Don’s Story

When I retired in 2001, I thought I was on top of the world. However, in 2006, tests identified the cause of my abdominal pain as gastric cancer. WOW! What a shock! This is when I met Dr. Mehdi. He looked me in the eyes and told me how serious the situation was, and that he and his team would do everything within their means to treat this cancer. At that point, I decided to continue living my life the way I wanted, and fight the cancer head on.

Dr. Mehdi developed an aggressive chemotherapy plan, and started comprehensive treatment right away. He was committed to treating both the cancer, as well as my emotional state. Although the chemotherapy treatments zapped me hard, and I was wearing a chemo pump 24/7, I tried to live my life in the best way possible. I would go to the gym and workout, or play golf (of course Dr. Mehdi advised me to be careful not to strangle myself with the tubing from the pump!).

Other days I would go fishing or do lunch with friends. I even drove antique tractors in several parades. Some days I would just take a nap. I learned to listen to my body and do what it needed. My wife, Bonnie, was with me every step of the way. She went with me to every appointment, and was always there to provide her support and love. Friends like Steve and Susan would show up on chemo treatment days, bringing malts, burgers and fries, and spending six to seven hours telling tall tales and jokes. We had a lot of good laughs, and made the best of the situation.

Thanks to the prayers and support of my family, medical team, and many friends, I was able to keep a positive outlook. I truly believe prayer and a positive attitude worked for me because the cancer has disappeared. I thank God everyday for my health, family and friends.