She’s No Ordinary Patient

Tammy Miller writes a book about the lighter side of breast cancer and features Aaron Bleznak, M.D., as head of her humor team.

Who would star in the movie version of your life? For Tammy Miller, Dolly Parton would play her part. But would that be Tammy the professional speaker, clown (Hugz the Clown is her alter-ego), author, mother…or breast cancer survivor?

“There might be a couple—wink, wink—costume adjustments needed,” she jokes. But Miller’s “characters” come bundled into one vibrant, expansive ball of energy. With her oddball sense of humor, she unveils them all in her book, “The Lighter Side of Breast Cancer Recovery,” chronicling her experiences under the care of Aaron Bleznak, M.D., surgical oncologist.

Bleznak, who recently joined Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network specializing in breast, colon and thyroid cancer, melanoma and sarcoma, is featured prominently in Miller’s story, beginning with when he told her she had cancer. After hearing the devastating news, “Tammy handed me a red clown nose and pronounced me head of her humor team,” Bleznak says. “I knew then that she was no ordinary patient.”

But then again, Bleznak is no ordinary doctor. He gladly accepted the role of humor team leader, caring for Miller as she arrived wearing masks, wigs, hats, feather boas and even clay nipples after her partial mastectomy. She often brought a camera crew to document her experience, baked breast-shaped cakes and created the Radiology Kazoo Band to entertain patients and staff.

“Some might call me difficult—I refused to wear a hospital gown,” Miller says. “But Dr. B let me stay in control and followed through with whatever I asked for. He prayed with me when I needed that, allowed me to try healing touch and even supported me when I chose an alternative treatment not widely used in this country.”

As Miller slowly opened her eyes after her surgery, the first face she saw was his, complete with a clown nose. She became aware of laughter as staff admired his artwork—a smiley face near her incision and large Mickey Mouse on her bandage. “I thought maybe I had died and gone to heaven, and there are clowns in heaven!” she says.

Today, Miller is cancer free and helps others cope through her books, motivational speeches and clown acts with her two daughters, “Chuckles” and “Twinkles.” She was even able to meet her idol Dolly Parton. The star, who has a deep desire to help people, too, was inspired by Miller’s story and invited her to “Dollywood” theme park.

So, what about that movie? Maybe we’ll see Dolly on the big screen someday, but it’s Bleznak who has played a starring role in saving Miller’s life. She calls him “Aaron Bleznak, M.D., surgeon, healer, confidante, humor leader, friend (and really goodlooking guy).” So, there's only one actor who could play the part—and who could that be? “Robert De Niro, of course.”

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