Scott Schmeltzer, Thanks for Listening

I hate cancer.
You know that news that is like a punch in the stomach? The kind of news that just makes you buckle. Well, last week I received this kind of news. My good friend and colleague Geri Murtaugh is battling Cancer once again. I want to shout, cry, and yell all at the same time, but how selfish would that be of me when what my friend Geri needs is my thoughts and prayers for strength and resilience for both her as well as her family. A couple years ago, Geri battled breast cancer and went through a double masectomy. Watching how Geri went about her business of life while dealing with chemotherapy, work, family and volunteering was a textbook example of how to balance life while dealing with the big C.
Geri never once whined about or used having cancer as a crutch to take on all of her daily duties as a mother, wife and a co-editor of the Tribune. Geri was an inspiration as she would tease about picking out a new cap while she was losing her hair from chemotherapy or the fact that when her hair came back it was on the grayish side. Her humor and her spirit gave all of her co-workers a reason to admire Geri because she was standing brave in the face of this terrible disease. Geri showed leadership in a time of turmoil. Geri even did her annual dance on top of her desk after we wrapped up Progress.
When the 2009 “Relay for Life” rolled around, Geri became a member in the survivor walk portion of the relay. Geri had beaten cancer. She had persevered and fought through and was proud, but humble, to be one of the lucky few who had overcome cancer. Now for that punch in the stomach. Geri has had a reoccurrence of cancer and this time it is in her spine, liver and pelvis. Geri has been in Rochester for a week undergoing tests and trying to get to grips with this disease that does not want to leave her alone.
Please help me in keeping my friend Geri in your thoughts and prayers. I want her to dance on her desk again. I want my friend to walk around the “Relay for Life” survivor ring again.
Geri has a caring bridge website at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gerimurtaugh/createorsignin. Please visit and sign her guestbook.

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.