Don’t give up | va minneapolis health care | veterans affairs

She was born in Mexico, where she lived until she was 15-years-old. As a teenager, moving to America was hard and the first few years she hated it. However, she soon realized that coming to

America was the best thing that happened to her, except for joining the military. Mirna Rowe joined the Navy in 1993 and served eight years as an aviation storekeeper ordering materials and

equipment for aircraft and crews at Naval Air Weapons Station Pt. Mugu, California. There she met her husband, a fellow active-duty sailor, and her next assignment brought them to

Minnesota’s Naval Air Reserve Center. She transferred into the Navy Reserves in 2001, where she put in a request to become an officer. It took two times, but her officer packet was finally

accepted in 2005. While still in uniform as a supply core officer, in April 2022, she started having back pain which rather quickly turned into a lymphoma diagnosis.    “I got diagnosed with

large B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is one of the most very common types of lymphoma and one in which people recover, and the treatments for it usually work well,” Rowe said. “The

good news was that it could be treated. The bad news was that I had cancer, and I needed to go through some treatment.”   Rowe said she had good medical coverage, but this was a scary time,

and she wondered if care would be better at the Minneapolis VA, so she applied through her County Veteran Service Officer. Within a week, she was denied VA health care. “I was really sad,”

she said.    Her treatment began with six chemotherapy infusions between May and September, causing hair loss but few other side effects. Then, she had 20 radiation sessions, which often

cause skin soreness and fatigue. For her, the tiredness made daily tasks harder and added new challenges to her recovery.   The new year came with some good news. January 2023, the VA called

Rowe and told her that thanks to the PACT Act, she was now eligible for VA care and benefits. The PACT Act, signed into law August 2022, established a list of conditions presumed to be

linked to military service and toxic exposure, including lymphoma.    In March 2023 she was told she was in remission, which means there were no signs of cancer. “There is a period where

lymphoma can return,” Rowe explained that it was worrisome news. “Because, ‘Hey you got really good news’, but it may just be a short period of time.”  That spring she began getting care at

the Minneapolis VA. “I started working with Dr. Vaca about reframing my mind, about what survivorship means,” said Rowe.   Dr. Kelsey Vaca, a psychologist, became a member of Rowe’s care

team. Vaca supports patients like Rowe, who often face anxiety, sadness, and sleep problems. Vaca teaches ways to manage emotions and thoughts, helping patients feel more in control and less

alone on their cancer journey. Rowe also took advantage of specialized programs to support patients with a diagnosis of cancer.  Mirna was one of the first patients at the Survivorship

Clinic, which helps people adjust after finishing cancer treatment. “Life after cancer can be hard,” said nurse practitioner Charity Lusteck, another member of Rowe’s care team. “Some

patients worry the cancer will return, others feel sad about changes in their body or self-image, and some still have side effects like nerve pain, tiredness, or intimacy problems. My job is

to support patients and help them feel better moving forward.”  "Once I started coming here (the Minneapolis VA), it just felt a lot better,” said Rowe. “I feel like the VA has an

overall picture of my care. The care here with Charity and Kelsy has been great. They have listened to me and been patient. I am in a much better place.”    She is grateful to have had

medical coverage during her cancer treatments, but even more grateful that the PACT Act made a big impact on her care during the last two years of remission.   She finds herself thinking

about others who haven’t yet taken advantage of their coverage under the PACT Act. She encourages those who may have applied for VA care in the past and been denied, to apply again.   “Same

thing with my commission, if you don’t get it the first time, don’t give up,” said Rowe.   One thing she has given up… her uniforms.  Rowe retired from the Navy after 32 years of service in

January 2025.   Learn how the Minneapolis VA can help you through your cancer journey at the Cancer Resource Fair, June 2, 2025 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.in the Minneapolis VA Medical Center

Flag Auditorium.  Immerse yourself in a day filled with support and resources from VA service providers, including social work, palliative care, nutrition, cancer rehabilitation,

survivorship, and community organizations. Over 20 different VA and community providers will be in attendance.