McHenry County Blog

Sorry that this bumper sticker for McHenry's Church of the Holy Apostles is to blurry.

Sometimes I get good shots.

Sometimes I don't.

Located at the intersection off Bull Valley Road east of the blacktop from McHenry to Crystal Lake, this church is the one my in-laws attend when they are not in Florida making the rest of the family envious.

Its first priest was visiting McHenry Hospital after my father finally agreed to see a doctor and had been admitted. He had been told his cancer was in remission by his doctor at Georgetown University Hospital and to check back in three months.

It was less than three months before cancer had returned to his lungs and advanced to his brain.

Lesson: if you doctor says check back in three months, go back in two.

Labels: Brain Cancer, Cancer, Church of the Holy Apostles, Lung Cancer, Message of the Day

In this final of five installments, Democratic Party coroner candidate and cancer survivor Dave Bachmann tells about how he will emphasize cancer awareness education in his campaign.

However as life goes, at times, we get caught up in the day to day things..especially in Politics.

Without making any political statements because I have never personally met Mr. Louis Bianchi, but I need to say this, please.

I watched Mr. Bianchi keep his class and dignity about himself while under political fire these past months.

I was so touched by this "reminder" of how I need to keep perspective in my own race, I sent him a note of thanks for being that "feather" in my life at the right time. We are usually touched by "feathers" as reminders to take a good look at ourselves, BEFORE, the "Hammer" hits us!

I was somehow "touched" to dedicate my campaign and share my very personal story, which I have never revealed in such depth in public.

I now know why I am still alive.

In just one short week of adding my Breast and Cervical Cancer awareness campaign to my blog, I am again, finding a Miracle of love and hope from people I have never met before, nationwide!

What a blessing this journey has been for me and continues to be. I hope I'm flooded with letters from all over the world that I can share, and hold close to my heart.

I lost my mother to breast cancer October 16, 2006.

My sister Paula Muntzenberger just had a double mastectomy, my cousin from McHenry, Mary Beth Ong, fought her fight with Breast Cancer in the past couple of years, she is in her 40's and is doing well.

I just found out this last week, that my cousin's wife from Wheaten, just had a mastectomy from breast cancer at age 39.

My greatest hope is that everybody reading my story, becomes a "hypochondriac" for a day, and gets tested. It just might be the day you can say saved your life!

God Bless and thank you for sharing your stories with me.

Please visit my blog page for important links and information.

David J. Bachmann
www.bachreview.blogspot.com

I am attaching Courtney Lercara's web site Pink Wings for all to see.

Previous stories can be found below:

Part 1 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

Part 2 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

Part 3 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

Part 4 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

Labels: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Dave Bachmann, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Coroner

Dave Bachmann, Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County Coroner, is in the process of telling his experience with cancer and how that led him to emphasize cancer awareness in his campaign for public office.

Bachmann has just ended up back in the hospital after his Houston pancreatic cancer operation with a serious infection.

My fever spiked to 105 one night, and as I lay alone in my hospital room, I shouted out loud..

"GOD, I GET IT! Please stop this NOW"

.... Within one hour, my fever lifted completely, and I was on my way to beginning my recovery.

Rather than go on and on, I think you get the idea of where I am going with this.

This experience taught me about life.... real life.

What is REALLY important, and what REALLY is not..

It taught me about "PERSPECTIVE!"

In this light, I felt my life was spared for a higher purpose.

However until October of this last year, I was not quite sure what that was. I supposed God would let me know when the time was right.

On October 10th,2007 or so, I found out what that purpose would be.

I'm not a politician. I am a death care provider and caregiver, by nature and training over 30 years.

This opportunity I have before me to put a face on cancer and tell my story of hope, faith and strength when fear had its chance to destroy me, is what I was called to do.

A purpose larger than my own story of survival, but to show all those who have suffered the exact same life experience, that they are never alone, and that if you are willing to fight and never give up, YOU CAN LIVE TO SEE A PURPOSE LARGER THAN YOU EVER DREAMED OF.

It is my hope, that if you are just now finding out about your own "journey," that my story can inspire you and bring you the strength you will need.

It's there, just dig deep! I promise, you have it within.

It's God given.

I have to add that although I have lived through everything that I have described, at times, I still need that "reminder" of "Perspective".

I have also survived 6 major spinal surgeries, 4 bi-lateral shoulder reconstructions, a total of 17 operations if that weren't enough reminders?

I will report that, at this moment in time, I can go to any gym and work out with the best of them... well, maybe not all the guys, but for my age group, I'm in better shape than I deserve. I am lucky in that I am totally rebuilt, so I should have about 100 more good years ahead!

Part 5 appears tomorrow.

Previous articles can be found below:

Part 1 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

Part 2 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

Part 3 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

Labels: Cancer, Dave Bachmann, McHenry County Coroner

Democratic Party McHenry County Coroner candidate Dave Bachmann is telling how his experience with cancer led him to decide to educate people about the disease in his campaign. Bachman has just been told by MD Anderson Cancer Center to come to Houston. He has an appointment in two days.

If you are just dipping into his story, here is Part 1 and Part 2.

I was scared to death.

There I was alone, at the World's largest cancer center, surrounded by sick people.

When you arrive, you pick up your schedule and a map of the campus, its very pro-active.. The day before you see your doctor, you complete all your tests. I started at about 0800 in the morning, and they kept me going until 10pm that night. They do things there, that are not even on the books at a regular hospital.

