How a cancer patient found comfort close to his home.

Home on the Road: How a cancer patient found comfort close to his care at Southwest General

Bill Fichtel and his partner, Patti Criswell, were enjoying retirement, traveling a bit and relaxing at home on their land in Vermillion, Ohio when Bill’s life took an unexpected turn. Following a bout with the flu, in March 2022, Bill contracted what he thought was laryngitis. When home remedies and over-the-counter medications proved ineffective, Bill knew he needed to get checked out to see if he had something more serious. He turned to Southwest General, where he had previously been a patient, to find the answer.

Bill’s first experience with Southwest General was as a cardiology patient years earlier, after a second heart attack resulted in his needing double bypass surgery, which was successfully performed at the Health Center.

An Unsettling Diagnosis

This time, Bill’s health challenges led him to seek care from Mark Mehle, MD, a board-certified otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat physician) at Southwest General, who made a startling discovery—a tumor on Bill’s vocal cord. This diagnosis led Bill to the University Hospitals (UH) Seidman Cancer Center at Southwest General where further testing confirmed he had head and neck cancer.

Faced with the need for extensive radiation and chemotherapy treatment, Bill made the choice to receive care at Southwest General, despite it being more than an hour away from his home in Lorain County.

Unfortunately, the daily drive for Bill and Patti quickly became overwhelming. Upon leaving the hospital one day after treatment, the couple noticed the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds just down the street from the hospital—and they realized that it had a campground onsite.

As avid campers, Bill and Patti own an RV, so they made the decision to pack up and relocate to the fairgrounds for the duration of Bill’s treatment. “It lowered our stress level. It lowered the amount of money we were spending, and it was just comfortable,” said Patti. “We were five minutes away from the hospital if anything happened out of the ordinary.”

A Good Experience All Around

To treat his head and neck cancer, Bill completed 35 rounds of radiation and six chemotherapy appointments at UH Seidman Cancer Center at Southwest General. He says he was always “impressed with the facility and the doctors.” Patti adds that at Southwest General, they found that caregivers truly care. From starting appointments on time to addressing every fear and concern, she and Bill felt heard and reassured. “No matter what department you're in, no matter where you're going, who you're seeing ... they are so patient. They're not rushing you. They answer your questions.”

Bill adds, “Thank you. To the doctors, the staff ... everybody goes out of their way to make sure that you, as the patient, are cared for.”

What Happened Next

In 2023, Bill visited his local emergency room when he was unable to pass urine. The emergency room provider who examined Bill ordered imaging, which showed a mass on one of Bill’s kidneys. Because Bill has chosen to continue receiving his care at Southwest General, he followed up on his emergency room diagnosis by calling Southwest General’s urology department for care and treatment. He’s thankful that upon calling, the department was able to schedule an appointment for him that very week. Recalling the way they accommodated Bill, Patti says, “This place is just amazing. You guys go above and beyond.”

When asked about advice for other patients facing serious diagnoses, Patti adds, “Come here. This place will save your life. Because it has twice [for Bill]. They saved his life.”

Patti also notes that Southwest General isn’t just great at surgeries and cancer treatments; the aftercare and follow up has helped Bill regain his strength to “get back to him” and do what he loves. Today, Bill continues to enjoy his favorite hobbies: gardening, hiking, woodworking and getting on the road in the RV.

Why Southwest General for Cancer Care

The UH Seidman Cancer Center at Southwest General prides itself on delivering comprehensive, patient-focused care. Through a combination of physician and staff expertise, state-of-the-art technology, and clinical trials, Seidman provides some of the highest-quality care available for the best possible outcomes. Our knowledgeable team of cancer specialists includes oncologists, radiologists, nurses, therapists, social workers and dieticians who work together to focus on each individual’s needs and create personalized treatment plans for every cancer patient. Additionally, Southwest General’s cancer program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (COC) as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program. As a COC-accredited program, UH Seidman Cancer Center at Southwest General is recognized as offering patients the full scope of services required to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and support cancer patients and their families