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Tag: Kimberly Perez

  • Importance of exercise for heart disease patients

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    CLEVELAND — Exercise being good for your health is common knowledge, but for some, no amount of exercise can prevent heart disease.

    But doctors say that’s no reason to stop.

    What You Need To Know

    • Exercise cannot always prevent disease but it’s still beneficial for those with heart disease

    • People who exercised before heart surgery have much better recovery

    • Two years after heart surgery, man is competing in state swim championship

    Duane Grassell has been swimming competitively since he was a teenager.

    “I got top 10 for the 200 fly when the year I turned 64,” he said.

    But that stopped three years ago when he started having chest discomfort in the pool. Grassell was starting to slow down, and he didn’t know why.

    “I was a heart attack waiting to happen,” Grassell said.

    He had clogged arteries and needed open heart surgery. He was told to stop swimming until it was fixed.

    “There are some things that are outside of your control… family history, your genetics is very strong,’’ Dr. Joseph Lahorra, cardiothoracic surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic.

    He performed a quintuple bypass on Grassell. He said for some, no amount of eating right, exercise or healthy lifestyle can prevent heart disease.

    He said even though exercise may not always prevent heart disease, it is still beneficial.

    “Patients who have a baseline of exercise, they bounce back much quicker. You do it to try to prevent these problems, but maybe as important, maybe more important is that when you do have this problem, you are fit and ready to go,” Lahorra said.

    Lahorra said exercise doesn’t have to be at a competitive level, even walking is sufficient. But that wasn’t enough for Grassell.

    “It was very depressing. Because I’m not a couch potato, but I had to become one for a few months,” Grassell said.

    It’s been two years since Grassell had heart surgery. He is now 68-years-old.

    “I don’t measure myself against other people. I measure against the clock,” said Grassell, who swims at least 40 laps every other day and will be competing in the U.S. masters state championship in March.

    His next goal is to compete at a national event at age 70.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • Brother’s Keeper working to help young men feel connected

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    Editor’s Note: This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

    UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — There is a loneliness epidemic, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, and one group that’s been particularly affected is young men.

    What You Need To Know

    • The suicide rate is four times higher for men than for women

    • Students at John Carroll University meet monthly to build more intimate relationships and ward off loneliness

    • Young men are less likely to open up to family members because they don’t want to be a burden

    Between 2010 and 2023, the suicide rate for males ages 15–24 rose by 26% according to the American Institute for Boys and Men.

    One man is trying to change that.

    “From a very young age, boys are taught that certain feelings, they can’t express,” said Matt Wooters, therapist and a professor at John Carroll University.

    He said that’s enforced on social media and with their peers.

    “There’s nothing to be ashamed of, to feel any spectrum of emotion,” Wooters said.

    He started a group called Brother’s Keeper. It’s a safe space where young college men can share about more than just football scores. They meet monthly.

    “There’s a lot of talk about toxic masculinity in the modern discourse. And it’s interesting that there’s also a lot of talk about male loneliness and isolation,” Wooters said. “I think those two things are connected.”

    Men are more likely than women to feel socially isolated and not meaningfully part of any community, according to the AIBM, and their suicide rate is four times higher than women.

    “I think it really stems back to the phones and social media, even when we seem like we’re super connected with others, there’s a sense of loneliness, and that connection that it’s not really genuine,” said junior Casey LaForce.

    LaForce attends the monthly meetings. He plays lacrosse and considers himself close to his teammates, but he said the talks just aren’t the same.

    “You just see each other and you ask ‘Oh, how’s your day going? Oh, it’s good.’ And it doesn’t go much deeper than that,” he said.

    He said that the conversations in the group are much deeper.

    Wooters said he intentionally chooses athletes.

    “Even the most connected, successful, popular students on campus, especially male students, don’t have spaces to be authentic,” Wooters said.

    He said men don’t share with family because they don’t want to be a burden.

    “One single adult in their life that isn’t a family member, that they can call when they’re not doing well or when they’re doing well, changes everything,” Wooters said.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • New GLP 1 weight-loss pill released

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    OHIO — One in eight Americans now use weight loss injections, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, and those numbers are rising.

    What You Need To Know

    • A pill form of a weight-loss injection has been released

    • The weight-loss medication may be accessible to more people due to lower cost

    • The pill eliminates the need to keep medication cold when traveling

    It’s expensive and not always covered by insurance, but the Food and Drug Administration has recently approved the drug in pill form, which may make it more accessible.

