By DENISE KINDER
Staff Writer
Last year, Ron Withrow walked into Dr. Randy Woods' office in Puxico, Mo., for a routine checkup of blood pressure and cholesterol.
Donning his Three Rivers College jacket, Woods asked the alumni and basketball fan if he had been attending games.
"I stopped going to the games," Withrow told his doctor. "I've been tired and having trouble walking."
After hearing it had been since Christmas that one of the biggest Raiders basketball fans had attended a game, Woods decided to do some blood work.
"That started the whole thing," Withrow said of learning his diagnosis.
After completing blood work, Withrow's doctor came back and told him he was in kidney failure and needed to go to the hospital immediately.
"You're kidding me, right," Withrow asked.
To be sure, Woods ran the blood tests once again and the results remained the same.
Woods then gave Withrow two options: he would either call an ambulance to take him to the hospital or Withrow would give his word he would head to the hospital right then.
Promising he would go on his own, Withrow called his niece, Gayla Withrow, to accompany him.
After four days in the hospital and numerous tests, Withrow was released with no answers as to what was going on with his body.
"I knew something was not right," Withrow said.
With a feeling of something wrong and wanting answers, he suggested to his niece traveling to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
Withrow said they spent the night in the hospital emergency room before being admitted and having numerous tests ran once again.
After being in Barnes Jewish Hospital for nearly five days with still no answers, Withrow point blank asked his doctor what was wrong with him.
"He told me he didn't know yet, but he would find out," Withrow said.
Withrow was once again released to go home to Poplar Bluff, still with no answers.
After returning home, Withrow's niece called and invited him to come out and have dinner with the family.
Once arriving, Withrow said everyone was acting "funny" and he asked what was going on.
Withrow's niece told her uncle she heard from St. Louis.
"Good," he said.
She informed him the doctors found out what was going on with him.
"Good," Withrow replied once again.
He was then informed by his niece he had multiple myeloma, which is a bone cancer and the doctors at Barnes Jewish Hospital wanted to see him back in a day or two.
"Shock," Withrow said went through his mind when hearing the news of his diagnosis. "I knew something was not right, but I never thought of cancer."
Once arriving in St. Louis, doctors explained to Withrow his diagnosis and the treatment options.
"My head was spinning," he said. "When you are told you have cancer your world changes."
After being told his type of cancer was treatable, but not curable, doctors expressed wanting to begin treatment for Withrow that very day with a chemo shot at Barnes Jewish Siteman Cancer Center.
Treatments were then transferred to the Danny Bell Cancer Center at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.
Last August, he was told his best hope for remission was to do stem cell replacement.
"Your immune system crashes when that is done," Withrow said after being in the hospital for a few days in November with pneumonia.
The combination of stem cell replacement and chemo seemed to be the hope doctors counted on. In January, doctors told Withrow he was in remission.
As a part of his maintenance program, Withrow continues to receive a chemo shot every two weeks. He will travel back to St. Louis in September for an evaluation.
At 67-years-old, Withrow's doctor told him his young age was a benefit when treating multiple myeloma.
Grinning when the doctor referred to him as "young," Withrow was told anyone over the age of 70 has a decreased chance when fighting this type of cancer.
A sports fan in general, Withrow knew St. Louis Cardinals legend Lou Brock was diagnosed with multiple myeloma as well and last he heard, he was doing well.
"I thought it would be funny if I ran into him at Barnes if he is receiving treatment there, too," Withrow said. "I'd know him if I seen him."
With his cancer in remission, Withrow continues to focus on his kidney issues. He met with a specialist on March 8 at Barnes Jewish Hospital.
"I was hoping for some type of medicine to get my kidneys back in line," he said.
As he explains, his kidneys do not filter creatinine and the doctor informed him the kidney failure was a "little more advanced than originally thought."
Doctors wanted to see his creatinine numbers around 1.5, but Withrow's number was over five in the beginning. Now, his number is dropping and at three during his last visit.
"I go back in June and will start some type of plan," Withrow said. "I don't want dialysis. The doctor told me I'm not there yet, but it is advanced."
In the mean time, Withrow's orders from the doctors is to drink as much water as possible, so that is what he is doing.
Life has changed "a bunch" according to Withrow since receiving his diagnosis including constant fatigue and trouble walking. He added he is limited physically and is having people drive him until his walking is better.
While he has cerebral palsy, Withrow said he knows what is "normal" for him and his walking is not there just yet.
"My walking is not normal, not even close to normal," he said. "That's why I'm going to physical therapy."
While still working to get back to his "normal," Withrow said he has tried to keep his faith in God and found much to be thankful for while on his journey.
"I'm thankful I'm in remission," he said.
The support and numerous people who have offered to help is the number one item Withrow is thankful for and is very appreciative.
In addition to his niece, Withrow's friend of 50 years, Bud Joyner, has been by his side since he returned home from the hospital.
"He didn't run away when I came home," he said. "He has been here about every day and is a huge help."
Not only lifelong friends have rallied around Withrow, but even people he doesn't know very well have offered assistance.
"Everyone that has reached out to me, prayed for me and tried to help even financially, I thank you so much," Withrow said. "There have been so many that I couldn't name everyone, there would be 100 names, but I really do appreciate everything."
Withrow encourages anyone who feels something is not right, to go to their doctor and get checked.
"Keep looking for an answer if one doctor doesn't have one," he said. "Go get another opinion."
In addition to good medical care and doctors who kept searching for an answer, Withrow said he knows God has blessed him and is very thankful.
"I don't feel sorry for myself," Withrow said. "I don't think why me, but why cancer."