Bill Andersen

Butte, Montana

For nearly three months, bartender, bouncer and English literature student Bill Andersen had found it increasingly difficult to breathe as he suffered what appeared to be bronchitis. But when his condition worsened in March 2003, he sought a second opinion. This time, a chest X-ray and subsequent CT scan at St. James Community Hospital revealed that a cantaloupe-sized tumor had compacted his right lung and blocked a coronary artery. Within 24 hours, Bill was airlifted to University of Washington Medical Center. There, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and began a treatment protocol. Within one week, Bill returned home to Montana, where he completed his extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. While he lost his health and physical strength temporarily, Bill never lost his wry sense of humor or his optimistic outlook. “It really was a positive experience in a lot of regards,” reflects Bill. “It made me appreciate my health, and I find a lot more pleasure in things I can do.”

St. James Community Hospital (Butte, MT) to University of Washington Medical Center.

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