    The company that makes Wegovy injections released the pill this week.

    “I think it’s actually going to be the first time that people are going to look at different options to make things more affordable for patients,” said Dr. Peminda Cabandugama, endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist at Cleveland Clinic.

    “When you take in a protein or a peptide through the mouth, it gets broken down by saliva and proteins. So, they figured out this molecule that actually binds the semaglutide molecule to get down into, all the way down to the stomach,” Cabandugama said.

    Nikki Raichart has been on the injection version for two years. Prior to that, despite taking care of a dog, running a real estate business and raising six kids, Raichart said she never had a problem taking weight off.

    “Even when I had my kids, I didn’t have any problems with weight loss until I hit midlife,” she said.

    She said she’s been able to keep off the last 20 pounds she couldn’t lose no matter what she tried.

    But the injection has its drawbacks, like having to keep it cold when you travel. The pill will eliminate that concern.

    “If you’re gone for two or three weeks, you just go without it but your cravings come back a little bit,” she said.

    Cabandugama said the pill is for more than just those with a needle phobia.

    A lower cost may make it more accessible to more people “when companies no longer (have) to worry about the plastic and spring loading to make an injection,” he said.

    Cabandugama said the pill is recommended for anyone with a body mass index over 30 or with BMI over 27 and with comorbidities like type two diabetes and high blood pressure. He said it’s unclear whether it will be covered by insurance.

    The pill requires a prescription and is taken daily versus a weekly injection.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • Cavaliers honor teen cancer survivor with big surprise

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    CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers are used to being the ones getting applause at Rocket Arena, but it was a 14-year-old boy who was the center of attention on the court Friday night.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cavs honored 14-year-old Evan Lallo at the annual Wine & Gold Gala Friday night

    • He was declared cancer-free after treatment for a rare bone tumor called Ewing sarcoma

    • He and his family will also be allowed to travel on the team’s plane, with the Cavs, to a game

    The Cavs court was transformed into a beachside casino for their annual Wine & Gold Gala. Hundreds got dolled up for a good cause.

    Evan Lallo was one of the night’s honorees. The 14-year-old has been declared cancer-free after treatment for a rare bone tumor called Ewing sarcoma.

    Lallo was diagnosed at the start of the Cavs season. He and his family watched Cavs games during his 70 days in the hospital.

    Lallo’s wish while receiving chemotherapy was to meet Cavs players, but the team is going beyond that. The Lallo family will travel on the team’s plane, with the Cavs, to a game.

    There’s one thing evan is looking forward to the most.

    “Definitely spending time with them, getting to know them a little more, knowing what the public doesn’t know about, you know, watching them play,” he said.

    “Now he can go to school, he can play sports, be with his friends,” Evan’s dad, Matt Lallo, said. “It’s just, the little things now mean a lot to us.”

    “He is our very own comeback kid,” said his mom, Megan Lallo.

    Hundreds spent the night bidding on auction items and hitting some casino tables. The money raised will support nonprofits throughout the Cleveland area.

    Here are some photos from Friday night:

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    Spectrum News Staff, Kimberly Perez

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  • Drought may be causing fall allergies to start early this year

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    CLEVELAND — Shiv Love’s been playing trombone since the 5th grade, and he hopes to do it for a lifetime.

    “I would just like to play in a big orchestra and teach at a college,” said Love, a second-year master’s student.

    But staying on top of his game means being able to hear and breathe properly.

    What You Need To Know

    • Allergy sufferers may have early symptoms due to drought conditions

    • An allergist recommends getting tested for allergies to know how to treat symptoms

    • Fall can create ragweed, pollen and mold allergy symptoms

    When fall allergies hit, he said it sounds like he’s underwater — not a good thing for a musician.

    The traditional ragweed, pollen season in northeast Ohio region usually starts Aug. 15 and lasts until the frost begins.

    “Other thing that’s in the air would be mold, as the leaves fall down. That’s what happens as they degrade, mold spores are released,” said Dr. Nancy Wasserbauer Kingston, an allergist and immunologist with University Hospitals.

    The recent drought is causing leaves to fall early, which may be leading to some having symptoms earlier this year.

