Rochester, MN: Home to Mayo Clinic
September 16, 2012
have traveled to Rochester, MN many times for business. The first thing you would notice at the boarding gate are the number of people on wheel chairs or those needing assistance. Today, I have a different perspective of them.
I am one of them. I don’t need a wheel chair or need assistance, but like them I am going to Mayo Clinic. My wife and I decide to get a second opinion to find a cure for my metastatic lung cancer. This was what was agreed upon with my oncologist, after discussing all my options.
My oncologist prescribed more chemo using a different set of drugs but before I submit myself to another hardship treatment, I want to find out other options e.g. surgery or radiation or whatever. I just want to be cured or be given a break.
“The Mayo Clinic is the largest employer in Rochester, MN: over 40,000 employees. It use to be IBM but Mayo has surpassed them all.” The shuttle bus driver interrupted my thoughts. Except one, all the passengers were Mayo-bound.
I use to arrive here confident in my stride, heading straight to Hertz, where they have my car rental ready. With my bags in tow, I head straight to work. For this trip, I could get a car but this is not work; this is personal. As the bus driver continued his entertaining stories, I am starting to see this city differently.
I have seen the cluster of Mayo buildings many times, while driving from the hotel to work, but I have never entered it before. Tomorrow, I will enter it as a patient. I have front-row seat to one of the best hospitals, if not the best, in the world for patient care. (At the airport they even have Arabic-translated brochures of Mayo; a favorite in the Arab countries).
Needless to say I am anxious. I have gathered all my medical records, scan images, surgical report, biopsy slides, etc., and put them in a binder. I made my own summary of my medical history, which brought back memories of my journey. My cancer journey started in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (March 2008) and I hope it ends here in Rochester, MN. That’s four years of numerous chemo cycles, two surgeries: colon and liver, and long days and nights of dehydrating chemo side-effects. Some of you were there to witnesses to my hardship.
Of course, I could not help look at those episodes of grief and pain with as sense of accomplishment and blessing as well. In reading about Mayo, I was struck by their mission statement that begins: “To inspire hope…” There it is no need to read any further. I get it. Let this journey end here. Suddenly, Rochester is beginning to look different to me.
Cheers.
P.S. Some factoid: Mayo is a not-for-profit organization that channels all their resources to patient care and research. With that in mind, I will run for Mayo Clinic at the Berlin marathon this September 30.
Bo, truly, you are such an inspiration. I look forward to hearing when you get out of Mayo Clinic and running the Berlin Marathon. We love you Bo and Irish. We continue to pray with a smile for your full recovery.
Bo, you’re a very brave and enduring fighter. I pray that the Mayo Clinic can find a cure for you. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Tuan
Praying for you, Kuya. Keep the faith and keep that chin up. Submit yourself to His will for your life. This is the only way to go. xoxoxo
Wishing you the best, Tito Bobet.
God Bless, Bobet. you are an inspiration.
Mayo is the answer to all our prayers. Your strong faith has lead you to this clinic. God is always kind and merciful. Love you brother…
Go Bo! I hope Mayo gives you less caustic alternatives of managing that @%#^ cancer. They have a lot of clinical trials at Mayo—one of my friends is a liaison for North American breast cancer CTs and says Mayo’s top notch in so many ways. I’m sending energy, strength, love and hope to you. Good luck at this marathon so you can get on to Berlin! Love, Lisa
Bo, best wishes for a hopeful and satisfying outcome. Prayers and thoughts are always with you and Irish. Helen Snow
Extra MAYO please for our friend Bo….Our prayers are with you Bo.