In November 2004, Dave Holton noticed a little bump
on the side of his neck. His physician brother, Walter, made arrangements for
him to go to the University of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill, where
he was examined by a team of experts specializing in cancer of the mouth and
throat. They confirmed that the little bump was malignant, and set up a concurrent
program of chemotherapy and radiation. Guided by hospital staff members, Dave
took up residence in the Homewood Suites hotel just off the main highway connecting
Chapel Hill and Durham, and began sending periodic E-mail reports to family
members and friends on his treatments and evolving condition. Here are excerpts:
Thought I would update you on my schedule and let you know where I will be for
the next few days.
I will be traveling to Durham-Chapel Hill this weekend....and things start getting
real busy Monday morning with a 9:30 am appointment with Dr. Grimm in Gastro-Intestinal.
He will install the feeding tube into my stomach. From conversations with people
who have been through what I am facing, they all say the same thing -- the feeding
tube is a definite must! So, I can't argue with it too much.
Monday afternoon I meet with the Radiology Department to consult the starting
of Radiation treatments. Sometime that day or possibly Tuesday, I go to the
Dental School to make sure that there are no problems with my teeth that might
be affected by radiation. You know, this is something that I had never thought
about…the teeth being affected…but they don’t want to leave
even the smallest stone unturned.
Then on Wednesday morning I meet with the Hematologist to discuss the Chemo
treatments.
I will probably be in the hospital for a day or so (after the feeding tube is
put in) so they can be sure there is no infection or problem. Then later in
the week, I will move to the Homewood Suites, which will become my home-away-from-home
for a while. The Homewood Suites is a good option for me. The hospital is about
4.5 miles away…about half way between Chapel Hill and Durham. The rooms
are two-room suites... a living room with a kitchen, fold out sofa and a large
work area; plus a full bedroom with two double beds. I will be moving my computer
and printer there to give me something to work on. The hotel has wireless internet
so I will have full internet access and will be getting emails.
