"IRMC was our first choice for cancer treatment."

We have been donors to Indian River Medical Center for years. But it wasn’t until we learned of Bob’s prostate cancer diagnosis that we realized just how fortunate we are to have the IRMC Cancer Center close by.

Last year, as we were getting ready to return to Vero Beach for the season, our urologist in New York gave us some bad news. Bob’s PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) numbers were high. The results of a biopsy showed prostate cancer. The diagnosis could have halted our Florida plans, but thanks to the IRMC Cancer Center, it didn’t.

Our urologist agreed that the IRMC Cancer Center, which meets the stringent standards of the American College of Radiology, would provide the advanced radiation therapy Bob needed.

We had heard the new $1.5 million Brilliance CT® Simulator that the Foundation had purchased for the Cancer Center last year made radiation treatment planning so precise that even if a patient coughs or sneezes during a treatment, any worry about damaging good tissue is eliminated. We never imagined that this precise planning system, along with the latest radiation therapy techniques of IMRT and IGRT, would one day affect us personally.

In addition to advanced technology, the Cancer Center’s team of cancer experts are kind and compassionate. They truly made an unpleasant experience as pleasant as possible. And having the Cancer Center only 10 minutes from home was an added benefit. Bob would arrive at 8:40 in the morning and be back home by 9:15. Our friend in New York had to drive an hour and 15 minutes each way for his treatments.

We can’t say enough about the caring, professional treatment Bob received at the Cancer Center. We have such admiration for the staff and doctors. Bob still works part of the year at our car dealership in New York. Being in a customer-service business, we understand that people can go anywhere to buy a car, just like they can go anywhere for healthcare.

IRMC was our first choice for cancer treatment. We’re glad the team at Indian River Medical Center was there when we needed them. Today, Bob’s PSA numbers are good and he feels great.

Please join us in supporting IRMC. You never know when you’ll need our hospital.

- Bob and Rita Whiteman
Vero Beach residents, Eagle Society members, IRMC Foundation supporters

If you would like to join Bob and Rita in supporting IRMC, simply select Make A Gift Today, or contact Myra Burns. Please refer to Thanks to Philanthropy to see how donors are making a difference at IRMC.