Bob first noticed a swollen lymph node under his arm in the summer of 2021. It persisted into the fall, but he had a lot going on in his life at the time, so he put off getting it checked out.
“My first grandchild was about to be born, and the holidays were coming up. I was busy,” he explained. “But I finally saw my primary physician in January 2022. He thought it was fatty tissue that could be surgically removed, but the surgeon wanted to do an MRI first.”
The MRI indicated an abnormality, and a biopsy was performed. The results came back positive for diffuse large B cell lymphoma.
“It was not good news. I saw an oncologist at a different hospital system and underwent outpatient R-CHOP chemotherapy from March until June. It was very intense. After treatment was finished, I had a PET scan that showed everything looked good.”
But in September, Bob started feeling unwell again. He was fatigued and experiencing night sweats. And early one morning, his wife found him stumbling around the house.
“It was about 4 a.m., and she said I was incoherent,” said Bob. “She wanted to take me to the emergency department right away, but like a typical guy, I told her I was fine.”
His wife eventually convinced him to go to the emergency department at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital later that day. Testing revealed Bob’s sodium and potassium levels were dangerously low.
“I don’t remember a lot about that day, but the doctor said it was amazing I could even speak because I was on the verge of having a seizure.”
Bob was admitted to the critical care unit. After further testing, doctors discovered something suspicious on Bob’s pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain.
“It was my 68th birthday, and I got the news that the cancer had migrated to my brain,” he shared. “The good news was that I was meeting with my oncologist the next day, and he had a plan. That was very reassuring, and I was grateful.”
Making memories
Bob started inpatient chemotherapy for a second time. An outgoing and friendly person by nature, he got to know many nurses and members of support teams. He even started a special project: taking photos and selfies with anyone who was willing.
“I didn’t have anything to do but talk to people all day and night, so I started taking pictures with the people I met and members of my care team. I printed the photos and kept them in a notebook in my room. People would sign their names and leave messages. It was interesting learning how people got to be where they are today; everyone has a story.”
Bob took dozens of pictures and set them to music in a video that he shared with his care team.
“When I look back at 2022, it was a pretty lousy year because I got cancer twice. But there were a lot of positives too,” he asserted. “I got my first grandchild, and I got to meet all these great people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. And most importantly, I’m still here, and there’s a good chance I’ll be around for a while. So, in many ways, it was also a great year.”
Bob continued his treatment with a stem cell transplant at another local hospital. He says he’ll never forget the compassionate care he received at Advocate Good Samaritan.
“I can’t say enough good things about the nurses and my care team at Good Samaritan; they truly are angels. They did so many small but meaningful things to make sure I was comfortable. One day, I was on restricted fluids, and I was so thirsty. I couldn’t have as much water as I wanted, but my nurse brought me a cherry popsicle trading out a little water for the refreshment. And just like that, I was 8 years old again sitting on my parents’ front stoop. It was the best popsicle of my life.”
How you can help
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital is part of Advocate Health, a not-for-profit system that relies on the generosity of donors for many programs and services, including cancer care and research. To help people like Bob, please consider making a gift today.