The Phone Call

The next morning was Friday, July 17th. It started just like any other day.

I woke up early, worked out, and headed to work. That afternoon I was supposed to drive to Raleigh for a Phish concert with David. I had already packed an overnight bag and was genuinely excited. It had been years since I’d seen them live, and I was looking forward to a fun night away.

My mind wasn’t on my blood work.

If anything, I was much more preoccupied with another major life event that was unfolding. I was in the middle of securing financing for the new Veterinary Vision Specialists location, and there were a lot of moving pieces. I was working through changing banks and restructuring a loan, and that felt like the biggest thing on my plate.

Sometime that morning, I noticed I had missed a call from Dr. Vaughn’s office around 10:00 a.m.

I didn’t think much of it.

When the phone rang again, it came from a number I didn’t immediately recognize. It took me a moment to realize it was Dr. Vaughn.

Her voice was calm but serious.

She explained that my blood work had shown cells that were concerning for leukemia. She told me she wanted me to go to the emergency department at VCU as soon as possible. She had already contacted the team there because, if this truly was leukemia, VCU would be the best place for me to receive treatment.

I don’t remember much after that.

When people ask what it feels like to hear news like that, the best way I can describe it is that your brain simply stops working the way it normally does. Everything becomes surreal. Time slows down, yet somehow moves incredibly fast. You’re trying to listen, to understand, to ask questions….but none of it quite feels real.

I finished the appointment I was in the middle of at work. Looking back, I’m not even sure how I managed to focus.

Then I gathered my team and told them, as calmly as I could, that I needed to leave because there was a possibility I had leukemia and needed to go to the emergency room.

That was all any of us knew.

I grabbed my things, left work, and drove to VCU.

The overnight bag I’d packed for a concert in Raleigh was used for a hospital stay instead.