#fitzysfight: ‘It’s been the most humbling experience of my life’

UPDATED with race results: Grace and Grit runners, walkers hit the road in Rockport for a friend

Sat, 10/21/2017 - 3:00pm

ROCKPORT – Brian Fitzpatrick is determined to return to coaching basketball, despite battling cancer. The past few months have been rough. Treatments are rigorous for the 35-year-old body already afflicted by Crohn’s Disease.

Yet, on Saturday, Oct. 21, the Camden native’s outlook on life was as clear and optimistic as the autumn morning that brought a park full of people to a fundraiser in his name.

Runners and walkers raced a Grace and Grit fundraiser 3.5 mile route through Rockport Village in support of Fitzpatrick, his wife, Caitlin, and three young children Carly, Colin and Brynn.

Fitzpatrick has a large inoperable tumur on his liver: Hepatocellular Carcinoma. 

“It’s a common liver cancer, as far as liver cancers go,” Fitzpatrick said. “The abnormality with me is my age and my situation.”

According to Fitzpatrick, this cancer typically shows up in older people who might have underlying liver issues such as sclerosis or hepatitis. When Fitzpatrick endured slight stomach pains in June, he and his doctor chalked it down to his Crohn’s. After a couple weeks of Prednisone medication, he felt OK. That relief, however, didn’t last long.

In July, “that’s when – holy cow – all the tests started,” he said.

Fitzpatrick said that through it all, his family and friends have been his rock. Others whom he doesn’t know well have reached out, as well.

“It’s been the most humbling experience of my life,” he said as he watched the first few racers sprint across the finish line. “The generosity of people... I’ve donated money before. But I’ve never...I’m taken aback. It’s been unbelievable.”

This particular cancer is one that isn’t diagnosed until it has progressed a long way.

“Thankfully, the left side of my liver, my left lobe, has been – and still is – in good shape,” he said, “and has sort of been picking up the slack. The tumor itself is in my right lobe.”

So far, his treatment consists of two aggressive components. During Selective Internal Radiation Treatment, medical personnel at Massachusetts General insert a catheter directly into Fitzpatrick’s liver in order to put radiation beads directly into the tumor.

He also gets immunotherapy treatment every two weeks. Similar to chemotherapy. He sits in the oncology unit as medication is dripped into his body through an IV (intravenous line).

“It’s a new-age cancer medication that they [oncologists] are fighting a lot of different cancers with,” he said.

Fitzpatrick’s cancer drug just received Food and Drug Administration approval.

“Also, I’m sort of a perfect candidate because I’m an otherwise healthy 35-year-old,” he said. “So they basically gave me the drug. They were like, ‘try it. We want you to show some success.’”

Fitzpatrick said his cancer has not spread since his diagnosis in July. In November, he’ll go for another CT scan to make sure treatments are still working.

 

From the Grace & Grit Facebook page:

Thank you to the 250 participants in today’s 5k. What a great day it was ! Here are there race results.

