On July 9, 2020, I was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer.  On September 16th, 2023, I’m competing in Ironman Maryland (a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon with a time limit of 17 hours).  This would not be possible without exceptional medical care.  Please make a generous donation to Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) to help me to the finish line and to defeat cancer.  

I went in for a routine colonoscopy in July 2020 albeit delayed a few months because of “Covid Protocols”.   I was expecting the same results I received about five years earlier at age 40: “Everything looks great…come back in five years.”   The procedure was entirely preventative as I am bit of a health nut. I didn’t have any symptoms and was feeling great.  Unfortunately, I woke to the Doctor telling me I have cancer as he found a large malignant tumor, and I needed to see a surgeon immediately.  Heather was outside in the parking lot, I got in the car and struggled to tell her the result.  After meeting with a couple of surgeons in the following days, the diagnosis was clear, and we decided Dr Garcia-Aguliar at MSK would operate.  I took the first sick day of my life, and I had colon resection surgery to remove the tumor.  There were some very painful days after the operation and ominous symptoms my body was not properly adjusting as I was having complications.  My brother, a doctor, recommended I reduce the medication significantly as my liver was struggling to process the pain relievers since I very rarely take even one Tylenol in an entire year.  My body quickly recovered thereafter, and it became clear the surgery went well. 

A week after the surgery, Heather and I met with the medical team for a post operative evaluation and to learn the pathology results.  The bad news got worse.  They explained to me I had stage 3B colon cancer as they found cancer in a removed lymph node, and I needed to begin chemotherapy treatment immediately.   For a moment, I was shattered.  I was 46 with a beautiful wife, five young, adorable children and many great years ahead.  I had started my financial advisor business a few months earlier and had seven mouths to feed.  We also just incorporated Tradition Lacrosse as a 501(c)(3) a week before the surgery and were amid launching it as a separate organization for approximately three hundred girls.  After being emotional for a few minutes and listening to the doctor’s plan, I made a few commitments 1) My faith would not waiver no matter the outcome 2) I would not slow down as I had an awesome life to live 3) I would demonstrate to my children how you handle adversity.  

               After getting a medical port placed in my chest, I had six months of treatment where every two weeks they would inject me with two drugs through an IV for three days.  However, I kept to my promise and didn’t slow down.  I continued to exercise during treatment often running right before chemo or immediately afterwards, I advised many clients and grew my business significantly, I didn’t miss practices and often coached my teams with the IV in my pocket, and most importantly was hopefully a good husband and father.  

It was a challenging period going through treatment and being frightened numerous times as one specific blood test kept showing poor results.  I learned to stay off the MSK app until after I received my CAT Scan and PET Scan results from the doctor.  I did have quite a laugh in the spring of 2021 when the blood work finally improved and the doctor said, “I’m so relieved as I was really getting worried we were missing something”.   To put it mildly, I was relieved too.

               I often get asked, “Why would you do an Ironman?” I’m competing for the following reasons: 1) To celebrate life 2) To honor those that can’t do the things they love because cancer took their life 3) To defeat the disease by raising funds for colorectal cancer research at MSK 4) To raise awareness of colon cancer and persuade others to get a colonoscopy.  Among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States according to the CDC.  Unfortunately, doctors are diagnosing more cases at younger ages in recent years.  Thank God I was persistent and went for the colonoscopy despite the fact I had no symptoms.  I also participated in a research study that examined my cells and to high a degree of accuracy showed it was not hereditary.   None of my cells matched mutations MSK has identified. 

               To get to the start line of an Ironman takes a tremendous amount of training hours.  I’ve logged about four hundred hours over the last seven months.  However, it takes a lot more than many swims, bikes and runs.  It would not be possible without the outstanding care from my medical team (Dr. Garcia-Aguilar, Dr. Goldberg, Dr. Rush, Dr. Hegarty, Erica Kaufman, Kathy Paisley, Robin McDonough) in the best health care system in the world.  Most of all, it wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing devotion and love of Heather, my family, and friends.  I LOVE YOU!

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