    Wasserbauer Kingston said the best way to be prepared for allergies is to find out what you’re allergic to.

    “Before you go out to the pharmacy and buy all the allergy remedies that are on the market, best to know what your allergens are so you can first and foremost avoid them. And then use targeted daily therapy and avoidance measures,” Wasserbauer Kingston said.

    She said testing for allergies is more comfortable than it used to be.

    “So, it feels like a little push on the skin and creates just a tiny, tiny little prick on the skin. If you’re allergic, it’s going to feel like a mosquito bite. It doesn’t include a whole lot of blood or anything like that. People get worried about that,” she said.

    Wasserbauer Kingston recommends keeping the windows closed, washing your face and hands after being outside and using an app to monitor pollen.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • Food and music take center stage during Hispanic Heritage Month

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    PAINESVILLE, Ohio — National Hispanic Heritage Month is an anomaly when it comes to heritage celebrations. 

    What You Need To Know

    • National Hispanic Heritage Month begins in the middle of September to honor countries’ independence days

    • Central American countries celebrate freedom from Spain on Sept. 15

    • The month celebrates contributions of Hispanic culture in the United States

    It starts on Sept. 15 each year instead of Sept. 1.

    History helped determine that date.

    Central American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, all celebrate their independence from Spain on Sept. 15. Mexico celebrates on Sept. 16.

    Over the next month, festivals across the country will showcase some of the influence and contribution the Hispanic culture has had on the United States. But it’s also a month to celebrate freedom.

    “History is very complex of these countries. You had indigenous peoples who were basically colonized, conquered by Spain,” said Veronica Isabel Dahlberg, founder of Hola, Ohio — an organization that advocates for farm workers, immigrants and Latino families.

    She said the countries share a common thread, including culture, history and the language.

    Despite colonization, the culture endured for thousands of years, according to Dahlberg.

    “I would start with the corn tortilla. Corn, which was domesticated in Mexico from some grasses. By creating this corn, that then was harvested and used for a tortilla starting 10,000 years ago,” said Dahlberg. 

    Cities across the country will ring in the month with traditional music, dance and food.

    “We’re celebrating a taco festival in Ohio. I mean, that’s proof right there of the enduring and the resilient part of our culture,” Dahlberg said.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • Kickoff party for VeloSano Bike to Cure fundraiser

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    STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — Hundreds of cyclists are heading out Saturday morning for the annual VeloSano Bike to Cure fundraiser.

    What You Need To Know

    • One hundred percent of proceeds from VeloSano go toward cancer research at Cleveland Clinic

    • Over 2,700 cyclists will take part in the ride to raise funds

    • Genetic testing helped one woman catch a cancer diagnosis early

    The event raises money for cancer research at Cleveland Clinic.

    One woman and cancer survivor said she is doing the ride for her kids.

    Rose Sanders watched as her mom struggled through 11 years of cancer treatments.

    Her mother left her a binder filled with her medical journey as well as medical family history.

    Sanders’ mom passed away when Sanders was 30-years-od.

    She said she didn’t want the same fate for her children and had genetic testing in her twenties. It found she carries CDH1, a gene that greatly increases your chances of cancer.

    The gene increases people’s chance of breast cancer by 40 to 50% according to Dr. Jame Abraham, breast oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic. He said it increases the risk of stomach cancer by 25 to 35%.

    Abraham said genetic testing involves taking a blood test.

    Sanders was diagnosed with stomach cancer after the birth of her fourth child. She was 32

    Abraham said the gene is rare compared to BRCA1 and BRCA2, genes more commonly known to cause breast cancer. He said he recommends anyone with a family history of stomach cancer to speak to a doctor at age 25.

    Knowing she carried the gene meant Sanders got screened more often and was able to find cancer in its early stages.

    Sanders ended up having her stomach removed at age 32. She decided to have a double mastectomy as a preventative measure at age 35.

    Her pathology report came back positive for breast cancer.

    Because it was found early, she ended up not needing chemotherapy or radiation.

    Sanders will be riding 25 miles in Saturday’s VeloSano bike ride. she’ll be joined by 2,700 other riders. 

    “I hope that with the funds raised – especially with VeloSano – that my kids won’t have to do what I’ve done and hopefully there will be some preventative choice for them,” Sanders said.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • Fire stations working to ensure better night’s sleep for firefighters

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    CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — Getting woken up many times in the middle of the night can be taxing. For firefighters, it’s the nature of their business and can lead to exhaustion and sleep disorders, according to Dr. Sally Abraham, a sleep specialist at University Hospitals.

