This year, we ride for our friend and colleague Jeff Krogen, who is in the fight against cancer. Jeff has been a valued member of the Enterprise family for more than 30 years and has called St. Louis home for the past 12 years.
About three weeks ago, Jeff was diagnosed with an aggressive form of renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer), further complicated by a vein (IVC) thrombosis. While this diagnosis was a shock, Jeff and his wife Jill are grateful to have access to skilled physicians in St. Louis who are capable of performing the complex surgery he needs.
Jeff will check into the “old” Barnes Hospital on Tuesday morning (8/27) to begin his road to recovery. The procedure will be carried out in two stages: the first part on Tuesday, followed by a 4-6 hour surgery on Wednesday morning involving two surgeons working simultaneously. He is expected to spend at least a day in the ICU and remain in the hospital for 5-7 days.
While this is a daunting time for Jeff and his family, they want to acknowledge that it is also difficult for the many who love and support Jeff, as well as for those who may be facing similar challenges. In their own words: "It's common for people to wonder how and why this happened. Jeff did not have any symptoms, but cancer runs in his family. Having an attentive primary care doctor and annual physicals with bloodwork is so important! If not for this, his options for treatment would have been limited."
Even as Jeff prepares for the fight of his life, he and Jill, as a testament to their caring hearts, have offered these words of encouragement and appreciation: "For those of you who are currently battling cancer or have experienced a loss due to it, please know that you are in our hearts and prayers too. To the survivors who share words of hope, and to all of you who raise funds for cancer research... THANK YOU!!!"
We ride for Jeff, Jill, and their children, Kate and Jason, to show that their Enterprise family is with them in Jeff's fight against cancer. We’re all praying for a speedy recovery.