what hurt, the normal doctor routine.
"Dana, I want to do some tests, just to rule out the worst." Lu said.
"Ok, sure."
Lu led Dana down the hallway and gave her x-rays, and some other tests. The tests came back about two hours later and conformed what Lu dreaded telling her patients. Dana had cancer.
"Dana, the results are in," Lu started off calmly. "Dana I really hate to say this…but you…you…you have cancer. You got cancer, Dana."
"How…how far along is the cancer? What kind?" Dana asked shocked.
"You have uterine cancer. But it's worse because it's spread to your back and legs."
"Oh my gosh, Lu what am I going to do? What about my girls? What are my treatment options?"
Dana I'm so sorry but with the cancer this far along your treatment options are next to nil. I can start you on Chemo, and radiation as soon as possible but—."
"No, no Lu, no Chemo, no radiation. I don't want my girls to see me like that."
"But Dana if you don't do this treatment your going to die, sooner than if you did the treatment."
"No Lu, no. I don't want to make my girls go through that. They've been through enough."
"Ok Dana, but what are you going to do now? Are you going to go back to your mother in Virginia, or are you going to stay here?"
"My mom died last year, Lu."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Dana."
2 weeks later
Dana's condition has got progressively worse
Dana has been staying with Lu for the past two weeks along with her girls.
"Lu, will you do me a huge favor, please?" Dana asked her friend when she came home from work.
"Sure Dana, anything for you. What is it?"
"I am going to die very soon. I can feel it. I want you to take care of my kids. Please Lu, I can trust you will take good care of Annie and Louise." Dana asked Lu flat out, like she rehearsed over and over in her head.