Longtime Coachella Valley broadcaster Steve Kelly: 'For once, I was speechless'
I had not been feeling particularly well in February. I had been in and out of Eisenhower Hospital with what I thought was a stomach infection. Imagine my surprise when an oncologist showed up in my room telling me I had Stage 4 colon cancer and had just a few years to live.
Now, I have been in my professional life a broadcaster. I was on the air here for 25 years. I have interviewed many people and always had something to say. But on this occasion, I was struck silent.
Finally, after a few awkward moments, I asked the doctor how long I had. He said maybe two years. Maybe. Then he said his office would start chemotherapy immediately – I was left alone to my thoughts.
Who should I tell and how should I tell it? I did not want prayers and I certainly didn't want to hear how Uncle Joe in Omaha lived 35 years with this diagnosis. I told a few family and friends and then decided that I needed to take a break. My family insisted that I move into assisted living because of the diagnosis so off to my new home. I had lived in Cathedral City for 28 years.
What struck me was not how I was reacting to the news but how others did. I also suffer from kidney failure and after the diagnosis, my kidney doctor came to visit me and started to cry. The nurse at the dialysis center gave me a huge hug. Then a city official in Cathedral City where I served on the Parks and Recreation Commission called out of the blue to offer support. I was amazed that people would reach out to me. Although they deny it, I think being ill led to my induction into the Rutgers University Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
There have been so many changes in my life in the last three months that it is hard to list. One of the things I love to do is tell stories. I have always loved a good tale. And I think going through this experience will give me some great material. I plan on starting a podcast soon. It should be fun. There are just so many ironies. The cancer dietitian suggested I cut out processed foods. I asked her, will it really make a difference? She hemmed and hawed. Also, having been overweight for a while, now that I am losing weight, people tell me how good I look. Yikes!!
Like all of us, I have no idea what will happen in the next few months. But I want all to know that even though some of us may be terminal, we have a lot of living to do. This is never what I intended my life to become but you know what, it is not that bad.
Steve Kelly is a longtime Coachella Valley broadcaster. He can be reached at svericker@yahoo.com
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Longtime Coachella Valley broadcaster Steve Kelly: 'For once, I was speechless'