Place Bib Name Team name Team name 2 Category Age Gender Time
1 121 John Prendergast Male 40-49 45 M 25:03.2
2 173 Jared Todd Male 40-49 44 M 25:07.4
3 130 Alexander McGowan Male 14 and Under 9 M 25:21.3
4 125 Bridget Mellon Female 20-29 20 F 25:30.0
5 164 Amy Floral Female 30-39 39 F 26:45.4
6 136 Siena Scordino Female 14 and Under 9 F 27:00.3
7 133 Will Duke Male 14 and Under 13 M 27:42.7
8 13 Peter Moro Male 30-39 34 M 27:44.1
9 25 Gregory Sage Male 60-69 62 M 27:54.3
10 155 Kathy Kangass Female 50-59 52 F 28:01.7
11 8 Adam Kohlstrom Male 40-49 41 M 28:43.7
12 45 Charlotte Taylor Female 14 and Under 13 F 29:20.8
13 56 Jenn Bevans Female 30-39 35 F 29:33.6
14 27 Mary Hoffman Female 30-39 37 F 29:36.7
15 14 Lara Moro Female 30-39 34 F 29:38.7
16 158 Jim Tolles Male 70 and Over 72 M 30:35.7
17 154 Jen Michaud Female 40-49 41 F 30:52.0
18 117 Kallie Rollins Female 20-29 28 F 31:01.3
19 78 Bill Wessels Male 20-29 20 M 31:02.9
20 137 Joey Scordino Male 14 and Under 7 M 31:18.4
21 5 Haley Cooke Female 40-49 40 F 31:19.4
22 124 Michael Madell Female 50-59 58 M 31:29.9
23 126 Erik Nason Male 40-49 47 M 32:05.3
24 122 Patrick Sage Male 20-29 40 M 32:18.4
25 123 Nathen Neville Male 30-39 37 M 32:51.1
26 149 Laure Chartier Female 20-29 29 F 33:28.3
27 143 Becky Doehla Female 40-49 46 F 33:57.2
28 109 Angela Carlsen Female 50-59 50 F 34:01.9
29 49 Ashley Perrine Female 30-39 33 F 34:35.5
30 150 Noah Thackeray Male 14 and Under 13 M 34:41.0
31 129 Logan McGowan Male 14 and Under 14 M 34:44.9
32 170 Aiden Webber Male 14 and Under 10 M 34:50.9
33 128 Lisa McGowan Female 40-49 42 F 34:55.8
34 96 Kergan Thomann Male 30-39 32 M 34:59.1
35 152 Colden Golann Male 20-29 24 M 35:01.9
36 153 Anne Young Female 20-29 24 F 35:02.4
37 90 Toni Goodridge Female 60-69 63 F 35:05.3
38 92 Lindsey O'Hara Female 30-39 34 F 35:24.8
39 2 Sarah Maxcy Female 30-39 32 F 36:09.6
40 159 Brian Cross Male 20-29 28 M 37:09.8
41 118 Isabel Alexander Female 20-29 25 F 37:12.0
42 80 Doug Thompson Male 30-39 34 M 37:18.2
43 134 Carter Duke Male 14 and Under 8 M 37:30.3
44 132 Joanna Duke Female 30-39 39 F 37:32.5
45 140 Evan Burgess Male 14 and Under 12 M 37:47.7
46 139 Danielle Burgess Female 30-39 33 F 37:48.3
47 161 Michael Rollins Male 14 and Under 10 M 38:00.0
48 162 Brooklyn Rollins Female 14 and Under 8 F 38:00.7
49 160 Levi Rollins Male 30-39 32 M 38:01.4
50 11 Jeff Bowman Male 40-49 49 M 38:28.6
51 12 Jennifer York Female 40-49 49 F 38:29.4
52 127 Bekhe Carson Female 30-39 32 F 38:50.1
53 81 Emily Thompson Female 30-39 35 F 39:05.3
54 163 Sarah Burnside Female 30-39 31 F 39:08.5
55 146 Zachary McCormick Male 15-19 17 M 39:23.3
56 147 Saben McCormick Male 14 and Under 5 M 39:30.2
57 145 Racheal McCormick Female 30-39 39 F 39:31.9
58 148 Chloe Carbonneau Female 14 and Under 12 F 39:38.2
59 60 Michael Archer Male 30-39 34 M 41:25.6
