FISH’N WITH CANCER
Around midnight on July 13th, 2011 I was admitted to the Wingham Hospital with pain in my abdomen and kidney area.
The previous week I had an appointment with my doctor for a check-up and routine blood work. Everything was fine, we thought.
At the hospital blood was drawn and my enzymes were 800 (normal enzymes are 100). I was started on plenty of pain medication and an ultra sound was done at 9 o’clock., the result being an unknown mass present. Later my wife Barb drove me to the hospital in Walkerton where a CT scan confirmed there was an unknown mass measuring 18cm x 8cm. A call was then put in to a London hospital and was told that I was not ill enough to be sent down, I would have to go on a waiting list. My doctor then called K/W Grand River hospital, he was told my name was at the top of the list for the next available bed.
On July 16th a buddy and his wife drove my wife Barb and I to the K/W Grand River hospital. At that time I was admitted and was told that a biopsy, CT scan and MRI would be done on July 19th.
I started being very confused, I couldn’t find the lock or the door knob of the washroom. A nurse came to my assistance and helped me get back to bed. The following morning I took a seizure. Not being able to find or push my call button, I hollered at my room mate to call the nurse. The seizure passed before help came. Shortly after having the first seizure, I had a second one. The staff was there immediately and a doctor walked into the room asking me how many fingers she was holding up. I said I couldn’t see. She then asked if I could see the outline of her body and the color of the top she was wearing. I told her “what part don’t you understand – there is no white, dark or anything.” She said I had PRESS SYNDROME and they needed to get my blood pressure down and put me on anti-seizure medication and that I should be able to see soon after. My blood pressure did go down, taking the stress off the kidneys. I had no more seizures and my eye sight started to come back in 2 hours and in 24 hours my sight was back to normal.
After many more tests I was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma on July 27th followed by a bone marrow biopsy on July 28th. The oncology doctor came to see me and confirmed the previous findings and an R-Chop consisting of a chemo regimen would start on July 30th. This procedure would take 6 to 8 hours depending how well my body could handle the drugs. Everything went well, no nausea was experienced and the procedure took only 5.5 hours from start to finish. I was told I would be tired but I only slept for an hour or two while getting the treatment. Everything went well over the weekend with no high blood pressure, high enzymes or any drug reaction.
On August 5th I had two scans to get done. After receiving a good report I was moved into a ward lounge and by 6:15 that evening I was on my way home. As I was travelling home I had a bright idea or vision of some sort. I decided I was going to start a Non Profit Foundation called Fish’n with Cancer, so when a cancer patient or family member is down and out, perhaps a nurse, doctor, social worker or the Cancer Society volunteer or anyone else could make a call and get the cancer patient out for a day of fishing at no cost to the patient or fisherman. The foundation would pay mileage for both the fisherman and patient with the cost of fuel for the boat being about $20. If they were driving a further distance from home to fish at Lake Simcoe with a boat with a big motor the cost of the gas could be approximately $400. The fisherman would get a free day of fishing and would supply all the tackle for the patient or family member and he would also make a new friend who might be able to forget about the fight for a day and hopefully he or she would continue to take a positive attitude toward the healing process.
I already have about $1,000. to start with. It is not a matter of this going to work, it is a matter of how many patients or family members we can get out before the start of ice fishing. I will be taking the first patient out myself and that person will be coming from the Grey/Bruce Cancer Society or the K/W Grand River Cancer Center. I am hoping to let my son’s friend release this information possibly Aug 10th or 17th to the Wingham Advance Times. After that I will be talking to the 3 radio stations and A channel at Wingham, fishing magazines and to anyone else who would like information.
I am looking forward to receive any financial support to get this worthwhile project off the ground. If enough interest is shown, I will try and organize a concert in Teeswater with funds raised to benefit doctor recruitments in Wingham, Clinton and in memory of Doctor Raczycki. My son and Dr Raczycki’s son played in music shows together the last number of years. At the wake for Dr Raczcki I was speaking to his sister and told her about the Foundation. She was very interested and would follow what I am doing and I am hoping to get her approval for the Music show.
I will be approaching all the local businesses, service clubs, Canadian Cancer Society, Grey/Bruce & Huron Perth Cancer Society, Food & Drink companies asking for donations for fund raisers.
I would greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts and perhaps receive a donation in support of this Foundation and that you continue in any way to assist cancer patients all across Canada get through some of the most difficult times of their lives.
Thank you for your time reading about my DREAM
Tight Lines Richard Elliott Jr
No comments:
Post a Comment