energy. He did numerous charity projects, including
working with a rural Indian college he’d established,
expanding itfrom a singlebuilding to a campus with
sometwothousandstudents.WheneverIcamehome,I’d
bring my tennisrackets and we’d go out onthe local
courts.Heplayedtowin,andsodidI.He’ddropshotme;
I’d dropshot him.He’d lob me;I’d lob him.He had
pickedupa fewold-manhabits,likeblowing hisnose
onto the courtwhenever he felt like it or makingme
chasedownourerranttennisballs.ButItookthemtobe
thekindsofadvantagesafathertakeswithason,rather
thansignsofage.Inmorethanthirtyyearsofmedical
practice, he’d not canceled his clinic or operating
schedulefor sicknessonce.Sowhenhe mentionedthe
developmentofaneckpainthatshotdownhisleftarm
andcausedtinglinginthetipsofhisleftfingers,neither
oneofuswasinclinedtothinktoomuchofit.AnX-ray
of his neck showed only arthritis. He took
anti-inflammatory medication, underwent physical
therapy,andtookabreakfromusinganoverheadserve,
whichexacerbatedthepain.Otherwiseitwaslifeasusual
for him.
Over the next couple years, however, the neck pain
progressed. It became difficult for him to sleep
comfortably.Thetinglingin thetipsofhis leftfingers
becamefull-blownnumbnessandspreadtohiswholeleft
hand.Hefoundhehad troublefeeling thethreadwhen
tyingsuturesduringvasectomies.Inthespringof2006,
hisdoctororderedanMRIofhisneck.Thefindingswere
a completeshock. Thescan revealeda tumorgrowing
inside his spinal cord.