60 33 Kristin Heal Female 30-39 35 F 42:01.4
61 77 Sarah Vail Female 40-49 49 F 42:29.9
62 131 Gabriella Duke Female 20-29 25 F 42:44.3
63 19 Samuel Higgins Male 30-39 33 M 44:27.3
64 151 Baxter Thackery Male 14 and Under 10 M 45:30.4
65 138 Sarah Scordino Female 30-39 34 F 46:50.4
66 1 Stephanie Griffin Female 30-39 38 F 49:27.8
67 157 Kevin Odenella Male 40-49 41 M 51:07.9
68 141 Braden Beveridge Male 14 and Under 8 M 51:50.1
69 114 Michelle Beveridge Female 30-39 35 F 51:52.5
70 144 Mila Milliken Female 14 and Under 7 F 53:01.8
71 142 Hunter Beveridge Male 14 and Under 10 M 56:45.5
72 172 Jack Brodis Male 14 and Under 5 M 56:57.1
73 171 Ben Brodis Male 30-39 35 M 56:58.6
74 169 Meara McManus Female 14 and Under 8 F 1:04:47.0
75 168 Melanie Ellsworth Female 40-49 44 F 1:04:47.8
76 167 Patrick McManus Male 40-49 43 M 1:04:48.4
77 95 Kergan Thorman Male 14 and Under 5 F 1:09:21.6
78 415 Cory Spurling Walkers 35 M 1:12:53.3
79 414 Stephanie Tuttle Walkers 32 F 1:12:54.0
80 413 Aylin Orhon Walkers 25 F 1:12:54.6
81 412 Deborah Entwistle Walkers 67 F 1:12:55.7
82 411 Jeremy Entwistle Walkers 62 M 1:12:56.2
83 410 Susan McIntyre Walkers 56 F 1:12:56.7
84 409 Stephanie MacLeod Walkers 36 F 1:12:57.1
85 408 Isla MacLeod Walkers 4 F 1:12:57.4
86 407 Brian MacLeod Walkers 38 M 1:12:57.7
87 406 Daniel O'Connell Walkers 54 M 1:12:58.1
88 405 Dianne O'Connell Walkers 58 F 1:12:58.4
89 404 Matthew O'Connell Walkers 27 M 1:12:58.7
90 403 Virginia McMorrow Walkers 74 F 1:12:59.0
91 402 Cassie Mitchell Walkers 35 F 1:12:59.3
92 401 Craig Mitchell Walkers 36 M 1:12:59.6
93 400 Karinna Allen Walkers 34 F 1:12:59.8
94 399 Jonathan Allen Walkers 44 M 1:13:11.2
95 398 Kimberly Powers Walkers 34 F 1:13:11.8
96 397 Trevor Powers Walkers 34 M 1:13:12.2
97 396 Nicholas O'Hara Walkers 35 M 1:13:12.6
98 395 Laura O'Donnell Walkers 28 F 1:13:12.9
99 394 Rory O'Donnell Walkers 36 M 1:13:13.2
100 393 Sarah Fitzpatrick Walkers 15 F 1:13:13.6
101 392 Bruce Fitzpatrick Walkers 51 M 1:13:13.9
102 391 Josh Nash Walkers 40 M 1:13:14.3
103 390 Sue Fitzpatrick Walkers 51 F 1:13:14.6
104 389 Susan Burgess Walkers 65 F 1:13:14.9
105 388 Katie Cunningham Walkers 30 F 1:13:15.1
106 387 John Burgess Walkers 67 M 1:13:15.4
107 386 Tyler Smith Walkers 36 M 1:13:23.0
108 385 Kristen Smith Walkers 37 F 1:13:23.3
109 384 Sam Smith Walkers 5 M 1:13:23.7
110 383 Hannah Smith Walkers 3 F 1:13:24.0
111 382 Kate Rush Walkers 40 F 1:13:24.3
112 381 Rachael Burgess Walkers 33 F 1:13:24.7
113 380 Dan Burgess Walkers 34 M 1:13:25.0
114 379 Meg Davis Walkers 19 F 1:13:25.3
115 378 Amy Freeman Walkers 31 F 1:13:25.7
116 377 Sarah Rossiter Walkers 39 M 1:13:26.0
117 376 Preston Rossiter Walkers 11 M 1:13:26.3
118 375 Brenda Kenney Walkers 60 F 1:13:26.6
119 374 Jeremy Payson Walkers 28 M 1:13:26.9
120 373 Colby Brown Walkers 25 M 1:14:30.0
