It was a quiet ride to Burlington, IA, yesterday for my 3-month check-up with Dr. Henrich, the Ear, Nose, Throat specialist. We've made this drive maybe 60 times since March of 2010, but most of those were for treatment or related issues. After a bout with cancer, going to see a specialist is not at all like the regular appointments we all schedule with our respective doctors. You know that each visit could be a life changer. Diane and I didn't talk much until we entered Great River Medical Center. We walked upstairs and then proceeded down the long hallway to the doctor's office when I paused, looked at Diane, and said, "I wonder what it will be like after the appointment walking down this hallway to leave the building?"
We are delighted to report that after an examination and scoping of my throat, through a tube inserted in my nostrils, he said, "I see nothing! No growth, no tumor, clean as a whistle." We just sat there for a moment and digested and then savored his words. I asked about a PET-scan in June and Doug repled, "I don't think it is necessary. Research tells us that for head and neck cancers additional PET-scans do little but add more radiation to a patient's overall overloaded system." His suggestion was that unless I have "issues," I return for another 3-month exam at the end of June.
The ride home was quiet but delightful. Diane let our children know the good news and for her those are calls she enjoys making.
Tonight we are saying farewell for now to Don and Lisa Patterson who are departing for Buffalo, New York, where Don will be the quarterback coach at the University of Buffalo. It will be a difficult good-bye for me especially as Don has been there since day one of my diagnosis. I wish he and Lisa well and am comforted by the fact that he will only be an email or phone call away.
For those of you who are members of the Western Illinois University community, we received word this afternoon that former WIU president, Dr. Leslie F. Malpass passed away quietly at home yesterday surrounded by his family.