The blessing in what I had come to call my "Field Trips" where all the wonderful stories of hope, and miracles I heard from fellow patients.

They send you to testing in groups, so we all sat around and told our story. I heard stories from people from all over the world.

Of how they were told to go home and die by their local hometown physician, and found themselves alive and well some years beyond their anticipated expiration date.

This gave me hope as I waited my turn. I had a total of 4 "Field Trips" from 2002 to 2003.

One man, in particular, just happened to be from Lake in the Hills. Mr Jack O'Connor.. a great man, bald headed from his treatments, but with the most infectious smile you ever saw. My being from Florida, and meeting Jack from back home, what were those chances?? Another Sign? Jack and I remained friends and have kept in touch since.

I met the following morning with my surgeon. I was told the tumor is bad, BUT, it appeared it had not spread yet and if I survived the 12 hour surgery, I had a good shot at making it. I was young, strong, a non smoker, I had a shot.

But he also warned me, the recovery is hell.

I had no choice, I had to do it. My doctor scheduled me for 2 weeks out. Instructed me to go home, relax, put things in order then get ready for war!

The one thing I really found out about cancer is... nobody else can fight your battle for you! Reality in its most raw form!

I did in fact survive the surgery obviously, but what was to follow could have never been anticipated. Tubes extending from my body, everywhere, no ability to eat food except via tube feeding, pain that was unbelievable, I was indeed in the fight of my life.

I remember walking through the Houston Airport, after my hospital release, with 3 tubes still protruding from my body. I met some wealthy folks there in Texas, oil people, in the rooms on my floor, and I was supplied Neiman Marcus and Marshall Field shopping bags, the type with the horse shoe shaped handle. I placed by "fluid bags" in these shopping bags to conceal my "carry on luggage."

Although, since it was so soon after 9-11, I was seriously searched by Airport Security... I was in a wheel chair barely able to walk, and they made be get up, life up my shirt and reveal my "packages" content.. Well, needless to say, they believed me and let me through.

I was determined to fly home to Pensacola alone, and walk myself up that jet way when I arrived, so my kids could see their dad looking strong. That was my first accomplishment since the operation.

I did it!

My kids needed to see that.

The weeks that ensued where full of unexpected twists and turns.

I ended up back in the hospital on life supports just 12 days later, suffering from a serious pancreatic infection from the surgery. I was given blood transfusions and drugs I cannot ever pronounce the names of.

The pain was horrendous in my mid back...They had me on Morphine, phentonol patches and shots of Demoral and Phenergen at the same time...

Tomorrow you can read Part 4.

Labels: Cancer, Dave Bachmann, McHenry County Coroner

Wednesday, Dave Bachmann, the Democratic Party candidate for coroner told the first part of his involvement with cancer--diagnosis. Today, the journey continues.

He (the doctor) kept me in the hospital that night in order to help me adjust to the situation.

I clearly remember waking the next morning, and getting into the shower.

As I washed my body, I remember looking at my hands, thinking, these hands that have served me so well in life, will soon lie lifeless in a box in the ground, and there was nothing I could do about it.

I wept for my body that had served me in life. The hands that held my children.

I've learned in life, to allow 24 hours to feel sorry for myself, then, I push it aside, and get moving on solutions to my situation. To do nothing when you are down, will only serve to defeat you.

I remember the first few nights at home after I was released from the hospital. I would awake in the early morning hours, in the dark, thinking, my time is coming.

I had made my will out, contacted my parents, and laid in bed....

It is interesting in that I read an article in the news paper just the other day, from a cancer patient that had the same experience of waking at night with these very thoughts. I am sure EVERYBODY who has lived what I am writing about, has lived this same phenom in the early morning hours after being diagnosed.

About 8 years prior, a friend of mine gave me the gift of the bible. I found that strange coming from my friend Steve. He was the last guy you thought would be a reader of the word of God.

But, as I have since found, our Lord does in fact work in mysterious ways. If you don't fight it, you will see it in your life more than you think.

After about 4 nights of this waking, I decided there must be something I can do. The interesting conversation I had with a surgeon who attended me in Florida after they scoped my pancreas, told me.. Well, we can try to do a "Whipple" on you.. that is your only chance... Then he explained to me what a "Whipple" is... as one doctor friend of mine calls it.. "The Cadillac of all Surgeries"!

The surgeon described the horrors of this procedure.

Basically stated, they go in and remove most of your digestive system, and lift the tumor out untouched. But, not many who are diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer qualify to have this life saving operation. He went on to tell me that when he opens me up, if he sees, this certain issue, in his words,

"Its a show stopper,"

or if I see that,

"Its a show stopper"

.. his words, not mine.. I looked at him and I said,

"Doc, How many of these Whipple's have you done?"

He stated,

"Not Many"

... I then in rebuttal stated,

"That's a show stopper!"

I got up from his office table, and went home. I went on line to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas.. the very best cancer center in the world...as Ranked worldwide. They have the two top Pancreatic surgeons in the World there.

I sent them an email at about 0300 in the morning.. By 10 am the same morning, I received a return email stating...

Get your films, and come on down.. your appointment is in 2 days!

Part 3 tomorrow.

Labels: Cancer, Dave Bachmann, McHenry County Coroner