Submitted by St. Dominic Health
Bryce Ramsey has spent 16 years caring for others as a nurse. But when subtle symptoms appeared in her own life, she suddenly found herself on the opposite side of the healthcare experience.
A nurse’s intuition
At 33, Bryce noticed blood in her stool and chalked it up to hemorrhoids — an easy conclusion for someone constantly on her feet and who had delivered a 10.5‑pound baby. The bleeding persisted, and mucus appeared.
“I made a deal with myself,” she said. “If this happens again, I’m calling.” She kept that promise, and her gastroenterologist listened closely. While Bryce’s age made her an unlikely candidate for a scope, newly uncovered family history changed the equation. A colonoscopy soon followed.
What doctors found was alarming: a 5-centimeter polyp in her sigmoid colon — too large for standard removal. She was referred to surgeon Richard Yelverton, MD, at FMOL Health | St. Dominic Hospital. On her way to the consult, the biopsy results came in. The polyp was cancerous. Within 10 days, Bryce was in surgery.
On November 14, 2019, Dr. Yelverton removed 3 feet of Bryce’s colon and 13 lymph nodes. Three nodes tested positive for cancer. The diagnosis: stage 3 colorectal cancer.
A 50-yard-line proposal
Behind the scenes, Mickee (Bryce’s boyfriend and fellow healthcare worker) was planning something special. Despite having just undergone major surgery, Bryce joined him at a New Orleans Saints game — a tradition for them. In the final play, surrounded by roaring fans, Mickee dropped to one knee.
“Google it,” Bryce laughs. “Demario Davis even retweeted our story!”
Fighting for her future
In early 2020, Bryce began chemotherapy under the care of Bobby Graham, MD, at FMOL Health | St. Dominic. His compassion left a mark: “He hugged me and said he’d treat me like his daughter. Then he prayed over me.”
Bryce completed six rounds of chemotherapy, adjusting her treatment after complications from previous bariatric surgery. Her motivation stayed clear: “I had a 7‑year‑old. No one else is raising my baby but me.”
That summer, she and Mickee married. Weeks later, on Father’s Day, they learned they were expecting their son, Emree Lucas‑Ray.
Turning pain into purpose
Now, as a survivor and former Mrs. Mississippi Plus America, Bryce still uses her influence to spread awareness. “Bleeding from your behind is not normal,” she says. “I’d rather it be a false alarm than a missed diagnosis.”
FMOL Health | St. Dominic’s comprehensive cancer care program is recognized by The Commission on Cancer, a program of the American College of Surgeons. It meets a national quality standard and exemplifies a commitment to providing high-quality and multidisciplinary patient-centered care. Learn more at stdom.com.