Ann Arbor police officer with lung cancer is grateful on Thanksgiving and every day
Ann Arbor Police Officer Vada Murray is thankful today and every day.
Murray, 43, has advanced-stage lung cancer.
The Detroit Free Press tells his story today, one first chronicled by The Ann Arbor News' Jo Mathis in 2008.
Vada and Sarah Murray are shown in this 2008 file photo.
When Mathis first wrote about Murray in 2008, he had received the devastating diagnosis less than two months earlier.
Murray, a free safety for the University of Michigan football team from 1986 to 1990, never smoked. His parents never smoked.
Most doctors told him the same thing: "We can't cure you. But we can control it."
Today, Murray is taking part in a trial for a new drug being tried at several places around the country, including at the Karmanos cancer institute in Detroit, the Free Press reports.
He's feeling better than he has in almost two years, and tests show his tumor is shrinking, according to the article.
Sarah Murray, Vada's wife, continues to chronicle his battle on a website. In the latest entry dated Nov. 6, she wrote of the positive news from the most recent test results and some upcoming milestones for the family.
"Michigan v. Ohio State (Ok, maybe better to not get too excited about this)," she writes.
"I'm thankful every day that I wake up and see my family," Vada Murray told the Free Press.
Comments
Sharon Moskwiak
Sat, Nov 27, 2010 : 5:22 p.m.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Murray family. Your Michigan spirit will lead you to victory over this disease.
KJMClark
Fri, Nov 26, 2010 : 11:40 a.m.
It's just this kind of 'roulette wheel of life' story that makes me support universal care. Mr. Murry did absolutely nothing wrong, but gets hit with cancer in his 40s. I'll be happy to pay my share every month, whether or not I ever need the care, if we can use the money to help people like Mr. Murray. Good luck to him and his family.
DFSmith
Fri, Nov 26, 2010 : 6:53 a.m.
Keep fighting the good fight, Vada!!!! Stay strong.
fredrika
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 10:18 p.m.
Godspeed Mr Murray!
flyingsquirrel
Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 6:38 p.m.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Murray in his role as police officer many years ago. It was heartbreaking to hear of his diagnosis in 2008, but just wonderful to read about how well he is doing now. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Murray family that his positive response to the medication will continue far, far into the future. Happy Thanksgiving!