Jim clearly remembers the days leading up to his ultimate diagnosis. “I went to a wedding the evening of October 9, 2010. I started having terrible pains and said to a family member, ‘Listen, you have to take me home.'” Jim had been “putting up with” dull pains for years, but he described that night as “horrible”. After being taken to Cape Regional by a rescue team on the morning on October 10, 2010, Jim was officially diagnosed with liver cancer.
“I couldn’t believe it at first. I said, ‘What are you talking about? I’m only 62 years old.'” Once Jim came to terms with the diagnosis, “we took it from there.” He began treatment at Cape Regional’s Cancer Center, but was soon referred to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia in order to receive more specialized treatment.
Prior to his diagnosis, Jim had a friendship with Survivors of Cancer, Inc. publicity committee member Joann Wiecowski. Joann suggested that Jim attend the upcoming S.O.C.’s Benefit at Lighthouse Pointe in order to get some persepective from fellow patients and others who had been touched by cancer. “I said, ‘Heck yeah! I’ll be there’,” laughs Jim. “From the second I walked in, I felt welcome. It’s just a place where you can go and feel less alone in the cancer struggle,” he explains.
Jim has been back every year since, hoping that he can uplift a discouraged and fearful patient with what he has come to learn. “It’s important that they understand that they should never give up. The medical field is coming up with new forms of treatment and technology every day that might make the biggest difference,” asserts Jim.
After attending his first S.O.C.’s fundraising event, Jim received quite a surprise. The organization mailed hime a donation check to be used in whatever way he so chose. “I wasn’t evenlooking for any help,” says Jim, “but I certainly appreciated it. They’re so generous in helping people. I’m retired and on a fixed income,” explains Jim, “so it was difficult paying for gas and tolls each time I had to travel to appointments at Jeff.” Jim says he has also used S.O.C.’s funds for presciptions that were not entirely covered by insurance and for parking fees at Jefferson. “You don’t even realize how helpful that extra money can be until you start putting it to use,” he explains.
Jim is now preparing for his latest form of treatment, known as “SIRT” or selective internal radiation therapy. The treatment involves injecting tiny microspheres of radioactive material into the arteries that supply the tumor. Jim is hopeful that the spheres will effectively “shrink my tumors until they die.”
In the meantime, he plans to remain actively involved with Survivors of Cancer and to offer his support to fellow cancer patients. “The organization provides such an incredible support network. Everybody supports everyone else. I don’t know what I’d do without it.” Jim was previously a bartender for many years, “so I’m perceptive,” he explains. “You can tell a cancer patient that’s having a rough time. S.O.C.’s and I, we try to be there for the person who thinks they have no one. We don’t want anyone to be without means of getting what they need.”
Dennisville – As a parent of a Tech student it would be great if the school would update their staff directory. So many old staff still listed and no new teachers listed. What gives?
