How it all started

My first mammogram was on Saturday, February 21. I was delighted to have the convenience of a Saturday appointment without the pressure of driving across town after a full day of teaching, or having to arrange for a substitute. Group Health Tacoma Specialty Clinic is a ghost town on Saturday. I presented myself to the only receptionist on the second floor and was directed to go down to the mammography waiting area. Within minutes, a lovely technician named Nancy called me and took me into Breast Screening area. Nancy was a single mom whose young daughter went to her aunt’s house on Saturdays so Nancy could earn extra money working at Group Health. Nancy was kind and efficient. Within minutes I was out of the open-front capette and back into my weekend wear. I rushed to the airport to pick up Michael who was returning from a visit to his mother. Little did I realize that I was actually rushing into an uncertain future, full of fear and surprises.