48 Hours Later . . .

48 Hours have elapsed since my lung tumor was removed by Dr. Patrick Ross using a robotic surgical procedure at the James Cancer Hospital. The procedure is a thorocotic lobectomy in which the lower lobe of the right lung is removed along with local lymph nodes adjacent to the lobe and the tumor.

The procedure went according to plan. I spent approximately 3 hours in the operating room and an hour or so in recovery. At this point we are optimistic and awaiting the outcome of the pathology report on the lung tumor.

I am still at the hospital recovering. My recovery effort includes breathing therapy to reinvigorate my lungs and a chest tube to allow for fluids accumulating in the lung cavity to drain. All are going very well.

Thank you everyone for your support, prayers, and positive energy. My family and I are incredibly grateful and humbled.

Bob

Nice Out! 12.17.14

As they say in golf “Nice Out.” That’s my mantra today. The Cancer “is out.,” both the CC and now the LC! Surgery yesterday went as planned. I am recovering comfortably at the new James and I am grateful and humbled by the continued support from family and friends as we have completed this next step in my recovery.

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Time for a little “GOAL-LINE-STAND” against cancer!

I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my big brothers.  George, John, and Bill are all with me in this fight and they have always been there for me over the years.  As a group we have always come to each other’s side whenever a little adversity has presented itself.

One of our favorite games growing up was “Goal-Line-Stand!”  At the time, our football hero’s were Archie Griffin and Pete Johnson, and it seemed that every free moment together we would reenact Pete or Archie dashing at the goal line and leaping over the goal line to score a touchdown! Or, the Buckeye defense rising up and stopping a Michigan running back from scoring and thus making a “Goal-Line-Stand!”

GOAL-LINE-STAND Instructions (Indoor Version) 

The Defense = 2 brothers on their knees holding couch cushions against their chest acting as defensive linemen. The other brother, also sporting a couch cushion, on his feet standing behind them as the middle linebacker.

The Offense = The remaining brother with a mini-football standing 10 or so feet opposite the three brothers, prepared to race at them and leap up and over the goal line (a piece of masking or duct tape stretched across the the carpet).

The Objective: Defense – Stop the runner from scoring, Offense – Score

Time for a little “GOAL-LINE-STAND” against cancer!

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Step 1 Recovery & Step 2 . . .

The doctor’s have said my recovery from colon surgery has been “remarkable,” and I do “feel” close to 100%.  Getting to 100% was a critical step as to allow for us to proceed with addressing the lung tumor.

On 12/4 I completed a series of meetings all aimed at defining our next step forward. We scheduled surgery (thoracotomy/lobectomy) on 12/17 at the James (New James) to remove the lung tumor.  My thoracic surgeon is Dr. Patrick Ross, and my oncologist is Dr. Richard Goldberg. Both are excellent and I’m fortunate to have them on my team. The recovery period for the lobectomy is currently planned as 6 weeks. Given the better than average recovery I had from the 11/17 surgery, we are all hopeful that the same will be true with the lung surgery.

Also this week we received the pathology report on the tumor from my colon which is another important step in understanding the post surgery treatment plan.  The key findings are that the visible cancer was contained to the region of tissue that was removed.

We are going to #crushit and win against cancer.

Top 10 things “NOT” to say to Bob while he recovers from surgery this week:

10. Is that Mercedes leased, or did you buy it?  About how many miles are on it?

9. Les Wexner admitted that his investment in The James was simply to help LeBoeuf beat cancer so he can keep shopping at The Limited.

8. Do you think you will be better in time for UA Civic Association “The Walk?”

7. Hoping for the best, but do you know if Heather ever said anything nice about me?

6. We are all interested in your colon surgery being successful but the webcam of the procedure idea was a bad idea.

5. This is a pretty strange way to get out of your ride in Pelotonia.

4. The James just announced a partnership with Giant Eagle. You’ll get gas points for each treatment!

3. The good news is they’ve discovered a way to keep the anesthesia from adversely affecting your Cialis.

2. The Dispatch called and they moved your 9% annual growth goal into this quarter.

Number 1 thing “NOT” to say to Bob while he recovers from surgery this week:

1. I see that you are recuperating, have you decided what to do with your OSU vs. UM tickets?

Get Me Through December – Alison Krauss

But faith can move mountains of that I am sure / Faith can move mountains of that I am sure

Just get me through December
A promise I’ll remember
Get me through December
So I can start again

No divine purpose brings freedom from sin
And peace is a gift that must come from within
I’ve looked for the love that will bring me to rest
Feeding this hunger beating strong in my chest

#crushit

Make Every Day Count

“Here we all are sleepwalking through life. Every day just like the one before. Every day is taken for granted. I honestly don’t know if it would matter that we lived 100 days or 1000 years. Then along comes Bob. Shaken to the core. Not by choice but by fortune. He is chosen. I’m sorry it is so. Sick and so sorry. Bob is now awake though. Very awake and alive. Keenly aware of each breath and each moment. Unlike it was before. May you find strength, courage, and hope in each day. In each moment. May you live each day with grace and peace. And may you live this way for 1000 years.” – Friend, Wise Friend