Here is what I wrote for the colon cancer walk that I did for 2 years:

I am walking (not run) for my husband. In August 2020 we were planning our vacation to leave for Marco Island. We had to cancel our anniversary trip in May 2020 due to the pandemic. We rescheduled to leave August 29th. The night of August 18th Dean complained of pain in his abdomen. We thought it was constipation. Next day he called me at work and said he was in such pain he couldn’t take it. Off to the ED we went. Spent the day in the ED. Had a CT done and they said he needed to be admitted because they suspected his blockage was due to “colon cancer”. Still in disbelief, I thought they had to be wrong because he would have had symptoms, right? A family history?Admitted with lots of tests and next day a colonoscopy. While waiting for the colonoscopy to get completed I got a page to immediately come to the medical procedures unit. Doctor said he was “extremely” concerned because they couldn’t complete the test due to obstruction due to “cancer”. Now it was reality. What was next? They called the surgeons. Doctors showing up before we even got back to the room and not comprehending what was happening. I knew it was bad when surgeries were being canceled due to the pandemic and they scheduled the surgery for Sunday. It was explained surgery would be 3-4 hours, they might have to create a stoma that would make him have an ostomy bag that could be temporary or permanent. The surgery was 6.5 hours going into late Sunday night. Finally the surgeon came out and said things didn’t go as planned. They did have to create a stoma, he would have an ostomy bag, they had to remove a large section of his colon and send it out for tests to determine what stage “cancer” it was. Also told that when they went to close him up they found his cecum was ready to rupture. That could have lead to sepsis or death. All of this swimming in my head, how could this be when he had no symptoms until five days before??? Next learn how to change/live with an ostomy bag, chemotherapy and a few days later learn it is stage 3. Nothing made sense, but after Chemo October 2020-March 2021, ostomy reversal in May 2021 and then hernia repair March 2022, from where the stoma was, he was one of the lucky ones, a success story. In the end he knew if he would have just got the colonoscopy like his doctor recommended this would not be a part of his history. He has used his experience to help others understand how important it is to get your colonoscopy. If it could happen to him it can happen to anyone.

This month I walk not only for my husband, but for all of the people who helped save him and to continue helping their research and dedication to help cure colon cancer!

Thank you to the amazing staff at University of Michigan that weren’t just health care professionals, they were genuine people who cared!