Husband Looks Good

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, 2002, I rushed Gary to the emergency room. My never-been-sick-macho-male was admitted, and two days later a surgeon removed a tumor from where his appendix had once been.

“Mr. Crawford, your appendix ruptured and floated in fluid throughout his abdomen,” the surgeon said. “I removed a Muscinous Cystadenoma. I’m sorry Mr. Crawford, you have a rare cancer called Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP). I’ve called in an oncologist.” (Read story here.)

The oncologist interjected the word “Unfortunately” several times in his brief prognosis. “We have no treatment—we’ll keep you as comfortable as possible.”

Later we learned how valuable it is to have a proper diagnosis. We also learned not to listen to “No hope!” doctors, and to seek a second and third opinion if necessary.

It took a year (read here), but eventually we found Dr. Brian Loggie, a PMP specialist, only four miles from our home. Recently Gary and I visited with Dr. Loggie at Creighton University Medical Center. Before we left the two hugged and the good doctor said, “Man you are a hearty soul. You put the rest of us to shame around here.”

Dr. Loggie invited Gary to be the PMP poster boy, I don’t know that the photo shoot will happen, but doesn’t my man look good today? I took this picture the day of the Gator Bowl—yeah, he’s a Husker fan, can you tell?

Survival Tidbits:

♥ Ask for the diagnosis written down: Research on the Internet and through your library. Ask questions.
♥ Find a qualified specialist: A good qualifying question: How many patients with this disease have you treated?
♥ Search for a support group: If you don’t use the Internet ask the social worker at your hospital or call American Cancer Society. If you still don’t find a support group, ask friends and family to use the Internet—it took me a year, but PMPbellybuttons@yahoogroups.com provided the support I needed.