I have a secret to share.

Some of you may have already caught on, yet as the New Year has rung in, things in life are shifting, personal circumstances as of late have caused some deep reflection.

Since returning to this space last August my view on some things and people has been altered. Some of this I’ve shared in this space and it’s not always been exactly positive.

Living with disease, knowing that it is an indefinite part of your life has a way of changing you. The rose colored glasses I once wore religiously became a bit tarnished.

While life goes on for the rest of the world and everyone is working at doing their best, you suddenly see who continues to show up, where your support truly lies and quite honestly who of your people understand the gravity of what you’ve been faced with.

Professionally speaking it’s been interesting. The number of people sending texts regarding work when they were told I would be unavailable due to chemotherapy. The e-mails outlining how one felt their story should be written and yes, even phone calls to the chair when the individual was directly told I was out and at UCSF for the day. It’s really quite wild and in many ways sad. None of this is more important than my life.

But … we are here in a new year and I could not be happier. While things mentioned from 2025 did indeed taint my glasses, today is a new day.

Today, I’m here to share some good news and a positive which I most recently encountered in our wonderful little town.

A little over a week ago, upon returning from vacation I was pretty ill. The illness led to difficulty with breathing, so much so that an ambulance was called.

When asked where I would like to go, I hesitated. My provider hospital is Doctors, my chosen hospital is UCSF, yet the hospital in that moment which made most sense was Oak Valley.

This would be the fastest choice, the easiest for my family and yet I was nervous.

It is no secret that Oak Valley over the years has not obtained the best reputation for care. That being said, I’ve done my fair share of watching from the sidelines over the last two years and much seems to be happening there by way of proactive improvement.

So while I knew in my gut the medical bill I would face after would be larger than Doctors, in that moment, I just didn’t care. Oak Valley it was.

While the price tag of my four day stay remains to be seen, I can honestly say I’m grateful I made that decision.

The care I received from the moment I rolled in to the moment I rolled out was beyond my expectations.

They were busy, so patience had to be mustered as we waited for a room. Yet as we waited someone was with me at all times. Once in my room I was greeted by Dr. Barba, who apologized for doing things a bit out of order, but wanted to get to what was ailing me quickly.

My ER nurse Bailey was equally exceptional. Relatively new to the Oak Valley team she checked on me regularly and updated my mom and I as information came available.

When asked if I would be admitted both the Doctor and Bailey shared yes, however they were awaiting test results to see if I would be kept there or transferred to a facility better equipped to care for my needs. What? This brought me such peace of mind, it’s almost unexplainable.

They were truly looking out for my best overall care. Yes, I know that is what a hospital is supposed to do, but I have lived long enough to know that does not always happen. At Oak Valley it did.

Once all the tests were run and reviewed I was admitted to the main hospital and the excellence in care just continued. My first nurse Laura was pleasant and patient as my room overflowed with family as she tried to do her job. Laura spent quite a bit of time visiting with us throughout the day, which I must admit was very appreciated. The following day she even popped by to see how I was doing and share something funny she had seen on Instagram. I loved that.

Dr. Sainani became my doctor once moved to my room. Nervous by all that was happening, I shared with him my current condition and the importance of communicating with my team at UCSF. He assured me he would consult with my oncologist before starting a given medication. While he expected no push back or difficulties, he shared he would speak with him nonetheless.

At no time was there a feeling of rushing to get me sent home. Actually quite the contrary. The Doctor had shared he could let me go home Tuesday, but due to the nature of my condition he felt it best to keep me under observation one more day.

I had three roommates during my time at Oak Valley. Each had a separate care team than myself yet was tended to just the same.

One morning my daughter stopped by as she was between classes and going to work. She shared with me how nice it was to have me so close. How easy it was for her and her brother to pop by and spend time with mom.

Lying there one day, I reflected on her words, as well as a conversation I had shared with a friend months prior. It truly is a gift to have a medical facility blocks from where we live. A place where we can receive care for basic needs and health concerns.

While I have made it very public that I believe you are best served to leave the valley when face with certain diagnoses, in this case I’m glad I stayed home.

Thank you to the team of Oak Valley Hospital for your time, your care, your patience and your professionalism. As a family, we are grateful.

Teresa Hammond is a staff reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. She may be reached at thammond@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 209-847-3021.