A quick update

I’ve had some people ask how things are going concerning my cancer. My latest scan a couple of weeks ago revealed two new cancerous spots in my abdomen. The spots are small and are not affecting any major organs yet. The doctor recommended not doing anything for now and evaluating again when I return to MD Anderson in June.

The diagnosis is not a surprise. I was told after my 2023 surgery that since they were not able to remove it all, this cancer would eventually return and require additional surgery or treatment of some sort. I’m just glad I had two years before the cancer came back.

There have been many people praying for my health, and if you’re one of them, thank you. I’m truly grateful and ask that you continue to pray for me and for others dealing with health challenges. May God bless you as we start the new year.

Something worth sharing

I cannot tell you how many great people I have met who are dealing with cancer. These are people I likely would have never met if it wasn’t for my cancer diagnosis. It has truly been a blessing.

That being said, I will be happy when this terrible disease is gone once and for all.

Six months later

Houston, Texas

You may be aware by now how things went on my visit to MD Anderson six months after my surgery. The scans were great. There was also no growth in the small amount of cancer they couldn’t get during the surgery. The doctor was pleased. We are grateful, especially considering not everyone is as fortunate with this disease. I’ll return for more scans in December. Thanks again for all the prayers and encouraging words. At least Steph and I were able to do a little bit more in Houston than the last time we were here, including a visit to a couple of parks.

A return to the anchor desk

Thanks for the kind words following my return to the anchor desk this afternoon. I’m still dealing with pain from the chemotherapy given during the surgery in December, and it makes sitting in a chair very difficult. You may see me standing more in the weeks ahead. I will always be grateful for everyone who has watched me throughout my 25 years at WTVA 9 News. It has been an honor, and I hope to continue as long as God allows.

A newsroom surprise

So I returned to work today after being away for a few months following cancer surgery, and I found this in my office. (It was in the window. I put it in my office chair for the photo for my wife.) It just goes to show the sense of humor my coworkers have — just one of the many reasons I enjoy being at WTVA.

Seriously, I’m back even though I still have pain from the chemotherapy during surgery in December. That pain makes it difficult for me to sit for extended periods of time. At some point, I’ll return to the anchor desk. But for now, I’m just happy to return to the place on Beech Springs Road that has been a part of my working life for 25 years.

On my nightstand

Photos with my wife, Stephanie, and our family of dogs. Sadly, cancer took the lives of Rudy (far left) and Preston (top right) early this year just weeks apart.
A bulldog from Teddy Williams, my late uncle and proud Mississippi State University alum.
A bell as part of a gift package from Mary Carroll Sullivan and Aundrea Self of WCBI-TV that the two of them sent after my first cancer surgery.

The latest

Many people have been asking for an update on my recovery, and I’ve been hesitant to post one because I hated to post something negative. I’ve been struggling with digestive issues and pain in my feet, the latter most likely caused by the huge dose of chemotherapy put in my abdomen during surgery. My care team at MD Anderson prescribed some additional medicines this week that will hopefully help with both issues. While my weight is down to 163 pounds, my appetite seems to be a little better the past couple of days.

I don’t know how I could have made it this far without Steph. Not only has she been taking care of me, she took care of Preston, our oldest dog, who had been suffering from prostate cancer until his passing Thursday. I’ve been blessed to be married to her for almost 23 years, and I hope we get that much and more going forward from here. Love you, baby.

Caught my attention

I saw the story this afternoon in the New York Post that probably best describes the cancer that I have. Here’s an excerpt from the story:

Adan Canto, who starred in “Designated Survivor” and “The Cleaning Lady,” died Monday following a private battle with appendiceal cancer.

Also called appendix cancer, appendiceal cancer is a very rare condition that has become more common in recent years.

One study found that the incidence of malignant appendiceal tumors increased by 232% in the US and 292% in Canada between 2000 and 2016.

About 1 in 3 appendix cancer patients are diagnosed before they turn 51, according to a recent report. Canto died this week at the age of 42.

Because appendix cancer is so rare — only a few thousand Americans are diagnosed each year — the research is not as abundant compared to other cancers.

An update

After a 12-hour ride, Steph and I made it home last night. And home was such a sweet sight after 23 days in Houston, Texas.

We had plenty of offers to help from family and friends, but my sister-in-law Marian Boykin handled our dogs and our home so well we didn’t have any worries. She got an assist from her son Jacob Robertson and our friend Sharmon Christian, but Marian’s help made my surgery and recovery much less stressful.

I also cannot say enough about Dr. Keith Fournier and the medical professionals at MD Anderson. There are ads all over Houston promoting it as the nation’s top cancer treatment center. The people I encountered there back up that claim in my mind.

And I’ve written this countless times, but it can never be said enough about how much the prayers and positive thoughts have helped us. Thank you so much for caring.

At the moment, I’m down close to my high school weight of 180 pounds. It may be a shock if you see me. For now, I’m trying to eat more protein and drink more fluids, but the appetite just isn’t there yet.

What is there is the fatigue, and I’ve been told that will be there for a while. Hopefully, that will subside soon, and hopefully, that will have me back at work sooner rather than later.

It was 84 years ago a famous baseball player said it, and it’s a line I’ll write 84 years later — I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.

God bless,
Craig

Stepping away again

Thursday was the last day for me to anchor a newscast in 2023. Unless something changes, I plan to undergo a 12-hour cancer surgery at MD Anderson in Houston on December 11. I know the doctors will remove my gallbladder, my spleen and part of my colon. They’ll also try to get the cancer on my liver, diaphragm and stomach. There may be more that’s removed, but the doctors won’t know until they start operating. They will also put heated chemotherapy drugs in my abdomen to try to kill any remaining cancer cells. The recovery from the surgery will take at least a few weeks before I can return to work.

People have been telling me since my last surgery in September they are praying for my healing and recovery. I can’t thank them enough for thinking about me then, now and in the future. The same goes for my coworkers and my wife’s coworkers who gave gifts in advance of the surgery. To say that both of us are blessed would be an understatement.

Please keep John Dolusic and his family in your prayers during this time. His son, Walter, died after suffering a brain aneurysm. Also do the same for the loved ones of two other WTVA employees who passed away this year: newscast director/master control operator Keith Richey and general manager Danny Walker. This will be their first Christmas without them.