I had developed a lump near my jawbone that I could feel with my fingertip and thus sought medical advice. For (3) years, whenever there seemed to be a change with the lump, I would go see the same ear nose and throat doctor at Sharp, who always told me the same thing, “it’s nothing, we’ll remove it when you’re ready.”
One day while down on my knees playing with Bella our 85lb black Sheppard, she bumped her head into the lump and the pain dropped me flat on my back. At the time I had just opened my first medical CT scanning center. That day when I got to work, I jumped on the CT bed and had my radiologist scan me. We found a mass. Switching doctors and hospitals, I went to Scripps Memorial where the doctor (Dr.Mahdavi) who I contribute to saving my life told me, “it’s a lump, it doesn’t belong so let’s take it out” and so we scheduled for surgery. It ended up a very rare cancer of the Parotid gland called Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, and the way it was tangled in my parotid gland and the surrounding nerves made it so the entire gland had to be removed. Once removed, the left side of my face fell as if I had a stroke, only there was no hope my face would return to normal.
I had (3) months of treatment (5) days a week. I lost 27lbs, my hair, and almost all physical strength. Once my faced healed from the removal and all treatment was behind me, the repair worked started. Thank God one of my best friends in the world (Johnny) Dr. John Alexander JR. and his dad John Senior are plastic surgeons here in La Jolla. I have suffered through a forehead lift, (5) lower lid eye surgeries and (7) upper lid surgeries (this is needed to close my eye) and a full-face lift. Additionally, Dr. Korn at the Shiely Eye center did a more intense surgery involving cauterizing the outside corner of my lid shut and tying the inside through bone.
I call myself a rough and tumble guy, I box, surf, ocean swim and ski every chance I get. In between these activities, I am on my spin bike or the Skier’s Edge Boot Master machine every other day as it’s the best cardio equipment I have found, and I calm by doing yoga.
It is my belief as cancer survivors we go through so much, we end up with PTSD big time! I didn’t join a support group thinking I didn’t need one. Looking back, I believe it would have been a wiser decision if I would have. There were many variables I didn’t know, like my face was going to fall as if I stroked out, because I never sought to find out what were the "what ifs" prior to surgery. I’ve also been told, if I had a 2nd opinion when I first discovered my lump, the very real possibility of not needing plastic surgery nor treatment exists. Now I tell everyone, even if their brother is a doctor…get a 2nd opinion sometimes things just get missed.
Life after cancer of this magnitude will never be the same, it changes you. You see things differently than someone that hasn’t had cancer. You feel things differently. The changes can be hard to handle, or they can be a God send, it all depends on your outlook in life.
I wear my spiritual beliefs on my shirt sleeve so for me, my comfort was in the Lord and knowing I didn’t need to see the healing to believe, I just needed to believe to see the healing. That said, I never rested on that fact either, rather, I did everything I could to get better. My wife who was there for me 24/7, and after hearing about a book in the most miraculous way, switched my diet to holistic and incorporated a recipe in the book Essiac. I stayed active as possible never giving up. Once I no longer had the strength to drive, I was driven to the gym if only to lift a 20lb barbell a few times, or to walk on the treadmill, but I went. If it was a sunny day, instead of a good surf session, I found comfort just sitting outside taking in the sun, and the quiet blessing of a reading a book.
As the years have passed, I’ve been very fortunate in so many ways. I’m thankful for everything that has been given to me and everything that has been stripped of me. I’m thankful for the vision of Imasurvivor.org and I pray daily that one day our site will be so big it will be a blessing worldwide to those that find us and have been touched by disease or trauma in some way.
WHAT KEPT YOU GOING
Staying positive and never giving into the thought I couldn't beat the disease. I'm often asked after telling my life story that involves being lost at sea for two days and lighting my broken down boat on fire to be found, being in a rear end collision resulting in two low back surgeries and a neck fusion, shutting down a hospital and its staff after discovering they did fraudulent surgeries on me and many others, and suffering through 25 facial surgeries from cancer and all that came with it, how I stay positive? My answers are always the same, “we are all entitled to our own thoughts, and I believe with everything I am, man's wishes, and prayers, are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his own thoughts and actions. Man is always the master of his thoughts, even in his weakest and most abandoned state. Achievement of whatever kind is the CROWN of effort and thought. I beat my disease, I’ve been crowned victorious, and IMASURVIVOR!
ADVICE
Stay active!
Now that cancer is behind me, I press my face into the shield of my protector and go; it’s the Lord, it’s the windshield on my Harley, it’s the goggles I now must wear when I surf, ski or swim, but I keep going never looking back. For me, I believe not looking back is paramount.
Don't be a rowboat thinker...moving forward while looking back.
Think positive. Keep your hand firmly upon the helm of thought.
Self-Control is Strength, Right Thought is Mastery, Calmness is Power.
Say unto your heart, "Peace be still."
Here’s to the wind in your face, the Son on your horizon, and your blessing just around the corner.
May all who read this and all who help, be blessed!