The Rest Of The Story

[John DiBartolomeo]

Well, I guess the cats out of the bag now after what I alluded to in last week’s Blog. This may not exactly be a “racing blog,” but I felt it important to tell the story.

Ironically, it’s been 50 years almost to the day as to the last time I spent any time in a hospital. I had been on my high school’s track team, yet I was never really fast. At one practice I had attempted to try the pole vault and was surprising sort of good. At the next dual meet, I took first place and was within three-inches I believe of setting the school record. Even though it was my senior year of school, it gave me a determination to break the record at the next meet.

It was the night after that first meet when I became seriously ill, vomiting out the window in my parent’s home. The diagnosis was an appendix that had to come out ASAP. Other than that, and a night I spent in the hospital several years ago when I got third-degree burns, I’ve never had a lengthy hospital stay. All that changed a month ago.

As I mentioned last week, I haven’t told too many people, but I was diagnosed with a tumor on my pancreas on April 25 which was a devastating shock to not only my physical but also mental condition. Initially, I spent five days in a hospital having scans and what not done. I wasn’t noticeably absent from racing and business but there were more important things on my mind than that. The end result was the tumor was small and had not spread anywhere making surgery the first choice of action. While I had confidence in the “team” at the hospital I was diagnosed, I felt it necessary to seek a second opinion.

In the past month there have been several people who have come into my life that have had a major affect on my condition. Naturally; and I apologize; I didn’t let on to too many people as to my situation, but there were several who I confided in who have maybe had similar conditions or knew some importance about the problem. One thing I did do was to pray even harder than ever before. I don’t think I’ve prayed this hard since my Dad passed in ’92, something I feel uneasy about because I felt as if now, I was only seeking the Big Man’s help when time became tough. But I prayed nonetheless.

As it turned out, the pastor of the church we used to attend when we lived in New Jersey; Pastor Craig Lauterbach; had a church member who was on the Board of Directors of Fox Chase Hospital in Philadelphia. Richard Millham became a trusted confidant, making several calls to myself to intervene and have real cause for my condition. He could get me an appointment with Fox Chase, but suggested that the best surgeon in the country; maybe the world; was a Dr. Charles Yeo at Thomas Jefferson University also in Philly. Think of this in this regard, if you had the choice, would you rather have an engine built by Bill Jenkins or Tom Nobody, with obvious no disrespect to Tom Nobody. My best friend Mark Dennebaum has always suggested to go to the best and Dr. Yeo was that person. I’ve asked this question numerous times, “would you rather have someone who had done this type surgery 100 times or one who has only done it 20 times. Dr. Yeo has done over 1,700 of these so-called Whipple surgeries over the years where they remove the tumor, part of the pancreas, the gall bladder and reconnect everything back up.

End result was being fileted open on an operating table for eight hours while they cut, prodded and reconnected everything back up. I honestly thought that a couple of days after the operation I would be able to walk around the shop and maybe instruct as to what needs to be done, but as I write this some four days after the procedure, I’m not so sure. But I will be back. Each surgeon that I spoke with reiterated that I’m clean of that threaded “c-word” but will probably need some clean-up treatment in time. Not sure I’m out of the woods yet, but I’m close to the edge.

Here’s the moral of this story. It was all detected very early and I am extremely blessed. As most of you know, we have a saying in racing, “I’d rather be lucky than good.” I’ve been lucky enough to win races, but my pastor has suggested I change that motto to “I’d rather be blessed than good,” and I have been very blessed. Early detection is important. It still bothers me that years ago, the NHRA dropped the requirement of a medical exam for certain Competition Licenses. I know numerous people who have been diagnosed with a problem because they were “forced” to have a medical exam. Get checked. Please. You have no idea what may be lurking in your body. It’s no different than, let’s say, cutting open an oil filter to get a glimpse in an engine.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who called, texted, e-mailed, whatever. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It’s because of all of that I’m not going anywhere. I still have too much work to do.

[L78 Nova]

Take Care John and get well ! Always enjoy your messages !
Thank You.

Gary

[Larry Hill]

Get well soon, John!

Larry & Patsy

[Mike Pearson]

Best wishes on a full and complete recovery John. Pancreas C is nothing to play with. I have lost a couple close to me to that monster.

[BG56]

Regards and best wishes for your episode. Looks like you got the good lane! -Brian

[1matcoman]

Thanks for sharing your story. Best wishes, and prayers, for a speedy recovery.

[SSDiv6]

John,

There is no better way than to seek God's help and presence. He is never too far away and he never leaves us, even when we temporarily walk away and even when we do not deserve it.

I went through the a similar situation, ended in the emergency room and they discovered a fistula in my stomach and internal bleeding. God intervened and it happened that two of the best gastro doctors were making rounds and were called in to see the results. A few weeks later I underwent surgery, and it was was supposed to last less than two hours because they thought they only had to close the fistula on my stomach. The surgery lasted 9 hours because when they cut me open, they discovered lots of scar tissue that had damaged my digestive system. The result was the removal of my Appendix, removal of scar tissue and closure of the fistula that if not caught on time, I could have hemorrhaged internally. I also ended with 78 permanent Titanium staples inside of me. Then, a year later, had the same symptoms and this time it appears a piece of scar tissue that they missed, got lose and blocked my bile duct. back to surgery and they had to remove the tissue and put two stents on my bile duct.

I came to the realization that at my age, my faith is part of my character and who I am. As I live, my goal is to get closer to God, be good to and help others.

You are in my prayers for a quick recovery and full healing.
God Bless!

[Bob Don]

Get well Johnny D! You are in my thoughts and prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

[Jerry Terry]

Get well soon John, we are all Blessed its just some of us don't recognize it yet. God Bless John you are in our prayers.


Jerry
Retired 3490 3492 STK SS SST

[Frank Castros]

John,
I too have had a Whipple procedure over nine years ago performed by Dr. John Allendorf then of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City except mine was a Pancreatectomy, removal of the entire Pancreas and but also the Spleen and Gallbladder.
It saved my life and although my daily routines can be rigorous to say the least, obviously I'm blessed and every day is a gift. I wish you the best and look forward to your next pass down the track.
Frank