My name is Harry Tappin and I am a Cancer Survivor. My journey began two years ago when I started getting head aches. At first I thought it was a dental problem and went to my dentist. I still had headaches, and then I thought I had a sinus problem and after further investigation a MRI was ordered.
That’s when they found I had a Meningioma tumor. I was sent to UCSF Neurology department. After much testing I underwent surgery. The surgery lasted 10 and a half hours; the analysis of the tumor was Meningioma A Typical – which meant I had a cancerous brain tumor.
After surgery I was in intensive care for four weeks and two days at UCSF. Then six days recuperating in a hospital bed and then transferred to Memorial for eight days. I was very weak – I lost 60 lbs. (which was good). After a couple of weeks I started my radiation. I had 34 treatments in Santa Rosa. My friends helped take me to my daily treatments. Thanks go to; Lyle and Dorothy Studer, Dick Giorgi, Bob Randolph, Paul and Jean Hammond and Phil Bebber and especially my wife Karen and our children who were down there with me by my side.
I had surgery on September 21, 2011 and I am to this day still recovering. Thanks go to my community and friends and to all the research that has been done to improve the treatments for Cancer. That is why I’m participating in the Relay for Life. The American Cancer Society is the largest non-profit funder of research in the world.
Come join me for our local Healdsburg Relay For Life, Sat. & Sun. August 4 & 5 at Recreation Park. All Cancer survivors will be honored Sat. morning starting with a breakfast, Relay shirt and opening lap will start at 10 a.m. Come with your caregiver to start off Relay.
Relay Rummage Sale will be Sat. July 28 at Fitch Mountain Elementary School on University St. from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Many Relay teams and their families will be participating.
Luminaria Bags this year we will not use sand to fill the bags we are using canned food. All food gathered would be donated to our Healdsburg Food Bank. If you would like to decorate a bag in honor of a loved one please bring a can of food for each bag. We will be collecting food at our local Exchange Bank.
Please join us for Healdsburg Relay For Life, any questions call Karen Tappin at 433-5353
Harry Tappin is a Healdsburg resident