    But fire departments are making changes to help firefighters stay healthy and sane.

    What You Need To Know

    • A fire department in Ohio is making sure firefighters get better sleep while on duty

    • Alarms and lights at some fire stations now get gradually louder and brighter so they are less jarring

    • Disrupted sleep can lead to elevated blood pressure the next day

    “You’re waking up and going from zero to 100 miles an hour (in) a couple seconds,” said Dan Grimm, lieutenant with Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department.

    Firefighters at his station used to get woken up at least six times a night with alarms at over 100 decibels, but that’s changed.

    Alarms and lights in the firehouse now get gradually louder and brighter. They are less jarring.

    “It’s trying to break you out of your sleep slowly, so that your heart rate doesn’t skyrocket as much,” Grimm said. “It helps you keep longevity in your career.”

    Abraham explained when people sleep, heart rate and blood pressure both decrease. The more continuous sleep someone has, the more heart rate and blood pressure stay low. 

    “Disrupt that sleep, that heart rate and blood pressure are going up and down all night, and that can translate to next-day elevated blood pressure,” Abraham said.

    It used to be that all the stations within the department would get woken by an alarm, even if they weren’t assigned to the call.

    “If it’s a busy night, if a storm rolls through, it could be a couple dozen. You were constantly tired,” said Chris Martin, fire chief of Cuyahoga Falls Fire.

    Now, stations that need to respond are alerted after 7 p.m.

    “There has been a dramatic increase to the quality and amount of sleep for our responders. We want to send you home as healthy as you showed up to work,” Martin said.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • Cleveland in spotlight as it hosts big-name events

    Cleveland in spotlight as it hosts big-name events

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    CLEVELAND — Between the Guardians baseball playoff game, a Browns-Bengals matchup, and the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland was electric this weekend. But it’s about more than the rock stars and athletes.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cleveland in the spotlight hosting three big events in one weekend

    • Rock & Rock Hall of Fame inductions expected to bring in traffic to local businesses

    • Hotels were full throughout Cuyahoga County for the big weekend

    “A lot of luggage, a lot of people coming in and out, downtown Cleveland is where it’s at,” said Camerae Harris, a bellman at a hotel in downtown Cleveland. He said the craziness had started several days ago.

    Hotel rooms were full not only in downtown Cleveland but across Cuyahoga County.

    Resale tickets for the Rock Hall induction ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Field House going for as much as $1,900. But big-ticket prices didn’t keep fans away. A family from Massachusetts came in to watch the Dave Matthews Band get inducted.

    “It’s cool! I think we picked a good weekend to come. Between the induction ceremony and the Guardians playing in the playoffs,” said Julie Tapper, a Massachusetts resident.

    The last time the induction was held in Cleveland, it brought in $51 million and that was during the pandemic, but all the events are not just good for business.

    “Now we have sports and rock & roll mixing over a weekend in Cleveland. Those type of weekends mean a lot, yes financially and economically they mean a lot, but they also mean a lot for city pride as well as for changing perceptions of Cleveland,” said Emily Lauer, VP of press relations & communication at Destination Cleveland.

    For fans and visitors who didn’t get tickets to the big-name events, there was still tons of fun to choose from. From live music venues, to checking out the interactive sculptures, even a visit to the Lake View Cemetery where a former Cleveland disc jockey who coined the term “rock and roll” is buried. There was something for everyone.

    Fans and their amazing outfits showed up were in full force in downtown Cleveland.

    Parking was going for as much as $70 and $80, so taking the RTA, which leaves people right in the center of all the excitement, was recommended. Despite the craziness, visitors and locals were happy to be a part of it.

    “This is where is goes down, in the town. Y’all need to be here like James Brown,” said Harris with a smile.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • Boat shink-wrap gets new life as guardrail blocks

    Boat shink-wrap gets new life as guardrail blocks

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    CLEVELAND — Boating is big in some parts of Ohio, but it can come with a big environmental concern. 

