News on Rose is not what anyone wanted to hear

Last week, when BYU released information on coach Dave Rose’s emergency surgery in Las Vegas to remove his spleen, I began searching the Web for information on why a person would need a splenectomy and what complications followed such a surgery. Because of the brevity of the information that BYU released, I felt there was more going on. Most of what I read was not good news, and kind of reaffirmed my suspicion and fear. Basically, everything I read said that there were really only two reasons why a spleen would bleed – blunt force trauma or cancer. So I figured that unless coach Rose was involved in some sort of physical incident that would have inflicted force to his upper abdomen, chances were that he was seriously ill. I almost posted the Web sites with information on spleen-related illnesses on this blog, but decided it was premature to put anyone in a panic, especially considering the privacy that Rose and his family had requested. So I kept my research to myself. Still, I feared for the news I might someday learn.
Driving home Wednesday from a short golf trip to Las Vegas, I started thinking about Rose and wondering how he was doing, wondering if he was home from the hospital and wondering if he had learned more about what caused the need for his surgery. I was wishing I could just give him a call, to wish him well and hear him say that he would soon be back to normal. Right about then I received a call from my editor informing me that BYU had officially announced that Rose indeed does have cancer.
So once I arrived home and in front of my computer, I immediately began searching the Web again, but this time I was looking for information specific to the type of cancer that Rose has been diagnosed with – pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cancer. When pancreas and cancer are mentioned in the same sentence, it’s normally like the worst cancer news you can hear. I wanted some good news, and some of what I read Wednesday night on the type of cancer that Rose has, has me encouraged. This rarest form of pancreatic cancer is beatable. Even though we don’t know the exact stage to which Rose’s cancer has progressed, there is reason for optimism. I’m even more optimistic after talking to a few (Steve Cleveland, Quincy Lewis and Lee Cummard) who know how Rose deals with challenges.
It always feels easier to write about BYU’s wins than its losses. Hopefully, Rose will beat this horrible disease and I’ll be able to write a story about BYU and Rose’s biggest win of all. I think it’s a story that Rose would love to share someday, and one I’d love to write.
Get well coach and best wishes. All fans are on your side in the tough battle you’re facing now.