Hopes To Get Back To Restoration Work With Alimta

George Murphy is a "hard-working Jersey man." Born in Orange, New Jersey and raised in Newark, he has held a job since he was a young boy. When he was twelve years old, he rode a milk truck and delivered milk, eggs and cheese to his neighbors. With a tap on his bedroom window, the milkman would wake George up at two o'clock in the morning. Before starting their deliveries, they would drive to the local diner and order a cup of coffee and an egg sandwich on a hard roll. Sometimes, just to change it up a bit, the boy would have a toasted muffin with butter. George's mouth still waters when he remembers these breakfasts of 66 years ago.

George also hauled ice to homes, restaurants and taverns. Typical blocks of ice would cost 10, 15, 20 or 25 cents. One of his favorite jobs was setting pins at a bowling alley.

From the time he was a child, George wanted to go to sea. Just after he turned 17 years old and a year short of high school graduation, he eagerly applied to the United States Navy. He unexpectedly failed the physical due to a punctured ear drum. Undaunted and unconcerned with earning a high school degree, he joined the Merchant Marines in November, 1944 and shipped out. He worked as an oiler, and fireman water tender.

For the next five years, George sailed aboard several Liberty ships, docking at shipyards up and down the eastern seaboard. He left the Merchant Marines in 1950, and then was drafted into the United States Army. George served for two years and was stationed in Germany, attaining the rank of corporal. After his honorable discharge in 1952, he returned home to Newark, New Jersey and began working as a painter.

George also returned to Frances, whom he had known since they were both 17 years old. They were married on November 8, 1952. In fairly short order they had a son and a daughter. He kept working hard, providing for his family. Twenty-six years later, during the "stagflation" of the late 1970s, painting and construction work was growing increasingly scarce, and he went back to sea, as an oiler, fireman and water tender for Exxon. He sailed "25s" (so called because the ships weighed 25 tons), hauling oil from ports all over the country.

Finally, in 1995, after six decades of work, George "retired" -- which in his case meant working in his own shop, in his own home (in Gulf Breeze, Florida), on his time and his agenda. He spent hour upon hour in his impeccably clean and organized three-car garage. He has every tool imaginable, neatly hung or placed in its own drawer or cabinet.

The Murphy home mirrors the garage: very clean, a place for every thing and everything in its place. George credits Frances, who also donates her time as a volunteer hospice caregiver for the sick and elderly.

George has been restoring antique automobiles and pickup trucks for over 30 years. His restorations of a 1968 Mercury Cougar and 1970 Ford van have won awards at competitions. His most recent restoration was to a 1951 Detroit Industrial Vehicle Company (DIVCO) milk truck, the same type of truck he spent long, cold mornings riding as a young boy in New Jersey. It took two years for George to complete the restoration, and it was worth it. He won several awards for this work.

In September, 2002, George had just completed the DIVCO restoration and was cementing plans for an elaborate celebration of the 50th anniversary of his marriage to Frances when he developed a dry cough and fatigue. He met with his family physician, who ordered several tests, including a chest film. The chest film revealed the presence of fluid in the right thoracic cavity. George's doctor felt he was likely suffering from pneumonia and prescribed antibiotics. After 10 days, his symptoms did not improve, and George returned to his physician.

A second set of chest films showed no significant changes, and George was referred to a pulmonologist, who recommended a CT scan, thoracentesis and bronchoscopy.

On October 19, George underwent a bronchoscopy at Gulf Breeze Hospital. Two days later, a thoracentesis was performed. He was hospitalized for five days. The morphology of the tissue removed during the bronchoscopy was highly suspicious for biphasic mesothelioma. George's pulmonologist discussed the working diagnosis with the Murphys and suggested they meet with doctors who were better qualified to treat mesothelioma at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

The Murphys took their doctor's advice and traveled to Birmingham for further tests and consultation. On November 6, George underwent a thorascopic biopsy, a PET scan and another CT scan. Immunohistochemical staining of the biopsied tissue confirmed the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, biphasic type. Pathological workup also revealed that there was not any lymph node involvement. However, even though George was in excellent shape, the doctors at UAB could not recommend surgery because of his age. Once post-surgical quality of life issues were discussed, George left UAB convinced that he did not wish to pursue that treatment path.

Devastated, the Murphys traveled home to Gulf Breeze. They canceled their 50th wedding anniversary party that was scheduled for that weekend and began to research other treatment options. They learned of Alimta and presented information regarding the Eli Lily "compassionate use" program to George's local oncologist, Dr. Thomas Fitzgerald of Gulf Breeze. Dr. Fitzgerald was very helpful in filling out the necessary paperwork to qualify George for Alimta use on a compassionate basis.

Eli Lilly has already approved George for Alimta. Dr. Fitzgerald will coordinate the treatments at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Mr. Murphy had a shunt inserted on Thursday, December 19 in preparation for this treatment, which will begin once Baptist approves the use of Alimta at the hospital.

While he waits to begin chemotherapy with Alimta, George takes a vitamin B-12 supplement to fight fatigue. He tires very, very easily and has pain around the biopsy incisions. Right now, his inability to work upsets him the most: "This is really a kick in the head when you get knocked off your feet. I'd rather be out in the garage than anywhere else."

Frances is equally upset. When she talks about George's illness, she noticeably fights back tears. She says, "I've know this man since I was 17 years old. What am I supposed to do when he is gone?"

We will keep you updated on the fight of this 50-year married couple against mesothelioma.

*** POSTED JANUARY 2, 2003 ***

An Update -- 10/03/03

George completed his Alimta treatments. He underwent a CAT scan that showed that the Alimta had slowed the cancer. He is now being administered Gemzar and has recently completed his fifth treatment. He has one more Gemzar treatment left before he undergoes another CAT scan.

George remains extremely short of breath. He has accepted the fact that the pain in his left side will "always be there." He tries to stay busy doing yard work, but just walking outside makes him gasp for air.

The only joy he finds these days is watching his favorite professional football teams, the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Mr. George Murphy passed away on December 5, 2003