Pedal the Cause

At Pedal the Cause I am now known as “Living Proof”.  A cancer survivor.

Kind of emotional.  I’m having a little trouble getting started on this, my “appeal” letter, this year.  

Many of you know this story, some do not.  Last year, around mid-July, (AFTER my appeal letter went out) I was at a regular visit with my urologist.  I had struggled a bit with kidney stones and we were doing somewhat “routine” follow up.  

Imagine my surprise when from one sentence to the next she threw in “and I’m having my assistant make an appointment for you with a Doc I know at SITEMAN.  Yes, she really said that.  And I said “what the hell are you talking about—are you telling me I have cancer??”  She responded “yes, there is a mass on your right kidney that needs to be looked at.”  

Fast forward.  In the whirlwind of the next 30 days (on 8/14/23) I had surgery at SITEMAN for a partial nephrectomy (REMOVAL) of 35% of my right kidney due to a cancerous tumor, Renal Cell Carcinoma.  

WTF.  It’s one of those things that happens to someone else….

By the grace of God and a couple of amazing friends and my electric assist bike I was actually able to participate in last year’s PTC ride.

So here I go.  Although this year has certainly had some challenges, (Sheila broke her wrist AGAIN, the other one, and I had a crack-up on my bike, yes the bike is OK) we are very fortunate people.

EXTREMELY FORTUNATE.  

I have 2 close friends currently receiving care at SITEMAN.  I am currently blessed with a clean bill of cancer health from SITEMAN.  

Please give to this amazing 100% cause.  Every dollar you send will be added to and used 100% for cancer research.  

Go figure.  After getting involved with this cause over 10 years ago, SITEMAN saved my life last year.

I’m a very fortunate guy.