Article about B757/767 Captain Adrian Suskin

Check out the two Captain names at the center of the flight information screen. It was some time ago!!!

This article is what my very good friend and fellow UPS pilot, Allan Goldstein (AKA Fish) wrote to our union newscast on my behalf.

"Dear Eric,
I want to update the pilot group with information on our friend B757 Captain Adrian Suskin. In October 2007, Adrian developed a constant irritating cough as a result of what felt like a harmless tickle in his right lung. In February 2008, this cough was diagnosed as a malignant tumor. In March, Adrian began a nine week regimen of intensive radiation therapy to burn away the tumor. This was followed by a summer of chemotherapy, so by early fall, the doctors diagnosed his lung tumor gone. Adrian took off with his wife to visit Zimbabwe (his birth country,) and South Africa for a well deserved vacation. Just prior to the vacation, Adrian had one final body scan, and while he was enjoying his holiday, his oncologist called to tell him of a new cancerous site on the same lung, but this time, outside of the lung. This called for more chemotherapy, and another long battle in this ongoing war with cancer.
In June of this year, Adrian consulted with some doctors who are doing innovative research in determining which set of drugs are most effective in fighting the patient’s particular type of cancer. Different bodies respond differently to the chemotherapy protocols, so Adrian invested a chunk of his retirement money to enter this program. Our medical insurance does not cover this science. The doctor’s remove a specimen of the actual tumor, and the cells are injected into mice, which then develop the same type of tumor. The doctors then treat the mice with different protocols, and those which are most effective are then used on Adrian. Unfortunately during the tissue removal, Adrian developed an infection in his heart sac, and he became gravely ill. All chemotherapy was stopped to fight this potentially fatal setback.
Adrian remained hospitalized in intensive care, but he fought the infection, and a month later began the chemotherapy found to be the most effective by the unfortunate mice. Today, he is nearing the end of this phase of the treatment. He is putting on weight again and is finding his sense of humor that those who have flown with him remember him for. Without a doubt, Adrian is known as one of those pilots who we love to fly with because from the beginning to the end of the trip, it’ll be non stop laughter.
If you want to follow the progress of Capt Suskin, you can log onto his blog site

asuskin.blogspot.com

On that site it gives an option to reply or to contact Adrian directly. As you can imagine, especially for those who have worked with him, Adrian is very keen to hear from his UPS/IPA mates.
Adrian’s message to everyone is that cancer is an insidious disease. What appears as a small inconsequential symptom can often be the harbinger of a much more serious and even fatal condition if not treated immediately. Adrian is at home in Baltimore waiting word on whether this round of “poison” has killed the cancer in his body."

Carpe Diem and thanks Fish.