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An Avoidable Death
April 14, 2013
7:31 pm
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Rich Waugh
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Sadly, I have to report that another blacksmith and all-around truly great guy has just died. My good friend Dave Boyer finally succumbed, after nine years of battling advanced colon cancer. Dave said he kept putting off the colonoscopy because he had other things he wanted do, like go cruising in his sailboat, and when he finally did get the exam done it was discovered he had advanced colon cancer. He didn't just have cancer of the colon, it had metastasized and spread to his liver and one lung. He was immediately started on an aggressive treatment plan including surgery and chemotherapy, and over the course of the next nine years Dave participated in several clinical trials of new chemotherapy drugs in an effort to keep the cancer from spreading further. He finally ran out of new drugs that would work and the cancer, which by now had spread to both lungs, killed him today. Fortunately, Dave only went in hospital on Easter and was moved to hospice care just a couple of days ago, so he didn't have a long and painful death.

Dave became a strong advocate for getting a colonoscopy when recommended, to detect early signs of trouble. Had he taken the test himself when he was first advised to, he would very likely be a survivor today. In Dave's memory, I'm encouraging all of you who are over 40 to get the test now. Yep, it's uncomfortable and somewhat less than completely dignified to have a doctor shove a camera up your butt, but it beats hell out of cancer - I know, I've been there. Chemotherapy is pretty horrible on its very best day, and fifteen minutes of friendly butt-filming is absolutely nothing compared to it. The last time I saw Dave was at the QuadStates blacksmithing conference in September where I shared a motel room with him. He was doing pretty well then, but he still carried a small picnic cooler filled to capacity with his various medications, many of them for the pain that he never complained of to anyone but me. I don't like losing my friends, so please - GET THE DAMN EXAM, NOW!!!

Although he'd had a long career in machine tool and die work before the cancer stopped him, Dave was really just a novice at blacksmithing. His biggest regret was that he didn't take up forging until later in the game and hadn't had the time to learn all he wanted about it. Nonetheless, he could manage all the fundamentals of forging and understood the finer points intellectually. Dave was extremely intelligent by anyone's standards, and highly knowledgeable about machining, welding, forging, casting, etc. You name it and Dave had a vast fund of knowledge about it, and he was known for his willingness to share that knowledge with anyone who asked. Many of us will sorely miss Dave's wisdom, knowledge and humor. I lost a good friend and kindred spirit.

May he rest in peace.

Rich Waugh

Rich - The older I get, the better I used to be.

April 15, 2013
3:27 am
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Dave
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Better words have never been spoken about colonoscopies. I am sorry to hear about your friend, but maybe, these words will save another. It seems that he fought the good fight with dignity.

April 15, 2013
3:56 am
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Larry L
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sorry to hear about your friend...

Whatever you are, be a good one.
Abraham Lincoln

April 15, 2013
5:59 am
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Rich Waugh
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If passing this along will get someone off the dime and onto the exam table, then I know Dave would consider it worthwhile. He was one of the nicest and most helpful guys I've ever known and he gave me a lot of support when I was going through cancer treatments myself.

Rich - The older I get, the better I used to be.

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