Jumping Worms + Cancer
Image Copyright 2021 Lorie Marsh
My daughter and I made an unfortunate discovery this weekend in our front garden bed: jumping worms. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, “Jumping worms are a type of earthworm. They are called “jumping worms” because of their unusual behavior when disturbed – they move like a snake and sometimes appear to be jumping. A light-colored ring extends around the body and is closer to the head than in other earthworms.” Furthermore, “Jumping worms can dramatically change soils, giving it a unique texture similar to coffee grounds. Jumping worms feast on mulch and strip vital nutrients from topsoil. This kills plants and increases erosion. Homeowners may see garden plants killed and may have difficulty growing plants.”
Last Friday, I also learned the pathology results from my thyroid surgery: minimally invasive oncocytic carcinoma.
Well, poop. On both events.
A few years ago is when I first learned about jumping worms. They’d been noted in our Northern growing region, wreaking havoc on woodlands, stream beds, and gardens. There’s no sure-fire treatment to rid yourself of them if/when they appear in your yard, although there are efforts afoot to understand what might work. There are even support groups for gardeners who are bummed about their infestations! Jumping worms are so disruptive because they cluster and chew up roots and nutrients just under the surface of the soil, unlike earthworms like Red Wigglers or Nightcrawlers that chew single, deeper tunnels underfoot. The best one can do to avoid them is to be vigilant about what comes into your yard, to purchase materials and plants only from vendors that are taking precautions, and/or to knock the dirt off new-to-you plants, throw it away and plant bare root.
Apparently, I wasn’t vigilant enough. But, you know what? I tried. I am not one to garden hyper-vigilantly, but I was mindful to take precautions. And, they’ve shown up anyway. Going forward, I’ll monitor my plantings, I’ll try some of the remedies that have been researched. But, bringing stress to gardening is the exact opposite choice for me. I adore gardening because it keeps me grounded, present and delighted.
Which brings me to my cancer diagnosis. Last Summer, at an annual exam, my doctor noted nodules on my thyroid. I had been oblivious. She suggested next steps, and I was slow to take them because money was tight, plus I felt “fine.” I did get an ultrasound to measure the nodules in September. I was advised to get them biopsied, but again I tarried.
By February of 2026, I found myself in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and sepsis. Thanks to that medical emergency, our budgeting considerations were blown out of the water. The costs exceeded our maximum for the year, so ironically, I no longer felt I had to deny myself care because of expense. We’re now in debt up to our eyeballs, but tests and procedures will be covered going forward the rest of this year. Two biopsies and one surgery later, I now have pathology results that beg the question, ‘what’s next?’
I don’t know, yet.
What I do know is that I’m doing my best. I’m surrounded by capable practitioners and loving friends and family. Like with the jumping worms, I’ll look into remedies, but I aim to keep grounded, present, and delighted.
