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Did you see the movie "Pay-It-Forward" featuring Haley Joel Osment? As a main character in the movie, he was a young kid, going to school. The kids were assigned to come up with a project to change the world. He decided that he would help three people, and those helped would be required to help three others, and, well you get the idea. It would not take long for a bunch of people to have been helped. Yes, it is a "pyramid" thing. But, unlike the forwarding of e-mail where you have to send it to everybody you know, (and little comes of it), this "movement", in our opinion, has merit. Unfortunately, Osment's character died at the end of the movie. The impact of his "pay-it-forward" project was realized, sadly, after he died. But his meager efforts had merit.
We were devasted at the turn in our lives when Michael was affected by, first Colorectal Cancer and subsequently Liver Metastasis. NO ONE deserves this. We knew how to spell "cancer" but that was about it. Those of you who have come to know, love and respect Michael know he is worth saving, as are all others we do not know who tread the same path he is currently on.
A good turn was done for us when our lives meshed with that of Dr. Glenn Deyo. If it had not been for him, Michael would have had a permanent cholostomy bag, installed in April 2002 and Michael would likely be dead by now due to liver failure--a sum total of 18 months after he was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer. What a waste if no one else is helped.
Dr. Glenn Deyo could help others, at a less cost, with a quicker surgery date, if "Radio Frequency Ablation" equipment were made available to him (and the other surgeons at St. Clare Hospital). This equipment will help many people who are dealing with breast and liver cancers.
Michael and I intend to "pay-forward" to others that which was bestowed on us.
Michael and I plan to pay off medical expenses with monies received through the various fund raising efforts. Gift Donations exceeding this amount will be "Paid-Forward". We will begin by making a "restricted donation" to St. Clare Hospital (Lakewood, Washington State). We will ask that St. Clare Hospital use this money for the express purpose of purchasing "Radio Frequency Ablation" equipment. This was the very specialized equipment that was used by Dr. Glenn Deyo in Michael's life-prolonging surgeries (April, June, August 2003). We know that having this equipment available at St. Clare will provide a better chance for survival to those in life-threatening situations similar to Michael's.
We simply can't say enough for Dr. Glenn Deyo and his staff (Ann, and Kelly) as well as the entire staff of the St. Clare Hospital (Lakewood Washington State) (specifically including members of the surgery team, the short-stay staff, and nursing and other staff in the patient wards) for their efforts in Keeping Michael Alive!
In an attempt to get some recognition for this life-prolonging procedure (RFA) I sent the following e-mails to King 5 HealthLink, featuring Jean Enerson (Seattle) as well as the NBC Today show, featuring Katie Couric.
"Dear Reader: This is to share with you our story about a treatment called "Radio Frequency Ablation" which offers some hope to patients whose colorectal cancer has metatasized to the liver, and for those who are diagnosed with breast cancer. I hope you will consider presenting a segment on RFA during a segment of the HealthLink (featuring Jean Enerson)/Today Show (featuring Katie Couric). This information may provide someone else the chance to survive these cancers.
Here is our story:
My husband Michael Blair was diagnosed with colo-rectal cancer on March 1st, 2002 We had been listening to Katie Couric in February, talking about Colorectal Cancer and prayed that that was not what Michael had. He had just turned 50 in January, 2002. I understand from all the literataure searches I have done that he is only one of about 131,000 people in the US who are diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer. About 56,000 people die from this disease in the US every year. This man was healthy every day of his life prior to the problems that lead him to the doctors right around his birthday. Unfortunately, the cancer went undiagnosed for an estimated 8 years, and upon discovery it was "staged" at T3N1M0 or Stage 3 (of 4 stages). We were fortunate to be put in touch with Dr. Glenn Deyo, MD of Lakewood, Washington State (just south of Tacoma). Michael underwent mesal-resection surgery of the colon and 8.5 inches of the colon was removed. The surgery lasted over eight hours and Michael's recovery from the surgery progressed normally. We can not say enough about Dr. Glenn Deyo. During a subsequent surgery, a portable chemotherapy catheter was installed in Michael's upper chest and he began standard chemotherapy treatment once he had recovered from the surgery. The treatments left him tired and unable to work for periods of time. He began to recover and return to his activities in the ensuing months. Michael chose not to undergo radiation treatment--the treatment offerred no positive outcomes for him and many negative ones. Micheal finished his course of chemotherapy (October 2002). By all indications, Michael dodged the cancer bullet, and the portable catheter was removed from his upper chest in November. In December 2002 he had a blood chemistry test that revealed a very elevated CEA marker--the one that is present when colorectal cancer is present. This was quickly followed by addtional diagnostic tests. The cancer was not killed by the chemotherapy he had undergone.
