Dale McCartney vows to fight brain cancer

September 12, 2010 at 12:06a.m.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

BAZETTA

Dale McCartney was feeling fine when his boss, John Fine, owner of A&N Refrigeration, went into a Boardman restaurant to check out a job.

The next thing Dale remembers is his being loaded into an ambulance that was called after Fine found him on the parking lot and unresponsive.

His head was pounding. He thought maybe he had been shot.

That was the first indication that Dale, 33, had a life-threatening brain tumor.

He started chemotherapy and radiation treatments Aug. 18 at the Cleveland Clinic for Stage 3 glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer known as GBD.

“I’ll fight this thing to the end,” he vowed.

Before that day at the restaurant, life was looking good for the McCartney family.

Dale had graduated as a refrigeration technician from ETI Technical College of Niles in January and was hired at A&N in February. His third daughter, Kari, now 3 months, had arrived.

Then came the seizure July 1, brain surgery that removed part of the tumor July 23 at St. Elizabeth Health Center and a diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme July 26.

Not only do the Mc- Cartneys have to face his life-threatening disease, but the mounting costs as well.

Being on a new job, his insurance had not kicked in, said Teresa, while rocking 3-month-old Kari.

Teresa was off work as an aide at Kiddie Day Care in Champion while she was pregnant with Kari and has not been able to return to work because she has to stay home in case Dale has another seizure.

There is a $9,000 bill for brain surgery at St. Elizabeth Health Center to remove part of the tumor. Now, he is taking chemotherapy pills twice a day during the week and once a day on the weekends for six weeks, at a cost of $174 a pill.

They also have the normal household and living expenses with neither of them working.

Dale and Teresa, who were married Oct. 2, 2004, are staying at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge during the week and coming home on the weekends. The children are being cared for by family.

“Do you want to see my turtle?” said his middle daughter, Katelyn, 4. The turtle was found on the parking lot at Walmart on state Route 5 in Bazetta.

Katelyn knows her daddy is on vacation and goes to the big hospital, Teresa said.

McCartney’s oldest daughter, Kayhla, 13, lives in South Carolina with her mother.

Teresa said Dale is doing very well. His biggest complaint is that he feels tired.

“That’s my biggest complaint too,” she said.

Dale grew up on Stroup-Hickory Road and graduated from Bristolville High School in 1995. He is the son of Virgil and Kathleen McCartney.

Dale’s wife, the former Teresa Mort, is a 1999 graduate of North Bloomfield High School. She is the daughter of Patricia Hembree and Barry Mort, both of Warren. Dale said he has been encouraged by the prognosis given him by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic.

“I left feeling better. They told me I had a year. The average person lives 14.2 months after diagnosis,” he said.

Despite that grim prognosis, Dale is optimistic about the future. “I’m hoping to return to work if I respond well to the chemo and radiation,” he said

“We are on the prayer lists of a dozen churches and I believe in the power of prayer, even if I pass away,” he said.

“Being in my early 30s, this completely blindsided me. But I can honestly say I believe there is a reason for everything. This is the part where Jesus is carrying me. We all have to realize we are not promised tomorrow. We can’t take things for granted,” said Dale, who grew up in an Apostolic Pentecostal church.

“It makes me appreciate my family more, and I appreciate a good morning more,” he said. “If there is a miracle and I’m cured, or if it goes the other way, if I believe in God, it’s all good.”

But the McCartneys also need financial help, and two fund-raising events are scheduled.

On Saturday, there will be a 65-mile benefit Poker Run starting and ending at Big Mike’s, 2357 North Park Ave. in Warren. The first bike will leave at noon, and the last bike must be in by 6 p.m. The event will occur, rain or shine, and all vehicles are welcome to participate in the run.

The cost is $15 for couples and $10 for solo, with a dinner included in the cost of the run. For those who do not participate in the run but attend the dinner only, the cost is $5.

The next day, there will be a benefit golf outing at Walnut Run Golf Course on state Route 5 in Cortland. It’ll be a four-man scramble, cost is $65 per person or $260 per team. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served, all beverages included. There will be an 8 a.m. shotgun start.

Also, anyone who wishes to donate can do so at any PNC Bank office to the Dale or Teresa McCartney Benefit Fund.

“I want to thank people for their kindness and thoughtfulness and prayers. People call and leave notes saying they are thinking of us,” Teresa said.