14 (Cleveland & Columbus, OH)

Today was another really good day!

This morning I was up at 5:00am and was very eager to get over to the Cleveland Cancer Clinic but of course I had a 9:00am appointment and had to wait around for a bit. I stayed at the Cleveland Cancer Clinic Guesthouse across the street. This is where patients and their family members can stay before and after treatments as many travel very far to get treated here. I really enjoyed being there because I got to meet some really nice people and they asked about my trip around the country. So of course, they were very appreciative for what I was doing and it really gave me a sense of worth in what I’m doing.

So it was finally close enough to my appointment time and I headed over to The Center for Hematological Malignancies at Taussig Cancer Center to meet up with Allison Vellani and two of her other colleagues and since I wasn’t able to get a business card from them and after a very long day, I have completely forgotten their names. I’m so ver sorry about that ladies! Allison, please e-mail me everyone's name/title so that I can update this blog. I'm so very embarrassed. But I will say that they were so very nice to me and I was really impressed with the work they are doing at Cleveland Cancer Clinic. I did discover that CCC is the number one medical facility in the United States for organ transplantation and the site of the very “first” face transplant. Even kings and other diplomats (I don’t mean the Sacramento Kings either) come here as well.

So after figuring out the parking situation for my motorcycle (with my luggage on it) with the help of a Cleveland Cancer Clinic police officer (who, apparently was considered a hotty by the ladies as I could see it in their faces) I was able to get started on the tour of the facility. Before I forget though, I did want to mention this super cool fountain that was in the front of the building. I saw it the evening before and until I saw it today, I had no idea there actually was real water in it because it looked so perfectly still. It wasn’t until this morning when there was a little bit of wind this morning and it was just incredible to watch the way the water was moving around on the top of it.

I also was introduced to one of the social workers from the bone marrow program, who gave us a tour of the treatment area where patients sit in a private room and get their various drugs or bone marrow administered to them under direct medical supervision. Patients can be in these rooms with family or friends during the treatment which makes this process a lot more comfortable for them. I noticed patients in these rooms at the time and found this difficult to watch people go through this process. That is bravery if I ever saw it. I also learned some things myself about the donation of bone marrow and plan on signing up on the National Bone Marrow Registry myself, once I get back. A simple donation of your own bone marrow could be the difference between life and death for others. It is a lot easier than I had even heard and you don’t actually donate it until your bone marrow is a match for someone else. I simple swab of your cheek can determine that after it is tested.

So after completing the tour, I loaded back up onto my bike to try to make a 2:00-2:30pm appointment at The Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute down in Columbus, Ohio. The weather turned out to be awesome on the way down there but there were a lot of speed traps as well.

Upon my arrival at “The James” (as many people know it by), I was greeted by Alison Vellani (protocol coordinator), Eileen Scahill (media relations), and Danielle (from the local Leukemia & Lymphoma Society). I want to thank them again for the nice gift bags that they gave me. This was so very thoughtful. It was interesting because there I was at the largest university in the country, The Ohio State, home of the Buckeyes. Talk about feeling really impressed!

Once we got inside, I got to meet Dr. Joseph Flynn, D.O., who was very nice and very informative about what is going on at The James. Unfortunately, I did not ask for a business card so I have no details to offer other than this hyperlink. I’m such a slacker! During the tour I was introduced to a young lady who is a Ph.D who is one of the researchers/scientists. She gave us a tour of two of the research labs and then upon taking us into the offices where the administration side is performed, had me look out the window to see The Ohio State football stadium. What an incredible view! Of course, I took this picture and then a few more later after I drove around the stadium. It just amazes me to see things like this that I would normally see on TV. I will say though, it would have been nice to have Lisa with me and especially at Niagara Falls.

During my tour of the research labs, I met a gentleman who also owns a motorcycle (Suzuki V-Strom) and he told me about something I may want to go see which, is only 13-15 miles away. It is the home office of The American Motorcycle Association and the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. I about died since I am a member and love motorcycles!!! So I decided to go and stay at a hotel that is located right around the corner from the AMA office and come 9:00am, I will be over there. It was closed when I arrived this evening. It is rather odd because it is located right next to a housing development. Odd location, I thought. This is a real treat for me and makes up for all the rain. So after my visit to the AMA, I will b e heading up north to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The visit to Chicago fell through because of scheduling conflicts.

OK, it is 10:30pm so I'm going to bed! These early mornings, long days, and late nights are very exhausting.