THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602130120
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
The saying is that true love never runs smooth. But for Charlie Echols, 40, and Patricia Dutko, 42, it's been an especially rocky road.
This engaged couple's tale was a typical ``boy meets girl'' story - at first. Later, it began to seem more like an episode of the TV drama ``ER.'' The Virginia Beach residents have already learned the meaning of ``for better or worse.''
They met when his best friend was getting ready to marry her friend and they were both in the wedding. Things, as Dutko described it, just sort of clicked and it began to look like they'd be making their own trip to the altar.
Last Valentine's Day, they got engaged. It would be the first marriage for both and the wedding date was set for April 13, 1996.
Then trouble started.
In July, Echols was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. ``We didn't see it as a problem,'' he said. ``It seems to be minor enough it doesn't pose any health problem. We were still planning to go ahead with the wedding.''
His health insurance, provided by his employer, N.B. Handy and Co. of Norfolk, a heating and air conditioning distributor where he's worked since 1984 as an inside sales representative, covered the bills.
Then came more trouble.
In mid-August, Dutko discovered a lump in her breast. Concerned, she called her gynecologist to move up an already scheduled appointment. Examining her, he shared her concern. Noting that Dutko, who started her own business cleaning houses four years ago, didn't have insurance, he recommended she call the public health clinic.
Instead, she went with the recommendation of a good friend and called Dr. Alan H. Jaffee the Friday before Labor Day. He saw her the day after the holiday and performed several biopsies. Two days later he phoned her with the results.
``He said there was some good news and bad news,'' she remembered. ``The right breast biopsy came back negative. But on the left breast, two-thirds of the results came back positive. He said it was cancer, and the bad kind. He didn't like telling me by phone but he thought it was important to save time and arrange to get me in right away.
``I was devastated,'' she said. ``I can remember the phone call plain as day. It was like my heart fell into my stomach.''
That Friday, a week after the initial phone call to Jaffee, she went to DePaul Hospital to arrange the surgery. Echols, taking time off from work, accompanied her. Jaffee recommended a radical mastectomy.
It was done on Sept. 19; she stayed overnight and was released. The worst, however, was yet to come.
The cancer had spread into her lymph nodes and several were removed during her surgery. Although she had hoped they got it all, she began chemotherapy six weeks later. Several oncologists suggested a bone marrow or stem cell transplant might enhance her chances.
``They gave me a 30 percent recovery rate with just the chemo,'' she said. ``With the bone marrow or stem cell transplant, it's a 50 percent recovery rate.''
Then they learned the cost: $50,000, with half of it due at the outset. Another $25,000 will be needed if she requires hospitalization, as she may, for up to three months.
Their savings are already wiped out by more than $8,000 in debts from the surgery. She has continued to work part time despite her surgery and the chemotherapy to try to keep up with her bills. But earlier this month, her doctor told her she won't be able to continue working.
She has finished her chemotherapy and hopes to raise enough money to begin the stem cell procedure soon. They are looking into doing fund-raisers to help with Dutko's medical expenses and have talked to a foundation that would assist with donations, through a local bank. The foundation, which uses 100 percent of what is raised to meet the patient's medical bills, is tax-exempt, meaning donations are deductible.
``One of the things that's kept us going is local support,'' Echols said.
Dutko added, ``And family support. He and his family have been wonderful. It's been a nightmare. I feel sorry for anyone else having to go through it. I've never had to ask for help before.''
The wedding? It's delayed, but still very much on. They're shooting for Oct. 26 as the day they will pledge themselves to each other ``in sickness and in health, 'til death us do part.'' MEMO: Contributions on behalf of Patricia Dutko can be made to the Barbara
Anne DeBoer Foundation at any branch of Central Fidelity Bank, or can be
sent to: Rose Nelson, Central Fidelity Bank, 2110 Great Neck Shopping
Center, Virginia Beach, Va., 23454.
ILLUSTRATION: While making plans for their wedding, Charlie Echols was
diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and his fiancee, Patricia Dutko,
was found to have breast cancer. She has since had a radical
mastectomy and chemotherapy but still needs stem cell replacement.
She has no insurance.
Photo by
DAWSON MILLS
by CNB