This blog will step away from my usual sales/management/productivity focus to ask each of you to take one moment to say a little prayer (or just send good vibes) to my close friend Drew McMillen as he goes into surgery this morning for an ETV.
As background, please know that Drew is a young man of 47 with a lovely wife and a wonderful young family who five years ago suffered a stroke, striking him down and almost killing him…but only until he could struggle back over the past years thru intense rehabilitation to re-learn to talk, walk, and function normally. Before Thanksgiving of this year, the shunt inserted into the brain to regulate the ongoing pressure failed, causing an infection and an ultimate relapse of his physical functions. For two and a half months he has been in hospital and rehabilitation facilities as his neurosurgeon has struggled to stabilize his condition and solve the mystery as to why this happened, and how they can prevent it in the future.
Last week he was moved to Stanford Medical Center where their world-class neurosurgery staff can evaluate his condition and decide on a treatment. ETV stands for endoscopic third ventriculostomy, a procedure that will eliminate his need for shunts and will eliminate the ongoing chance for infection. The 50% success rate of this surgery is the reason I ask that you help by sending some “good karma” Drew’s way over the next few days.
In the event you do not know Drew, he is one of us: a foodservice professional. An MBA from the USC system, he is one of the sharpest and most creative marketing minds I have ever encountered, and had the privilege to work with at Multifoods Specialty Brands. Later, he spent several years as Director of Marketing for Anchor Foods during its incredible finger food explosion in the late 90’s. But in addition to being a terrific associate and active participant in the foodservice industry, Drew is my close friend, who never hesitated to help me when I needed it during a time of personal crisis. I count him as one of my best friends.
You may have noted that the TRMusings blog has not been published in its normal regularity for the past few weeks. One of the reasons for this temporary lapse was my trip out to the west coast to see Drew and spend time with him and his family at Stanford. Both he and his wife are in good spirits, and are anxious to try this specialized and fairly rare surgery in a last ditch effort to recover to a more normal life. It is encouraging and heart-warming to see how well they are both handling this latest setback in this nearly six year journey. They both fully realize that an ETV has only a one-in-two chance of full success, and are appropriately balanced in their enthusiasm. However, if there is a person --- or a family --- that deserves that success, it’s Drew McMillen.
Take a moment and focus the name Drew McMillen in your mind, and create some positive karma toward him during this most critical time in his life. If you pray, please say one for Drew.
Thanks.
“So by the grace of God, there go I.” --- unknown