My Health Journey – Thank you Dr. Tim Kasunic, Christine, and Staff!!

**MY HEALTH JOURNEY – THANK YOU DR. TIM KASUNIC**

As most of you know February 2 of this year, I became very sick. What started out as debilitating panic attacks turned into a critically low ferritin and hemoglobin level due to excessive menstrual bleeding. My family doctor referred me to Dr. Kasunic because of my elevated platelet count and after serial blood draws it was found my ferritin level was critically low. I can still remember my first app’t with Dr. Kasnuic. Of course, I had googled “high platelet counts” and I was convinced I had some sort of cancer. He could tell immediately upon coming into the exam room that I was nervous so before he even examined me, he went over my blood work. He saw I was nervous and listened and went straight for what I needed to hear “This is consistent with iron deficiency anemia”. So I heard “You don’t have cancer”. He could have examined me first, did all the other stuff and then went over the labs, but he knew I needed for him to tell me right away. That is a doctor that cares about his patients. I knew immediately I loved him. I knew immediately he was the doctor for me. Plus, he made me laugh and listened to me as I mumbled. At that point my hgb was in the 9s so he decided to do serial blood draws every six weeks.

While all this was going on I was still having severe panic/anxiety attacks. On April 27th I went in for my regular blood draw and within an hour was called as my hgb was down to 6.3 and I needed to get blood transfusions. I know God was watching over me because in my mind I was just having panic attacks, but actually my anxiety/panic, shortness of breath, dizziness, etc was worse because of my critically low hgb. Now if I had not had the blood draw, I could have fallen, passed out, etc, so what a blessing it was. The next day I had to go to the hospital to receive 2 units of blood. I can still remember that day. Elaine and Cathy were my nurses and they were amazing with me also. They too are part of Hickman Cancer Center, Dr. Kasunic’s group.

They prayed before I received each transfusions and sat with me and talked to me just to help keep my mind off of the blood going into my body. The next day I received the dreaded call that I needed an iron infusion. Now I had read up on iron infusions and was so afraid to have one. I went in on March 4 and had my first iron infusion. Yep, I cried, yep I was a nervous wreck, but I did it and again, my nurse, Dawn, was amazing with me. She talked me through it and made me feel so calm. This time it was done right at their infusion center so I knew Dr. Kasunic was there in case I had a reaction. Then the 11th came when I needed to get the 2nd infusion and I called and canceled and told them “I was good” LOL. They called me back to see if I would see their nurse practitioner, Christine. I agreed and went in the next day to see her. She came in and explained why I needed the second one and again was so kind and caring towards me. She said Dr. Kasunic wanted to see me and he came in and said “What do we need to do to get you to have this done”. He said it in the most kind, jovial voice. He said he could not make me have it, but I really did need it and whatever they needed to do to help me through it they would. He said, “If you need us to open the epipen so it is ready, we will do that”. I will never forget he and Christine that day. The way they treated me calmed my nerves and gave me a peace that I cannot explain. Christine went in the infusion center and made sure someone could infuse it and I went and had it done. Again, he could have said “You know there are people fighting for their lives and receiving chemo and you are just getting iron, you BIG baby”, but he never made me feel he was remotely thinking that way. He knew what I was feeling was real and he wanted to help me in anyway he could. I went back and received my infusion and had no reaction.

Then, as my ferritin continued to go down from the loss of blood, I needed two more infusions. Christine and Dr. Kasunic again were the only reason I had them done, because they let me explain how I was feeling. I called the office a few times when I was not feeling right to see if I could have my blood draw early and Christine knew I was not crazy and knew my body and would agree and then call me with the results. When I went to the ER because I was bleeding so heavily, Christine messaged me to see what was going on. Now that is going above and beyond and caring about your patients.

As I look back on all of this, my heart is full of JOY. God knew I needed each and everyone of these people in my life and he lined it all up. I received the BEST care EVER and I cannot thank all of the people who have been involved in my health journey. I have the utmost respect for Dr. Kasunic and his office. They are amazing people.

Dr. Kasunic is my HERO!!!! He thinks he only gave me iron and blood and scheduled my blood draws, but I am here to tell you, he gave me so much more than that. He calmed my nerves by his compassion. He talked to me in a kind, caring manner and never made me feel like what I was going through was nothing compared to his cancer patients. He went above and beyond to explain what was going on, how my body would react, and more importantly he listened to me (which says a lot for someone LOL 🙂 I love this man so much!!

If you are in need of a hematologist/oncologist I would recommend Dr. Tim Kasunic without hesitation. I am 100% confident that you will be just as happy as I was. I am also asking for all of you to pray blessings on him, his family, Christine, and the entire staff at Hickman Cancer Center/Toledo Clinic Hematology/Oncology Office. Although I am glad I “graduated” today, I sure will miss him. Thank you Dr. Kasunic from the bottom of my heart for taking such good care of me and being so kind to me. You are appreciated more than you will ever know 🙂 May God abundantly bless your family today and always!! I will NEVER forget you!!

*SIDE NOTE TO PICTURE ABOVE: He and I both tried to suck our stomachs in so we didn’t look so heavy. FYI – it didn’t work – LOL!!! (Sorry Dr. Kasunic, I had to share that part as that was funny)

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