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Mercy Cancer Center Medical Director On Living Life to the Fullest

Courtesy of Brad Anderson
Dr. Deming visiting a Red Cross tent village for earthquake survivors in Kathmandu.

As the founder of Above + Beyond Cancer, oncologist Dr. Richard Deming is used to treating patients, and going further to inspiring and encouraging cancer survivors as they challenge themselves physically as cyclists or mountain climbers.

But right now, Deming is finding himself on the other side of the treatment process, as he recovers from a serious bicycle accident that left him with a fractured collar bone, fractured shoulder blade, multiple fractured ribs, a punctured lung, and a lung contusion.

On this edition of Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe talks with Deming about what he’s learning as he recovers from his accident.

“This is just another reminder to myself that my days on this earth – whether I die in an accident, die of cancer, die of old age – my days on earth are limited and my obligation is to live each day to the fullest,” he says, “and part of living life to the fullest, regardless of how many days you have, is to pursue life and to get out there and exercise. Get out with nature, and get out with friends.”

Later in the hour, Nebbe also talks with Emilie Matthias of Van Meter, whose five-year-old son Garrett passed away on July 6th from a rare form of cancer. His obituary has been read around the world, and his family has chosen to remember him in a unique and joyful way.

Charity Nebbe is the host of IPR's Talk of Iowa