Last post I mentioned that Dennis and I had met someone... a REAL SOMEONE. Wow....
While waiting during Erik's surgery last week, I picked up a copy of this:
As I read, I couldn't help but feel nothing but gratitude to a man with dreams. With dreams so large of doing so much good that would touch many thousands of lives... and eventually millions of lives. Because cancer not only affects the infected, but their family and friends.
The Fearless Philanthropist (Philanthropy Magazine)
Jon Huntman's story is outlined so beautifully here. I continued to read bits and pieces, then found myself going back over other segments that I had skipped over previously. It's hard to focus when all anxiety takes over. But you do your best to help pass time. The surgery was delayed for a time... I think we ended up waiting an extra 2 hours with Erik before they took him back because of access to the OR room. So along with talking with Erik and Dennis and watching a little TV here and there... I continued to read about how Huntsman Cancer Clinic and Hospital came to be and about Jon Hunstman's life. Periodically, someone would poke in....The doctor came into talk to us, as did his assistant awhile later and the anethesiologist, etc. etc. It was then, also in that little private surgery waiting room that we learned that they didn't need to take bone from his hip because the space was smaller than anticipated. Dr. Hunt got this information from the CT scan & MRI tests. So, yay! Happy news. It would make this surgery feel like nothing compared to what he has had before. Shortly before going back, we had our brief moment of prayer like we always do asking for blessings to guide the surgeons hands and minds and asking for good and watchful care from nurses and everyone that tends to Erik....blessings of quick healing... and also to express gratitude for new medical technology and all that we are blessed with thus far. It was time and we said our goodbye. Erik being wheeled off through double doors one way and Dennis and I walking the opposite way to find our way to the waiting room.
We were starving. Not wanting to eat in front of Erik, even though I had a few snacks in my bag, our stomachs were empty. It was shortly after 2pm. So we headed up to the 6th floor to find something to eat. Many times we take our food back down with us to the 3rd floor surgery waiting area, but this time we chose to sit in a common area next to the food cafe that had large spacious windows that provided a great view of Salt Lake City.
As we were eating we noticed a photographer and a few others setting up for a photo shoot or something of the kind. After a bit some other well dressed people came around the corner and casually talked. We were watching them and eating and just enjoying the moment satisfying the hunger and knowing that Erik was in good hands. We are blessed to feel peace at moments like that. I soon realized it was Jon Huntsman. I mentioned it to Dennis. I said... "whoa... I was just reading about him". I was overcome with a humbling feeling of peace and love. He was standing about 20 feet across the area and asked us how the food was. It took me out of my trance for a moment realizing he just spoke to us. We told him the food was really good! And it really is. It wasn't good just because we were hungry. Huntsman hospital food isn't "hospital food". It is quality.... mmmm.... tasty goodness with lots of choices everyday. Although it could have been the end of the conversation, I said, "Thank you. We really appreciated what you have done." He replied with a sincere "you're welcome". I continued on to say that our 19 year old has cancer and is in surgery right now. He is getting good care. With that, Jon Huntsman made his way over to where we were sitting and asked us some questions about Erik's cancer. We told him a little and how they used his fibula from his leg to replace his infected jaw bone. He said that there aren't many facilities that can do that and is glad they are able to do such a surgery with great success. He wished us well, wished Erik well and gave us his love. I could hardly speak after that. I was fighting tears. He went on his way talking with his group and looking around. Maybe they were looking for another backdrop for their photo shoot or whatever they were doing. His wife was with them, too. She has done wonderful things with her ideas, too, for the Huntsman Cancer Hospital and giving it the warm and welcome touch that it has.
As she walked through the mockup, Karen—Huntsman’s wife of 53 years—asked a simple question: “Where will the families put the flowers?” “Well,” says Huntsman, “that floored us. Nobody had thought about it, but it’s absolutely true. Families bring flowers, and the rooms needed more horizontal surfaces.”
The common areas share a similar human touch. All of the hallways are carpeted and slightly curved. “If you go to just about any large institution—a school, a hospital—the walls are perfectly straight and the floor is almost always linoleum,” Huntsman observes. “We didn’t want an institutional feel.” HCI’s walls are adorned with hundreds of Native American crafts and western-themed works of art. (Huntsman again credits his wife: “Karen not only brought beauty to each room, but gave HCI the look of an art gallery, with beautiful paintings and bronzes attractively placed throughout the facility.”) Small tables with jigsaw puzzles are arranged at regular intervals. Patients will often sit with family members and work on a puzzle for a few hours.
Had the surgery not be delayed? We wouldn't have met Jon Huntsman. Had we taken our food down to the waiting area like we usually would? We would not have had this humbling experience. We are greatful for him and for others just like him. The world is filled with good-good people!
Huntsman sits in a conference room on an upper floor of the cancer institute. Behind him, a long stretch of windows offers a panoramic view. “I’m really excited about the future,” says Huntsman. “Along this whole mountain”—his arm sweeps widely—“we have land reserved for more buildings. As long as there’s a need, we’ll keep filling the entire side of the mountain with research and treatment facilities. We’ll keep the operation going in good times and in bad, through recessions and depressions. We’ve always figured out how to get money, one way or another. It’s reasonable to say that we’ve contributed or raised more than $1 billion to build and operate these facilities. We may have to buy and sell new businesses; we may have to take out personal loans and pay them back by selling stock or land or even our home. We’ve done all that before, and we’ll do it again.”
Erik's surgery was complete in about 2 hours. All went well. We were able to meet him up in his room when he was out of recovery. When I heard Room 5101... I thought... Yay! That's the really nice room. That's the "suite"! They are so nice to Erik and to us. One of the nurses said that, yes, they saw Erik was back and they were happy one of the suites was available so they could put him in it.
“We find that family members like to be in the room as much as possible,” he says. “We try to make them as comfortable as we can.” Recalling his own loneliness after prostate surgery, Huntsman insisted that every room have a pull-out sofa-bed. “If a family member can sleep next to their loved one, it helps that patient enormously. It just makes all the difference in the world.”
Erik has healed quickly. He had an overnight stay. They wanted to keep an eye on him for at least 24 hours after his surgery, so it wasn't until mid afternoon that he was discharged. Another thing I love about Huntsman Facility and Docs.... they make sure you are "good to go" before they send you home. Erik had a few friends come to visit. So wonderful!
“It’s not just how much you give away.
It’s ultimately how many people you helped,
particularly
how many who couldn’t
otherwise make it
without you.”
Jon Hunstman, Sr.
Now this past week with Easter and being home and enjoying all that comes with springtime, we are doing well. Erik is healing, taking it easy.... saving the princess (Nintendo-Mario), watching TV, updating his BLOG, indexing, etc.
His follow-up appt is April 16 up in SLC. We will then make plans for the next step, which will be another reconstruction surgery. Next time with inside his mouth to make sure the flap and his tongue and everything is good.
I look forward to this weekend, although I am saddened by a dear friend's funeral that will be tomorrow. I look forward to this weekend because it is general conference. I love the spirit of the conference.... the great renewal it gives all of us, the announcement of new Temples, and I love hearing from our prophet.
AND tomorrow is also Justin's birthday! I can't believe he's growing up so fast ~What a great kid he is!
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