A Family’s Love and Finding a Physician Friend
Cancer patients, or those providing care for one, know that the love and support of family and friends can do a lot to promote the healing process.
They would all be lucky to have someone like Flynn Fox in their corner.
More than 7 years ago he left his life in California to move in with his aunt, Velma, in Villa Park, IL. Velma had myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a form of bone marrow cancer, and she reached out to Fox to take care of her.
When his aunt’s condition required additional medical attention, they were referred to an established physician, but Velma couldn’t get in for several weeks. Then Dr. Srilata Gundala at Hope and Healing in Hinsdale was suggested.
Fox says his aunt and Dr. Gundala, “hit it off from the start. She took fantastic care of my aunt.”
So impressed was Fox with Dr. Gundala he had her treat him for his anemia. “She is so genuine in her care and gets to know her patients on a much more personal level,” says Fox.
The physician’s impact on the family didn’t end there. In 2017 Fox’s sister was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. She moved from California to Villa Park where Dr. Gundala helped coordinate her care with Mayo Clinic and worked directly with her doctors at the Rochester, MN medical facility. Even when his sister developed heart problems, a side effect of her cancer treatment, Fox says, “Dr. Gundala was on top of it. 100% personally invested.”
While cancer eventually took both Fox’s aunt and sister, he says having Dr. Gundala involved in their treatments was “in the end the best thing that could have happened.”
“When we first started, the prognosis (for my aunt) was 7 months and we got almost 4 years.” Fox’s sister was given 3 months and lasted 10.
Fox also attributes Dr. Gundala with helping him get through these challenges. “No matter how bad the news is, she’ll always find something positive in it to tell you. She truly works at keeping not only the patient’s, but the family’s spirits up.”
“In my experience, Hope is the first step towards healing,” says Dr. Gundala. “Cancer can be a devastating diagnosis and it is particularly important to have a positive outlook. In this day of the internet and a plethora of information, it is easy to get dejected learning about the effects of cancer and sometimes also the treatment. I believe in being mindful of the physical and emotional effects and provide holistic care.”
Calling her one of the kindest doctors he ever met, Fox believes she could teach other physicians, saying “they all could be (like her) if they just took that extra few seconds to listen to people.”
Find a friend and advocate in your physician. Book an appointment with Dr. Gundala today, call 630-560-0121.
Written By: Mike Robinson
Reviewed By: Srilata Gundala, MD
