And Then There Was One . . .

We have arrived at Chemotherapy session No 12. Tuesday is the last session. It has been a long and sometimes difficult road to this point, but I consider myself fortunate. I have tolerated surgery and chemotherapy well. As I reflect on the past eight months, there have been so many things that have contributed to my ability to battle and stay focused on crushing it.  The cards, the frequent text messages , and regular, nearly daily interactions with friends and acquaintances who wish me well and pray for me.

As we count down the days to end of chemo, I will share some of the more poignant, thoughtful and helpful people, events and insights that stood out to me during the past 32 weeks

October 24, 2014, my friend, Dr. Peter Lafferty sat with me in the waiting room as I prepared for my first scan. It was almost exactly 24 hours after I learned of the tumor in my colon. Pete is a very talented individual who on that day took time to prepare me for what would lie ahead. He described in clear and calming detail the practices and procedures associated with a cancer diagnosis and treatment.  At a moment when my head was spinning, Pete put me on solid ground and focused me on winning.Over the course of the next 30 days, he would guide my decision making at nearly every turn. And, as helpful as Pete was in that first 24 hours, in the 25th hour, Pete’s greatest gift to me was his thorough review of my initial scans. It was Pete who identified the additional “lesion” in my lung and with it, oversaw the efforts to accurately diagnose the cancer there.  It goes without saying that I am eternally grateful for his professional and personal help.