Walt Corliss

Welcome and thank you for visiting  our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Walt was diagnosed with Stage 2  Esophageal Cancer on November 4, 2019.  It was quite a shock as he had no symptoms. But after many years of being treated with medication and other modalities for Barrett's Esophagus caused by GERD, we were not completely in the dark about what might happen.  After meeting with our Medical Oncologist and our Radiation Oncologist, it was determined the best protocol  was Chemotherapy once a week for 6 weeks, Radiation daily for 6 weeks, followed by surgery.  The surgeon recommended to us is located at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. Thankfully, we were able to have his chemo and radiation treatments done locally and fairly quickly. After treatments were completed, we met with the Surgeon  at Duke on January 9, 2020. We were very impressed with the Surgeon, his team, the staff and all of the Duke Cancer Center.  We knew when we met the DR that we were in the right place.  The surgery, to completely remove his esophagus, will take place on Friday, February 21, 2020 at Duke. We have been told to anticipate a 4-5 hour surgery, about 11 days in the hospital and a 4-6 month recovery.  Since Walt has done so well during all the treatments, we have no doubt that he will beat the odds and be cancer free on the other end. We thank you all for your constant thoughts, love and prayers. Walt's favorite scripture is Isaiah 40:31 - "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint".  This will be HIS story and our hope for recovery.