121 372 Abby Feener Walkers 28 F 1:14:30.5
122 371 Cody Brawn Walkers 7 M 1:14:30.8
123 370 Shelly Brawn Walkers 34 F 1:14:31.2
124 369 Levi Brawn Walkers 2 M 1:14:31.5
125 368 Tristan Brawn Walkers 34 M 1:14:31.8
126 367 Seth Taylor Walkers 43 M 1:14:32.1
127 366 Aline Taylor Walkers 44 F 1:14:32.4
128 365 Denise Fitzpatrick Walkers 63 F 1:14:32.7
129 364 Terrance Fitzpatrick Walkers 64 M 1:14:33.0
130 363 Delaney Fitzpatrick Walkers 3 F 1:14:33.2
131 362 Russell Fitzpatrick Walkers 32 M 1:14:33.5
132 360 Darren Rossiter Walkers 35 M 1:14:35.0
133 359 Kerin Lindahl Walkers 38 F 1:14:35.4
134 358 Mirabel Killoran Walkers 4 F 1:14:35.7
135 357 Paloma Killoran Walkers 7 F 1:14:36.0
136 356 Ariana Killoran Walkers 43 F 1:14:36.2
137 355 Patrick Killoran Walkers 43 M 1:14:36.6
138 354 Richard Lermond Walkers 64 M 1:14:36.8
139 353 Roxanne Sage Walkers 60 F 1:14:37.2
140 352 Johnnie Tofani Walkers 31 M 1:14:37.5
141 351 Andrea Itkin Walkers 68 F 1:14:37.7
142 350 Kasie Gallant Walkers 31 F 1:14:38.0
143 349 Isabella Wincklhofer Walkers 39 F 1:14:38.3
144 348 Mig Case Walkers 60 F 1:14:38.5
145 347 Donna Dugal Walkers 58 F 1:14:45.5
146 318 Heather Sage Walkers 32 F 1:14:46.0
147 317 Corey Sage Walkers 31 M 1:14:46.3
148 314 Jennessa Tyler Walkers 32 F 1:14:46.6
149 313 Darren Robbins Walkers 31 M 1:14:46.9
150 312 Beverly Doherty Walkers 60 F 1:14:47.2
151 311 Wendy Wickenden Walkers 70 F 1:14:47.5
152 310 Rick Doherty Walkers 73 M 1:14:47.9
153 309 Rebecca Archer Walkers 33 F 1:14:48.2
154 308 Jennifer Simmons Walkers 56 F 1:14:48.4
155 305 Abraham Dugal Walkers 34 M 1:14:48.8
156 304 Danielle Parks Walkers 38 F 1:14:49.1
157 303 Chris Coutts Walkers 63 F 1:14:49.3
158 302 Scott Spencer Walkers 40 M 1:14:50.3
159 301 Jen Spencer Walkers 37 F 1:14:50.7
160 300 Stephen Coutts Walkers 65 M 1:14:50.9
161 361 Meghan Fitzpatrick Walkers 30 F 1:14:53.2
162 32 Nick Heal Male 30-39 34 M 1:16:50.7
163 135 Jon Duke Male 30-39 38 M 1:18:47.9
164 166 Marty Parker Male 15-19 10 M 1:19:22.3
165 165 Lizzie Parker Female 14 and Under 7 F 1:19:22.8
166 156 India Odennal Female 14 and Under 4 F 1:19:27.1
167 427 Virginia Campell Walkers 1 F 1:50:28.1
168 426 Carolyne Marriner Walkers 1 F 1:50:28.6
169 425 Polly Jones Walkers 1 F 1:50:29.0
170 424 Paul Chacon Walkers 1 M 1:50:29.3
171 423 Makensie Couttes Walkers 1 F 1:50:29.7
172 422 Liz Neville Walkers 1 F 1:50:29.9
173 421 William Kialine Walkers 1 F 1:50:30.3
174 420 Joanne Kialing Walkers 1 F 1:50:30.7
175 419 Terry Prescott Walkers 1 F 1:50:31.1
176 418 Sueann Macleod Walkers 1 F 1:50:31.5
177 417 Carolyn Benner Walkers 1 F 1:50:31.8
178 416 Neai Blake Walkers 26 M 1:50:32.2
179 430 Victoria Abbot Walkers 1 F 1:50:32.6
180 429 Lynn MacDonald Walkers 1 F 1:50:33.0
181 428 Tom Leaper Walkers 1 M 1:50:33.3

 


 

 Sarah Thompson can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com