VOTE!

I’m going to keep the cancer update quick and to the point. I received so many texts, DM’s, and calls after the “Thunder” piece in September, I don’t know if I can live up to my own writing.

The update is I had my diseased scanned on 10/24/20 at UNC. My sinus tumor continues to be completely resolved, but there is some residual scar tissue, sinus damage, and inflammation that I am continuing to treat. The disease in my lungs continues to be completely stabilized – which means no growth or shrinkage at this time of any tumors, no new growth, and confidence the current treatment plan is working.

Now onto something way more important than my cancer prognosis: go VOTE!

If you ever wanted a day to make your THUNDER heard, it is today. As an American you have been given the right to thunderously place your vote for the person who you think will best run our country and represent your values and ethics. VOTE! Go let your voice be heard!

Back to cancer for just a minute…

To be honest with you all, things did not look too great for me back in March and April. I had a disease that was spiraling out of control that left my oncology team scratching their head. I had just failed my first treatment: two months of a clinical trial that we hoped, and believed, could cure me of my disease. Instead, my disease grew at a rapid rate and started to threaten my life. I had a tumor that was almost four inches wide in my nasopharynx that was starting to attack my brain. My lungs were sprouting new tumors every time we looked at a scan and we didn’t know what we were going to do to stop it. There was great concern we put all of our faith in a treatment that didn’t work and our second option may be too late.

My amazing oncologist pitched the idea to try a non-conventional chemo regiment; a regiment that had success with pancreas cancer patients but had never been tried on my genetically modified cancer strain. The alternative, and more traditional route, was to use a very taxing platinum-based chemo regiment that would hopefully destroy the cancer, but as a side effect pretty much destroy the rest of my body as well and make it very hard for me to fight the disease. On April 14, Ann and I drove to UNC to meet with Dr. Weiss to discuss this new treatment plan and have my first infusion.

Needless to say, it was a hard day. The conversation with Dr. Weiss was heavy and emotional. We talked out our options as a team; laid everything out on the table and attempted to make the best educated decision we could make. We went with the non-traditional pancreas cancer treatment.

At this point you would think the conversation would turn to “how long do I have to live if this doesn’t work?” But I steered the conversation in a different direction. With Ann’s hand in mine, and tears running down both our faces, I looked up to Dr. Weiss’s eyes and made one simple request:

“I need you to keep me alive long enough to VOTE on November 3.”

On the surface a simple request; but when facing a ruthless disease attacking me at light speed a daunting task. I just asked a man to keep me alive seven more months so I could VOTE and he is getting ready to administer a chemo regiment never tested on my disease before and we have already failed once before. What could be racing through his mind?

We never broke eye contact as I waited for his response. He calmly responded that was one of the most powerful and thoughtful requests he has received as an oncologist. And while he has no control over how the chemo will react in my body, it is full intention to not only keep me alive to vote, but keep me alive way beyond Nov 3. so I can see the results of my action as an American voter.

So here we are. November 3, 2020. It’s election day. I have been through hell to get here: 15 radiation treatments, 2 surgeries, 14 ct/mri scans, 7 nights spent in a hospital, 5 rounds of immunotherapy, and 13 rounds of chemo.

But guess what?

I’m alive. And I have already voted. My disease is stable. My thunder roars.

Why is this so important to me? Why did I make this my one request? Because there is a chance I’m not going to be around as long as I would like to be. And I want to know I did everything in my power to help shape America into what type of country I want my kids to grow up in. I want my kids to know that VOTING is an important role they need to carry out when they turn 18. I want my kids to know, that even if I am not here, my actions were ALWAYS about looking out for their best interest. Dr. Weiss saw that in my eyes on April 14, 2020. My bond with him has never been stronger than on that day. Thank you Dr. Weiss. Thank you.

So what is your excuse for not going to vote today?