| FAITH, HOPE, LOVE AND GOOGLE | | | | Internet for ideas and innovations. We looked into |
| A MODERN TALE OF THE GREAT VIRTUES | | | | chemotherapy for the “inoperable tumor of |
| Larry R. Boller RRT, MBA | | | | the liver.” The Medical Center had one |
| | | | | cocktail that had maybe a 5% chance of working. |
| Two years ago, just a few days before | | | | That did not seem like something to loose all your |
| Christmas, I got the call from my doctor following | | | | hair and most of your meals for, so I decided to |
| up on a routine test. He needed to see me. When | | | | pass on that bit of fun. |
| I got there he told me that he had "found | | | | When we got back home, Hope took over and |
| something he didn’t like." This led me to | | | | we talked with friends and realized that as long as |
| believe that I was going to like it even less. While | | | | my doctors were sure that the two tumors were |
| doing an upper endoscopy (which looks at the | | | | related they would not treat it because this had it |
| esophagus and stomach) he had found areas | | | | classified as "terminal Stage IV cancer of the |
| that he thought might be cancer! Esophageal | | | | esophagus with metastatic disease to the liver." |
| cancer had two characteristics: one, it was | | | | On the other hand I was convinced because of |
| relatively rare so I would have to go somewhere | | | | timing issues that they were two different |
| else for treatment and two, it is usually fatal. At | | | | cancers. In most cases, this would be unlikely, but |
| the same time, they also saw a shadow on my | | | | if I could prove it then the standards of care |
| liver with a CT scan, but I knew that had been | | | | would prompt independent and aggressive |
| there for several years so it was probably | | | | treatment as two Stage 1’s. |
| nothing. So, over Christmas 2006 I awaited my | | | | |
| appointment with the the Large Very Prestigious | | | | To attempt to get this clarification we had the |
| Medical Center with anxiety and denial, but | | | | pathology slides sent two places that were |
| also some sense of Hope. | | | | sufficient in stature that the Medical Center folks |
| | | | | would listen, should they disagree. The Armed |
| I went to the Medical Center on January 3rd 2007 | | | | Forces Institute of Pathology said that they really |
| it was a terrible visit. They told me I did have | | | | could not see a difference in the tissue, but also |
| cancer; I did not want it. The main doctor they | | | | conceded that they did not have to be the same. |
| assigned to me had all the bedside manner of | | | | Secondly, the expert in the pathology of liver |
| my shoes! After being seen by a team of | | | | cancer is at the University of Minnesota. I called |
| doctors, they were in agreement that my only | | | | him and he agreed to look. I was in Disney |
| Hope lay in a complex operation. The surgery | | | | World… a place where "Dreams Really Do Come |
| they were talking about would open me from | | | | True"...when this Professor of Medicine called me. |
| stem to stern and remove all of my esophagus | | | | He told me that based on his review of not only |
| and hook my stomach up with the back of the | | | | the slides but the medical history I supplied, had |
| mouth they would also take a peek at that | | | | him convinced that they were likely two separate |
| "shadow" on the liver--nothing guaranteed and not | | | | cancers. This report along with a letter from me |
| particularly pleasant, but certainly better than the | | | | went back to Medical Center. |
| alternative. Leaving that appointment, the only | | | | |
| Hope appeared to be in the form of this surgery, | | | | Over the next 20 months I underwent many |
| which they reported would alter my lifestyle | | | | innovative treatments. For a while I was having a |
| considerably. But, with Faith in God, to whom I | | | | procedure every month, none of them as radical |
| had assigned the role of "Case Manager," I agreed | | | | as the originally planed surgery but not a lot of |
| to have it two weeks hence. | | | | fun either. |
| I started my negotiations with God to see what | | | | With all of the prayers coming in, apparently the |
| could be arranged. Wasn’t there a simpler | | | | Spirit decided to somehow direct my |
| procedure? Should I not have the surgery and let | | | | communications in two directions the first to a |
| nature take it’s course? Was he sure about | | | | fellow who I had met when he did an ultrasound |
| this whole Heaven thing? Were my parents there | | | | procedure on the esophagus. At that time, I did |
| waiting for me? Would I be able to watch my | | | | not know he was one of only four people in the |
| children and grandchildren? Did he realize that I | | | | world who used a combination of tools to peel, |
| was only 56 and that all of my grandparents, | | | | cut and burn the cancer away from the very |
| great grandparents and parents had died of heart | | | | fragile inner wall of the esophagus. A little bit at |
| disease… no cancer anywhere! While I knew | | | | a time, for the past eighteen months now, he has |
| better that to demand things I did ask for some | | | | been peeling, cutting, using radiowaves and electric |
| consideration on these issues. It was the first in a | | | | current to destroy my esophageal cancer. As |
| series of conversations we would have--my Faith | | | | of now he has it all gone. I have to go for five |
| prodding me along toward Hope. | | | | years until they can say it is a cure. |
| I went back to work, and at the urging of one of | | | | The Google system must have been burning up |
| my coworkers, I called a staff meeting to let my | | | | with requests for “inoperable liver |
| staff hear the story directly from me. I must | | | | tumor” so many of may family and friends |
| admit to being heartened by the outpouring of | | | | were working on this and found many results. |
| sentiment, hugs and words of encouragement. It | | | | I had Hope that someone somewhere would be |
| was the first of many such outpourings until I had | | | | able to do something. I found about four |
| prayer chains, whole churches, fellow Catholics, | | | | treatments that seemed reasonable, working with |
| Christians, Jews and one Muslim praying for me. I | | | | my wife and friends we narrowed it down to a |
| could feel a ball of energy surrounding me I am | | | | first choice something called CyberKnife. We |
| sure it was the power and goodness of the Spirit. | | | | contacted two places that had this new robotic |
| St. Paul clearly new what he was talking | | | | radiation surgery system one that uses a very |
| about--Love truly is the greatest of the virtues. | | | | fine beam of radiation controlled by a robot to |
| 1. They simply “Opened and Closed” me, | | | | destroy the tumor. Within a very short time we |
| which usually is a bad sign. They told me and my | | | | heard from one that my tumor was too big. The |
| wife (who actually could remember, I was lost it | | | | second, who must have gotten the memo from |
| in the haze) that I would likely be dead in six | | | | the Spirit, said they wanted to see me. |
| months. | | | | I believe that my discussions with the Father, |
| My wife, an RN, and I have both been in | | | | Jesus, and Mary and guidance of the Holy Spirit |
| healthcare for 42 years each and have always | | | | have given me & my family the fortitude |
| tried to act as extensions of His Healing Hands. | | | | needed to get through this and to have the |
| While we prepared for what the Medical Center | | | | positive outcomes that we have had so far. I |
| had told us, we had the Hope to keep looking. We | | | | have had at least eighteen more months with my |
| knew lots of people who knew people and with | | | | loving and supportive family. I have learned that if |
| the guidance of the Spirit we reached out, there | | | | you give Love and are Loved, Faith and Hope will |
| were people searching the entire country and | | | | follow. |