Where Ron conquered cancer

Ron Clark carries a handwritten card in the front of his wallet that reads:
“In case of emergency, take me to Timpanogos Regional Hospital.”  Below that, Ron penned the hospital’s address and phone number.

Although Ron lives closer to a different local hospital and has experienced care at other hospitals, Timpanogos Regional Hospital remains his hospital of choice.

“I would go the distance to get to Timpanogos Regional Hospital because I really, really love the people,” Ron explained. “If I ever get in an accident or am having problems and need immediate care, I want to be taken there because the people genuinely care. It has more of a home feeling than a sterile hospital feeling, and I appreciate that.”

Ron experienced the professional kindness and compassion of the Timpanogos Regional Hospital medical team during his treatments for stage four prostate cancer.

“Right from check-in, the people were so gracious and so kind. Everyone was on a first name basis. I felt like I was literally walking into a family and group of friends. I was very much at ease,” Ron said.

Feeling at ease proved important during his long days of Ron’s internal radiation therapy, called permanent prostate brachytherapy. He arrived at Timpanogos Regional Hospital at 7 a.m. and didn’t leave until 5:30 p.m., as he underwent two rounds of radiation per day.  

Permanent prostate brachytherapy involves carefully placing devices that contain radiation close to the prostate gland. For Ron, that meant a 2-hour process of strategically placing 17 needles near the prostate. Then, the highly trained medical team inserted pellets filled with radioactive material into the needles, so that Ron could receive approximately 30 minutes of radiation in a specially designed chamber.  

“I’m an older man and was worried about losing my dignity with these wonderful young nurses,” Ron said. “Yet, when the moment came, I wasn’t bothered because those nurses were so dog-gone understanding. That’s an art! Timpanogos Regional has some of the very finest working people there. They haven’t just learned procedures of medicine; they’ve learned kindness and the gift of communicating.”

Ron also took note of how the hospital’s culture of compassion spread beyond the patient. The hospital team took care of his family with the same attentiveness and concern they offered him.

“Just like with me, they’d ask my wife if they could bring her a warm blanket, a drink or anything. They offered her care and kindness too; and if someone is being good to my wife, they’re giants as far as I’m concerned,” Ron said.

Thankfully, Ron’s cancer is now in remission. Ron said, “I won’t be frightened if I’m told I have cancer again if I can come here – because I was given so much hope. I had a remarkable experience. I wasn’t a number; I was a person. The professionalism [at Timpanogos Cancer Services] assures us that we’re receiving outstanding care, at the same time, we’re in the presence of friends.”