Chapter Two - Loyola University Hospital

Despite her bout with breast cancer, her chemotherapy treatments in the last half of 1995, and two years of treatment with Tamoxifen in 1996 and 1997, Linda continued working, and continued growing the Oak Lawn Sylvan Learning Center. Under Linda as Director, in March, 1999 the Oak Lawn Center became the center in her group; of seven to achieve gross revenue exceeding $100,000 in a single month. As a result, Linda was awarded a trip for herself and a guest to Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas. Under Linda as Director, in September, 1999, the Oak Lawn Center won a first prize in the National Sylvan Tuition Finance competition. In October, 1999 the Oak Lawn Center was recognized with three other centers for the National President’s Circle achievement of over $550,000.00 gross annual revenue. The Oak Lawn Center achieved annual gross revenue for calendar year 1999 of $769,666.61, and annual net operating income for calendar year 1999 of $138,327.60. Linda’s gross earnings as Director of the Oak Lawn Center for calendar year 1999 were $75,879.01.

During the last half of 1999, the chemotherapy and Tamoxifen treatments began taking their toll on Linda’s liver function, and her liver enzyme test results became more and more outside the normal range. Then, in November 1999, a doctor at Loyola University Hospital, who was treating an infection Linda contracted, prescribed the drug Bactrim to her, despite Linda’s known and well documented allergy to sulfa drugs. This additional insult to Linda’s liver started her liver function on a downward spiral that ultimately led to her need for a liver transplant.