• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search magnifying glass icon
Close Search X icon
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Kerry Blum and Dr Richard Kline

Cervical Cancer Survivor Celebrates 16 Years Cancer-Free

Jul 29, 2021 |
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

When Ochsner patient Kerry Blum went in for her routine Pap smear in 2005, she was in shock when she saw her diagnosis: She had cervical cancer.

“I had no symptoms, no current medical problems at the time and was just living my normal married, mom of two small children and working in the medical field life. To this day, I remember the initial moments when I left my gynecologist’s office; I pulled out of the parking garage, crossed the street to head home and stopped in the median and put my car in park, and just cried tremendously. My first thought was, what about my children and all the moments of their lives I could possibly miss and how they would possibly grow up without their mom? Second, how do I go home and share this news with my family? My children were young at the time, 10 and 4 years old.”

Kerry was quickly referred to Dr. Richard C. Kline, a gynecologic oncologist at Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans. Kerry says Dr. Kline helped to ease her worries and anxieties. “He always remained calm and very informative. He answered all of my questions, even more than once.” Dr. Kline decided surgery would be needed. Kerry had pre-op testing the days leading up to her surgery, but everything was quickly turned upside down with the impending arrival of Hurricane Katrina.

“I remember getting home after an MRI before surgery and laying on the living room floor not feeling too well when I received a phone call asking if we were leaving? I said, ‘leaving? To go where?’ Hurricane Katrina was on her way, and I was so wrapped up in this cancer situation I wasn’t even aware of it.”

Like all Louisianians living on the Gulf Coast, Kerry and her family had to evacuate for Hurricane Katrina, meaning her surgery would be postponed. She and her family evacuated to Victoria, Texas. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the Gulf South, getting in touch with anyone was nearly impossible. But Kerry and Dr. Kline were able to connect, and he urged her to get home as soon as she could so her surgery could be performed.

On Oct. 10, 2005, Kerry was able to have her surgery. Kerry says, “ALL of the staff at Ochsner were beyond wonderful. With everything going on, all the stress from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina AND patients of all types, I never had one bad experience with anyone.”

“After my release, I recovered on an air mattress and started putting life back together just like everyone else in Louisiana had to do. I kept up with my follow-up appointments with Dr. Kline. We had a small hiccup in 2009, which resulted in another surgery, but eventually, I finally graduated to annual checkups.”

Speed up to 2021, and Kerry is approaching 16 years this October of no cancer! And she still sees Dr. Kline every summer at the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center. “Dr. Kline is my HERO; he always explains everything so detailed and calmly. He listens, has compassion. I have never told Dr. Kline how much he means to me and how grateful I am that HE was chosen that day I received the worst news I’ve ever received to be my Physician who I would put my trust and my life in his hands to do what he does best.”

With the support of Dr. Kline, Kerry also started her health and wellness journey to lose weight and get in shape to be a strong, healthy mom. That journey led her to fitness and bodybuilding, and along the way, she has met other cancer warriors and their family members who were their caretakers. Kerry decided she wanted to be a personal trainer and help others be the best version of their healthy, and she is in school to reach her master trainer certification.

“The main reason I agreed to share this is because every year I get a little nervous about visiting Dr. Kline, and every year he gives me the BEST news a doctor can give…. ‘all clear see you next year!’ You see, back in 2005, I was praying for 16 minutes. 16 hours. 16 days just to be with my children. Dr. Kline helped give me the last 16 years. Thank you is NOT enough, but THANK YOU, DR. RICHARD C. KLINE, MY HERO, and thank you to all of the staff at The Gayle & Tom Benson Cancer Center and Ochsner Medical Center.”

To learn more about cancer screenings at Ochsner, visit https://www.ochsner.org/services/cancer-care/cancer-screenings.

Tags
patient story
cervical cancer
cancer survivor

You may also be interested in:

Eastman 4
Prevention & Wellness
August 5, 2022

Young Mother Triumphs Over Triple Negative Breast Cancer

At 29 years old, Rachel was a dietitian, a wife and a mom to a 15-month-old little boy. She was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
Dwayne III with his mom Oreal and dad Dwayne Jr
Conditions & Treatment
August 5, 2022

Baby's Family Celebrates NICU Discharge on His 1st Birthday

Oreal Joseph and her fiancé Dwayne White Jr. experienced the unexpected when their son Dwayne White III was born three months early at Ochsner Baptist, when Oreal was only 24 weeks into her pregnancy.
Doctor talking with female patient
Conditions & Treatment
August 5, 2022

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

It's important to know the risks of cervical cancer in order to to detect cancer early.
By Sumathi Smith, MD

email envelop icon Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok

Healthy living tips newsletters, delivered to your inbox.

Sign Up

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Healthy State
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

newsletter icon

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

newsletter icon

Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition
newsletter icon

Let us know where to send your newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:
To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
To Your Health- Skin Deep:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:
newsletter icon

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

Ochsner Health System
magnifying glass icon
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide