He met my mom, Dolores, another Army officer and nurse, while stationed in Honolulu. He left the army in 1968 to attend Harvard Business School and we eventually moved out west, settling in Carson City, Nevada.
While serving in Vietnam, my dad was exposed to Agent Orange which eventually led to him developing a tumor many years later. He was diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1995, which at the time was almost a death sentence. He began aggressive chemo and almost died after developing a staph infection in his chemo port.
At one point, the doctors gave him less than six months and recommended hospice care. He never gave up and made a miraculous recovery, living almost another ten years before the cancer finally returned. When it came back, the chemo was too much for his weakened immune system and he suffered a stroke in the hospital and passed in January 2006.
My dad was serious, quiet, humble and spent his life always trying to help people. He worked for the State of Nevada designing systems for welfare, and helped migrate most of the state employees to personal computers. He was always available to help any colleague who didn't know how to use DOS or Windows, in the office or at home.
Riding with Team has been an amazing way to honor my dad and the many others I know who have battled blood cancers. It has been so wonderful to see how much has changed for patients and the impact of LLS research. Today, that same diagnosis my dad had doesn't mean your life is over, and the treatments are much more targeted and effective. Patients not only survive, they go on to have rich and fulfilling lives.
This year, inspired in part by my good friend and co-captain Mary Caulder, I want to recognize my dad with the highest honor - naming an LLS research grant after him to help as many people as possible and hopefully end cancer once and for all. Thank you so much for your continued support.
-- Valerie Antkowiak | Ride for Dads Captain
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