In early April 2003, we learned that the colorectal cancer had metatasized to the liver. There were nine tumours on Michael's liver. We were told that radiation was not an option, transplantation was not an option, surgical removal was not an option--there were too many tumors and they were too large. The tumors had begun the rapid "doubling" and his liver would quickly cease to function. On April 9th, the Oncologist told us that Michael would not live for longer than six months. We were urged to get our affairs in order, fill out disability papers with Social Security and enjoy what was left of his life..
Our world was literally turned up-side down.
We met with Dr. Glenn Deyo the next day. He offerred us our first glimpse of hope in saving Michael's very life. Dr. Deyo recommended a treatment called "Radio Frequency Ablation". Michael underwent RFA for the ablation of the nine tumors on April 16 (nine days later). To remain viable, 35% of liver must remain after surgery: Michael now had 65% viable liver remaining after the RFA. While in surgery, a new chemotherapy portable catheter was installed for additonal chemotherapy. Michael recovered from the procedure and returned to work. Michael and I did a bunch of reserach and medical consultations and he decided against a 2nd round of chemotherapy. It did not work on his form of cancer the first time, (the tumors grew, despite it) and it severely affected the quality of his life. He decided that whether he lives for 6 weeks or 60 years, he did not wish to spend it affected by the chemo (particularly since it did not work on his cancer). A CT scan performed in early June indicated that one tumor was present. Again, the tumors begin their doubling at such an alarming rate that intervention needs to be done upon discovery. Dr. Deyo performed and Michael underwent a 2nd RFA in June. A CT Scan performed in early August revealed the presence of two tumors. Dr. Deyo will perform and Michael will undergo a 3rd RFA treatment this Friday, August 15. All of the surgeries have been performed at St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood, Washington (just south of Tacoma). The RFA surgeries were tough to set up, because St. Clare Hospital does not yet own the specialized equipment required. RFA treatment has strong implications for people in Michael's postion and for those suffering through breast cancer.
I created a website to respond to all of our family members, friends, co-workers who want information about Michael's current situation and to provide others interested in topics relating to colorectal cancer. You may find it at www.keepblairalive.com
Of course, there is a non-medical side to this story. Due to all the various medical procedures, our current medical debt is nearly $23,000.. Each of these RFA surgeries (with corresponding diagnostics, surgery teams, hospitals stays, expenses associated with the hospital "borrowing" the specialized RFA equipment, etc.) costs us about $12,000 after all insurance payments. I lost my job almost a month ago, so we are now down to one income. Many of our friends are stepping in to help put fundraising events together, as our financial situation has become even more precarious with my recent loss of employment. A "Donation account for Michael Blair" has been setup at Keybank, thanks to our friends efforts.
I am not certain if you have run a on RFA or colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver, but would appreciate it if you would consider doing so. We want to keep someone else from treading on this path, in the dark.
There are many links on the http://www..keepblairalive.com website, here are some specifically about Radiof Frequency Ablation (RFA): LiverTumor.org. "Treatment Options: Radiofrequency Ablation". http://www.livertumor.org/treatment_option.asp?cmd=treatment_radio National Institutes of Health. NIH News Release. Radiofrequency Energy Sizzles Tumors Without Surgery. http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/nov2001/wgmcc-26.htm National Institutes of Health. Clinical Center. Radiofrequency Ablation: Patient Information. http://www.cc.nih.gov/drd/rfa/frame-patient.html RITA Medical Systems, Inc. The RITA System: A Minimally Invasive Treatment Option for Liver and Bone Lesions". http://www.ritamedical.com/products.htm RITA Medical Systems, Inc. "Information on Liver Cancer". http://www.ritamedical.com/liverpatients.htm Society of Interventional Radiology. "Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation (RFA)." http://www.sirweb.org/patPub/radiofrequencyAblation.shtml University of Minnesota. Cancer Center. "Cancer Center Physicians Use Heating Device to Treat Liver Cancer." Minneapolis/St. Paul: Minnesota. 30 Aug. 1999. http://www.cancer.umn.edu/page/news/ablation.html Thanks for your consideration.
"A small group of thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead, Anthropologist, 1901-1977."
We hope you will become informed and then moved to action, on your own behalf, or on the behalf of someone you know.
Thanks! for visiting our website! We can't thank you enough for your consideration, thoughts, prayers and for your support.