    What You Need To Know

    • One-time use shrink-wrap that protects boats comes with big environmental concerns

    • Only about 17% of 350 marinas volunteer to prepare the shrink wrap for recycling

    • The shrink-wrap is recycled at an Ohio business and turned into guardrail blocks

    Some boaters use a type of one-time use shrink-wrap that protects boats while stored in the off-season.

    The Ohio Clean Marina program is helping to keep the material out of landfills and turn it into something useful. 

    “The last four years have been made really simple. There’s no excuse for any yard not to do it,” said Rob Morley, owner of Riverfront Yacht, which sells and houses boats on the Cuyahoga River. 

    There are nearly two tons of the plastic stored behind Morley’s boat yard. He volunteers in a program that recycles boat shrink-wrap.

    The main obstacle to the shrink wrap getting recycled is it being mixed in with the nylon strapping used to hold it onto boats, according to Sarah Orlando, program manager for Ohio Clean Marina.

    But Orlando said it’s an easy fix.

    She said she’s seen commercial-scale letter openers that make it easy to remove the band prior to the cover being removed from boats.

    The goal is to divert the hundreds of thousands of pounds of boat shrink-wrap that Orlando calls “the best of example of single-use plastic.”

    Of the 350 marinas in Ohio, only 30 to 60 participate in the program.  

    Once the shrink-wrap is properly removed, the process comes full circle in Ohio. It gets shipped to an Ohio business that turns it into guardrail blocks.

    More information on the Ohio Clean Marina program can be found here.

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    Kimberly Perez

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  • Non-profit hopes to restore dignity to victims of unsolved serial murder case

    Non-profit hopes to restore dignity to victims of unsolved serial murder case

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    HIGHLAND HILLS, Ohio — Some modern science mixed with some old-fashioned research may help identify victims of a 1930s serial killer known as the ‘Torso Killer.’ 

    What You Need To Know

    • Non-profit looks to provided dignity to murder victims by identifying their remains

    • The ‘Torso Killer’ was suspected to have killed people in the Cleveland area in the 1930s 

    • Volunteers use their genetic genealogy expertise to help build family trees and identify John and Jane Does

    The nearly 100-year-old case will not be without its challenges.

    Julie Bracker is an investigative genetic genealogist with the DNA Doe Project. The non-profit works to identify John and Jane Does.

    They received an anonymous donation to help fund the exhumation and DNA decoding of victims of the cold case.

    “When I think of mothers and family members missing their children and not knowing where they are, it really strikes a chord with me as a mother,” Bracker said.

    The bodies of the victims are buried in a potter’s field. The entrance to the cemetery is unmarked. The only sign it’s a cemetery is a large stone that sits amongst the numerous areas.

    “It’s about giving dignity to the people that were murdered – making sure their story was known,” Bracker said.

    Two of the 10 unidentified bodies from the case have been exhumed.

    “It’s a fascinating case. We’ve got victim number four. Very little is known about him. And victim number six known as the tattooed man,” said Pam Lauritzen, an executive director with the non-profit.

    After nearly 100 years, the bodies were challenging to find.

    “The potter’s field where they were interred. The bodies are stacked on top of each other. Finding the exact right person is a big challenge,” Lauritzen said.

    They can also be difficult to get DNA from due to contamination or bones being degraded.

    The organization feels confident they have the correct bodies. They will use Family Tree DNA, GED Match, and DNA Justice to compare DNA. Consumers who use those particular DNA tests allow their results to be used for law enforcement purposes.

    If DNA is obtained, Bracker gets to work on trying to build a family tree.

    “It’s an honor to be able to do it, but a little sad that we have to disturb them, but also amazing what help we can get from the actual body,” she said.

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  • Cuyahoga and British national parks bond over similarities

    Cuyahoga and British national parks bond over similarities

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    CLEVELAND — National parks in the U.S. share some characteristics with parks in the UK.

    What You Need To Know

    • Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park became sister parks 

    • CVNP developed a farming program in 1999 to preserve the valley’s pastoral landscape

    • DNP and CVNP are both within urban communities

    Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park recently became sister parks because of their similarities.

    “It’s really a way for parks to share information, share best practices and become more connected globally,” said Lisa Petit, superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

    She said Dartmoor reached out to CVNP to form the relationship because of their commonalities, including the fact that both parks have farmland within their boundaries.

    CVNP developed a farming program in 1999 to preserve the valley’s pastoral landscape and protect both natural and cultural resources.

