I had never known any doctor who had tattoos, wore Birkenstocks to work, had gorgeous nurses treating their patients while wearing the latest fashions, and allowed dogs in a communal office, until the day I met Dr. Judy Schmidt.  She was a woman of great widsom; I could tell by the way she would furrow her brow while concentrating on her patient at hand.  But when she finally turned to greet you a hug is what you received.  Her mint green eyes would light up iwth a slight glimmer of devilish play bouncing in them.  With her long brown-gray hair up in a pony tail flouncing like a young woman's, she would poke fun at a nurse or a patient.  Any person could see from the moment of their first encounter, Judy, as she prefers to be called, was a gentle soul.  From the way the office was run and how it was put together, a newcomer could feel the love and passion of Dr. Judy Schmidt.

Before Dr. Judy decided that Oncology was her life's calling, she wanted to be a family physician.  She was fascinated with science, especially the hematology, the study of blood.  This interest lead to her being intrigued by the constant improvements and treatments for oncology patients.  "I was impressed at the inner strength and growth every oncology patient experienced with their diagnosis and treatments."  She believes that it is her privilege to walk beside another person during the most vulnerable time in their life.  She finds that she is passionate about her work because it "is an astounding juxtaposition of complex science and human frailty."  In this type of work and how she preserves it, she is allowed to carefully review the scientific data as well as balance it with each patient's "social and spiritual situation."  Miracles are a constant for her patients.  Judy feels there is a Higher Power who is constantly on her patients' side. "I can feel him/her smiling and laughing and present for everyone.  He/she has a hand in everything.  Nothing is short of a miracle."

My mom is just one example of the many miracles Judy has experienced.  My mom's cancer recurred while using the chemotherapy drug, Carboplatnin.  We all thought she was going to have to be life flighted to her Gynecological Oncologist, Dr. Tamimi, in Seattle for an emergency surgery.  He suggested Judy try a new chemotherapy drug and see if it would stop the cancer from growing further.  Judy put my mom on Doxil, which usually took three times of use to stop the growth.  Before the second round of Doxil, my mom's cancer cell marker had reduced significantly.  With the many miracles Judy has experienced she believes spirituality and support from friends and family has a great influence on the curing of patients.  Judy also believes in natural methods of healing. 

To Judy natural healing and spirituality are the most important factors for patients to have while going on the journey cancer takes them on.  But not every patient is the same, as some doctors believe.  "All of us are distinct individuals with different memories, body systems, spirituality, physical make up, and histories," she tells me.  She understands this because of the many patients she has encountered.  The many different aspects of a human make it hard for doctors to have the starched white coat office, which most cancer patients experience during their time of treatment.  "It is intimidating to enter a sterile, standardly outfitted medical office.  The person might feel like a number or a case... Our goal is to treat everyone as an individual; to listen maximally to their pain/fear and goals in life." 

From my mom's experience, along with many of her cancer friends, have found in white coat offices, the doctors do treat the type of cancer, not the person who has the disease, which lowers the patients' quality of life.  In Judy's office, Guardian Oncology & Center for Wellness, she and her team help each patient with their needs.  They help provide the other essentials needed for a healthy recovery.  No matter what time of day her patients always are able to reach her.  The nurses brings the patients water, juice, or snacks while receiving their treatment.  Judy's massage therapist gives patients masages, paints the women's nails, and even gives them fake tattoos. 

The office setting as Judy described it is "welcoming, peaceful, and open."  Walking into the office you are greeted with a beautifully painted and decorated waiting room with mustard and maroon couches and love seats.  There is a wall of books about cancer, nutrition, health and healing.  The patients are able to borrow any of the books.  There are statues of angels everywhere.  Next comes the treatment room filled with plants, Lazy Boy recliners, the nurses' desks, two adorable dogs, and an abundance of angels.  On the ceiling angels are painted as if you were in a medieval church.  Each patient has their own assigned nurse who gives them their chemotherapy drug.  They also are the people the patients can call if they need help.  Judy also has a Natural Healer on staff who talks to those patients that want to try different types of healing.  She believes that all of those therapies improve patients' quality of life.

"The trusting relationship which unfolds is a miraculous experience for me."  Trusting in the patient, as well as trust in the doctor and nurses, is just as important as natural healing.  Judy believes "a trusting relationship with someone allows us to relax and concentrate on our true mission or goal" and "with the development of a trusting relationship the patient can still do research to be maximally inolved in their own  care."  In this practice research is not discouraged or useless.  Judy and her team support and even encourage patients to investigate their options for radiation and chemotherapy.  "We get to listen to our bodies and minds and define and watch our own spirituality blossom."  Judy and her nurses stay in touch with the patients' original surgeons throughout the journey, in order to keep tabs on the treatments they are using and making sure the surgeons agree with the drug before giving it to the patient.  Together they, the surgeon, Dr. Judy, and the patient, choose what "modalities they want from allopathic and complementary medicine" to assist in their private healing.  This process helps the patients feel like they have regained some control over their life.  Dr. Judy never excludes her patients in any of the decisions she makes, but asks their opinion and how they would feel about it.  While talking with them she is very personable.  She talks to the whole family and explains the good and the bad effects of the different drugs.  When Judy is faced with a tough decision or the patient has a tough decision she will lead them into one of the check up rooms and hold their hands and hug them.

From the crotchety old ranchers to the young mothers, Judy is known to be a friend in their greatest time of need and a woman, who doesn't see herself as one, but is a saint in the eyes of her patients.  Her hospitality and gracious demeanor have brought cancer patients from all around the state of Montana to her welcoming and homey office.  They have found a greater quality of life and a "chemo cocktail lounge," as my mom calls it, which is full of friendly and strong advocates for all of the patients, no matter who they are.

Shawna Melton
June 2008