Beyond Cancer: Making the Most of Every Day

The Honorable Larry Burgess and his wife, Amber, planned to travel throughout the United States and remodel their home after he retired as Miller County Judge on January 1, 2017.

“I have learned, although we make plans, God often laughs at them,” said Larry.

In November 2017, Larry had noticed his wife, Amber, had been acting differently. She couldn’t stay on the road when she drove and began experiencing seizures.

“She would forget little things that were very unlike her like forgetting to pay bills or lock the doors,” said Larry. “I knew something was wrong.” Amber’s physician ordered a cat scan and MRI which revealed approximately 50 lesions on her brain that had metastasized from a large tumor on her lungs. Amber was diagnosed with terminal, nonsmall cell lung cancer and was given a life expectancy of less than three months.

“We were asked right after receiving the diagnosis if we wanted to call Hospice,” shared Larry. “When you are married to the love of your life for 39 years, you become one. I cried every day thinking she wasn’t going to make it - - that she might only have months left.”

“We were told to give up, but we weren’t ready to give up.” Larry shared. “And, I’ll be honest, my kids and I were reluctant to stay in Texarkana for her treatment.”

Not ready to call on Hospice, they decided to travel to Dallas. The doctor shared a plan of treatment that would require a lot of time away from home, taking a huge toll on a stage IV cancer patient and family. However, the Dallas oncologist assured the Burgesses the treatment plan he recommended could be provided at the W. Temple Webber Cancer Center in Texarkana with high quality, cutting-edge technology, and expertise. In short, Larry entrusted the life of his beloved Amber to the cancer care team at CHRISTUS St. Michael led by Medical Director, Hesham Hazin, M.D., Hematologist and Medical Oncologist, and Omar Ishaq, M.D., Radiation Oncologist.

“Surroundings and social support can have a huge impact on a patient,” shared Dr. Hazin. “The exhaustion and stress of traveling can often be discouraging and result in the patient wanting to quit trying even more.”

“First thing, Dr. Omar assured us they could kill a lot of the cancer with radiation,” shared Larry.

“We began the radiation therapy in December to shrink the tumors so her brain could regain some functionality,” explained Dr. Omar.

After radiation, Amber began a combination of immunotherapy and mild chemo treatments. “Together, immunotherapy and chemotherapy have been shown to work really well together,” Dr. Hazin shared.

“We weren’t excited about her having to have chemo, but Dr. Hazin explained the combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy could help improve her quality of life and possibly extend her life longer,” said Larry.

“Dr. Hazin showed me before and after scans of her lungs and brain after six months of treatment,” Larry beamed. “The lesions in her brain had shrunk by 50% and the big masses in her lungs were hard to see.”

Now, a year after her grim diagnosis, Amber and Larry are still making the most of every day.

“We are grateful the doctors in Dallas had confidence in Dr. Hazin and Dr. Omar,” said Larry. “I recommend these two doctors to anyone and truly believe you can trust the W. Temple Webber Cancer Center to do the right thing for your or your loved one.”

“We’ve been given time we wouldn’t have had without CHRISTUS St. Michael,” Larry said. “Our life is living proof that it isn’t always the end. Don’t accept that it is over before ever beginning.”