A Special Wedding Guest

When Steve McDonnell walked his daughter, Sara, down the aisle at her wedding on Mother's Day weekend, every step was powered by the emotional journey of surviving cancer over the past four years. And the surgeon he credits with getting him to that momentous occasion was in the audience.

“Because of you" was the sentiment expressed by the bride in a handwritten note accompanying her invitation to Nicole Fowler, MD, FACS. The head and neck surgeon at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center removed a golf ball-sized mass from her father's neck in 2020 and served as his point person through the ensuing radiation treatment for sarcoma

“Dr. Fowler has gone above and beyond for me, even from that first visit," said Steve, the principal at Taft Intermediate School in Ashland, who was referred to the UH academic medical center from UH Samaritan Medical Center. “She was relentless in trying to do whatever she had to do to save my life, and I couldn't be more grateful."

An Ominous Sign during a Trying Time

The principal had just sent his students home at the beginning of the COVID-19 state lockdown in March 2020 when, not a week later, a strange lump appeared on the side of his neck near his thyroid gland.

“I had just shut the school down from COVID – we were all in trauma from that – and then this lump appeared on my neck," said the educator of 33 years. He consulted a family physician, who worried it could be a particularly aggressive and deadly form of cancer.

Steve was referred to Dr. Fowler, who saw the fear on Steve's face at that first visit. He was worried about his mortality and expected a grim prognosis, thinking he might only have months to live. But Dr. Fowler had a plan.

In the operating room, Dr. Fowler found a more treatable form of cancer. She planned to remove Steve's thyroid gland, but the tumor was entwined in the muscles around the gland.

“I know a rapidly growing mass that presented very quickly can be very scary for a patient," Dr. Fowler said. “I have this amazing cancer practice, and I believe there's always something we can do. We're going to walk with you on this journey, but first we have to see what it is."

Pathology results identified Steve’s tumor as a rare sarcoma known as myxofibrosarcoma.

“Sarcomas are actually much more treatable than anaplastic thyroid cancer," Dr. Fowler said. “We were all really happy."

Standing in as an Advocate

Steve's wife, Julie, was relieved too. Due to pandemic visitor restrictions, she was unable to be at Steve's side in the hospital. So the fifth-grade science teacher was especially reassured by the attentive care of Dr. Fowler and her team.

Julie had just recovered from her own cancer treatment. The entire year of 2019 was punctuated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatment and reconstruction due to breast cancer. She had begun 2020 with hope.

“Then come springtime, Steve is diagnosed with a possibly deadly form of thyroid cancer," said Julie. “I could hardly catch my breath."

Dr. Fowler and her assistant, Lauren, calmly steered them through this tumultuous time. Steve had successful radiation treatment over the following two months. Knowing they were there to handle any questions or concerns that arose gave Julie great comfort.

“Dr. Fowler has gotten him through the past four years," said Julie, who considers Dr. Fowler their go-to doctor in general. “It brings tears to my eyes. He trusts her completely."

Embraced by the Community

Steve's Ashland community celebrated the conclusion of his cancer treatment, after he rang the bell at his last radiation treatment four years ago this May. A parade of students, staff, neighbors and friends welcomed him home.

“This community has been really special to me, too," said Steve, who lives in Ashland and has spent 33 years as an educator and administrator in the Ashland City School District. “I couldn't ask for any more than that. It's been a big factor in my recovery."

Dr. Fowler was an honored guest at Steve and Julie's table for Sara's reception. Steve even mentioned her in his toast.

“Dr. Fowler is one of God's angels on earth and the reason I'm here," he told the crowd, asking the doctor to stand and be recognized. “She deserved that and to understand how important she was to our entire family.”

“She earned that wedding invitation and then some."

Related Links:

Experts at UH Ear, Nose & Throat Institute collaborate with specialists at UH Seidman Cancer Center to provide highly specialized, compassionate care for patients with cancers of the head and neck.