Patient Profile – Karen Brown

by James Bridges

 

“I was raised pentacostal.  We don’t cut our hair growing up pentacostal.”

 

On a quiet little neighborhood side street I was searching for the address.  I couldn’t help but notice all the chunky streets, dead leaves, spring sounds in the distance, then there at the end of a cuddle sack, in the outerbanks of Oklahoma was a little quite inviting home and Karen Brown was inside waiting to tell a story.

 

“I was born in California, I have 2 brothers, we were moved back and forth a lot until our parents finally divorced. I spent a lot of time on beaches and in the ‘Marijuana Movement’. Then we moved and were raised In Oklahoma….” Karen instantly grabbed me as a “matter-of-fact” type.  I found out why.

 

“I was diagnosed with emphysema.”  She started… All I started hearing were acronyms and terminology… smoking.. EKG…units…Trauma…MRI…call lights…, and then …….

 

About five years ago basal cell carcinoma stepped up to its turn at bat with Karen’s immune system.  “It first started on top of my head, they had to go fairly deep.  I could actually feel and hear the doctors digging around up there.  It was very disturbing.” While describing the actual removal procedure from her scalp all I could see and hear at one point were finger nails being scratched down a chalkboard…

 

“So I’ve had nine more removals since and one scheduled for May.”  She said with what I gathered was a sarcastic smile, or maybe she is just such a “matter-of-fact” type that I misunderstood.

 

“Now…I have Melanoma on the top of my leg. I’m a redhead so I guess moles might be common but for me, it remains scary every time I go.” Karen continued with her pointing out of ailments.

 

In January of 2020 Karen was having issues that pointed her toward a possible “bad vape” issue.  Karen thankfully was able to continue medication using cannabis oil.  Since her recovery Karen has taken several tests for lung damage.

 

Karen smiled and said,  “I had to have a lung chamber test. Thankfully, after a couple weeks, I am not all the way back, but much better.”

 

According to Karen, cannabis is essential to her functioning.  There’s no question that it has always been part of her life, but on a medicinal level cannabis is saving it.

 

As she showed me through the rest of her comfortable home I noticed the pride she had in her own home grow space.  

 

As I left the door closing on the subtle ambiance of a guitar playing in the background I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful yard in my rearview.