Discovery of Cancer
March 12, 2013 31 Comments
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
While lying in the outpatient hospital bed waiting for my colonoscopy, I was wondering with Janie about which informational brochure they’d give me after the procedure. Which diagnosed group would I join? Would it be Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Celiac Disease, Crohn’s Disease, dairy intolerance? I joked with the anesthesiologist that I hoped it would be quick and painless. While being prepped for the procedure, I remember the doctor wanted to listen to music and settled on Paul Simon. I remember thinking, a little easy listening and a smooth colonoscopy. Those were my last thoughts before being diagnosed with cancer. I didn’t know my life was about to change and that there would be no brochure for me.
After the procedure, I was groggy and realized immediately from the doctor’s facial expression that something was wrong. I remembered him saying, “You have a cancerous mass. I removed numerous polyps…so many that I stopped counting.” Still groggy and instantly overwhelmed, my brain tried to think but couldn’t. I looked at my wife but couldn’t talk. I was frozen. A nurse stayed with us and repeated everything the doctor said to try and help us with the burden of bad news. The doctor returned after taking care of another patient to talk with us again. This time I was alert and could process more of what he said. He showed me pictures taken of the mass during the colonoscopy and told me that in the future, my colon would probably need to be removed, but first I needed a CT scan to determine if the cancer had spread.
I went home and spent the rest of the day on Google searching everything about colon cancer and all the stages. I compared my mass to other images and tried to guess the stage of cancer. I went to chat rooms with colon cancer survivors looking for any helpful information. At the end of the day I was anxious and frustrated from what I had read. That experience has led to the creation of this blog where hope, inspiration and positivity are the things I want to share with others.
backstagefour 
You are so brave Kevin. Thank you for sharing your experience. Sending love.
Thanks AL B for being so positive and supportive. The rock is right in front of me as I type.
Hi Kevin, I wish you well and strength. You already have what most people wish to have, family, wife and two beatiful daughters standing behind you, they need you very much and we all need you too.
This cancer is terrible, but rest assured that I will pray for you to get better soon, with the help of doctors, nurses and the blessing of Jesus. God bless, Carlos.
Thank you dad, I love you.- Janie
Thank you for sharing this experience. You are not alone in this journey. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Great hearing from you Catherine. Thanks for joining me on this journey.
Kevin and Janie,
You are continually in my thoughts as you fight through this journey. You have so many of us that love you and are supporting you from afar. I am so incredibly inspired by your courage and strength to share your story Kevin! Hugs to your family and those sweet girls!
Thanks and hope to see you soon- Janie
Thinking about you guys every day and reading every post. We are with you.
Thanks Mike, say hi to Amanda from us.- Janie
Thanks Kevin, very brave of you friend, my thoughts are with you.
Great to hear from you Tuck. Thanks for the thoughts my man.
Hey Kevin,
Been thinking about you a lot. Stay strong, brother. Let me know if I can visit you guys at hopkins some day. All the best to you, Janie and the girls. -Paul
I would love to see you guys. I have two oncology teams, one at Hopkins and one in Bel Air. Hopkins is coordinating care with Upper Chesapeake b/c it’s closer to my work for chemo. They’re used to coordinating care for people b/c they treat patients from all over the world. I go down to Hopkins on April 3 for a CT scan evaluation. Maybe we can meet up that day.
Glad to hear you don’t have to come all the way down here every time. My work schedule is really flexible on Wednesdays, so that would be great to meet up.
Our love, thoughts and prayers are with your beautiful family. I so wish we were closer! Know that you are wrapped in our love from afar.
Thanks Ronna, we are so grateful for your thoughts and prayers. Hope all is well with you and the boys!!- Janie
you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Keep the faith Kevin! xxxxxxxx
Thanks Lori for checking out our blog and for the thoughts and prayers- Janie
Thank you for sharing this with all of us, Kevin. Anyone who meets you instantly knows what a special person you are. A friend to so so many-we are all behind you 100% during this journey. Please remember this and find strength in our love. Keep on keeping on. Love Birk
Thanks Birkus. You Birkheads are awesome. Thanks for the love and support. Alli and I talked about your dad’s mental toughness and I’m trying to harness that. Love you Birk
Kevin, it’s been a long time. I admire you for writing, your courage has and will inspire others. Feel the love of your family and friends, you’ve always been a helluva nice guy so that support will always be there for you. Laugh a lot, it’s the sweetest medicine. I will keep you in my thoughts and look forward to reading more about your recovery.
Thanks Mike. I’m trying to follow your medical advice by laughing often like our soccer days at FC
Hey Kevin, I am glad you started this. I hope it allows you to express how you are feeling to help manage what you and your family are going through.
Ps. What do you call a Philadelphia Eagle with a Super Bowl Ring?
Answer to your question is ….my second miracle.
I didn’t know you could write. I new you could talk….but write. Wow.
This is a great idea. I have had you and your family on my mind for the past
month. Looking forward to hearing about your progress. Love. Aaron G.
Thanks for the support Green. My family and I love the NDS love.
Thank you so much for writing this. We think about you guys all the time and have a lot of faith. Hopkins is awesome… my dad got his transplant there after another hospital refused and things were looking pretty grim. He’s doing great now and his transplant team was pretty fantastic. Take Gilbert up on his offer! He and Khalda were amazing supports for us then and he will zoom over on that bike with whatever you might need in a heart beat. We love you guys.
Hi Jenna, thanks for checking out our blog and for keeping us in your thoughts. I remember your dad’s story, I’m glad he is continuing to do well. I miss you guys and bet Boone is pretty awesome this time of year, but I must say I am glad to be near Hopkins and Gilbert on his bike right now. Little A is totally cute. Talk to you soon. – Janie
Sorry to hear this news. Very inspirational for you to be writing this blog. If you don’t mind me asking, what brought you to the doctor? What issues were you experiencing? Look forward to hearing from you. Be strong and keep writing! You and your family will be in my prayers.-Cookie
Great question Cookie and I don’t mind you asking. I will be posting your answer later in the week. My family and I thank you for the prayers.