    “Dartmoor looks very different from Cuyahoga Valley National Park. They are wide open land and have ancient bronze age archaeology on their site. To look at us, it looks very diff but we share similar issues of protection and restoration of natural resources,” Petit said.

    “Cuyahoga is restoring a landscape rather than managing a landscape because a lot of your huge national parks are really just managing what they’ve got there rather than trying to restore an ecosystem and a national park,” said Peter Harper, board member of Dartmoor National Park.

    In addition to both parks have farming land, the parks are both situated near urban communities and one of the main reasons Dartmoor reached out.

    “One of things we really noticed there was no rubbish anywhere. We didn’t see any litter anywhere. People really respect their national parks and we want to try to build on that in Dartmoor, so that people realize this is something very special for them and they need to look after it,” Harper said.

    The sister park agreement was signed in June and will last five years with the goal of exchanging ideas.

    “They learn a lot from our model, but we can also learn a lot from them. They do thing very differently than we do and, in some cases, do things better,” Petit.

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  • Pedaling across Ohio raises money for cancer society

    Pedaling across Ohio raises money for cancer society

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    CLEVELAND — Janet and Chris Winston love all the outdoor opportunities that Ohio has to offer.

    They’ll get to see a whole lot of it when they bike ride 328 miles from Cleveland to Cincinnati.

    What You Need To Know

    • Nearly 300 riders took part in Pan Ohio Hope Ride across Ohio

    • The ride raises funds for the Hope Lodge

    • Cyclists will ride for four days and stay the night in college dorm rooms

    The Winstons are riding in the 18th annual Pan Ohio Hope Ride.

    The ride is hosted by the American Cancer Society. Its goal is to raise $1 million for the Cleveland Hope Lodge which provides free, temporary housing for people receiving cancer treatment in Cleveland.

    “We all have people that have been touched by cancer. My bro passed away a couple years ago. My wife, both her mother and father passed away from cancer,” Chris said.

    The Winstons will be the only ones doing the ride on a tandem bicycle and there’s no taking it easy for the one in the back seat.

    “I can tell when she’s cheating,” Chris said with a laugh.

    “When he pedals, I pedal,” said Janet.

    Riding tandem is a true team effort.

    “I’m a foot shorter, so I can’t see if there’s a stop sign coming up, so he has to let me know,” Janet said.

    Participants will take off from John Carrol University. They’ll make stops at College of Wooster, Otterbein University and Wright State University. They’ll spend the night in dorm rooms that go unused during the summer months.

    Chris said people join for the ride but stay for the cause.

    “It’s like bicycle summer day camp. All you do for four days: wake up, ride, drink, sleep, repeat for four days,” Chris said.

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  • Patient shares sarcoma survival story during Sarcoma Awareness Month

    Patient shares sarcoma survival story during Sarcoma Awareness Month

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    CLEVELAND — Stephen McDonnell recently retired as a school principal and is in a great place in his life, but that wasn’t the case four years ago.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sarcomas are a rare and aggressive type of cancer

    • Sarcomas don’t have risk factors like smoking or exposure to toxins 

    • The fast-growing cancer has not screening and catches patients off guard

    “I didn’t read anything about it. I refused to do that. My wife had read a lot, I could tell it was bad,” McDonnell said.

    McDonnell was referring to the type of he was diagnosed with in 2020, sarcoma. It developed near his thyroid.

    Sarcomas is a rare and aggressive type of cancer that develops in bones and muscle, according to Dr. Nicole Fowler, a surgical oncologist at University Hospitals.

    McDonnell’s cancer came on very quickly as a mass that grew as big as a baseball near his neck.  

    He said he had dark thoughts when he was first diagnosed, but that changed when he met Fowler.

    “To have your world change from dark thoughts to hope and optimism, that’s what she did for me,” McDonnell said.

    Sarcomas don’t typically have risk factors like smoking or exposure to toxins, which means anyone can get them and they usually catch people by surprise.

    “Unfortunately…there is no screening test for sarcoma at this time as much as we wish that there were,” Fowler said.

    McDonnell had his thyroid removed and 33 straight days of radiation. Despite losing his booming voice that once came in handy as a principal, he was able to thank Fowler in his speech at his daughter’s wedding.

    “I’m not there if she (Fowler) isn’t in our life,” McDonnell said. “She was an honored guest.”

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    Kimberly Perez

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