A Profile and Tribute toMilton J. ‘Laddie’ Dance(1926-2002) Through the Provision of Greater Awareness and Medical Resources, Laddie and Jeanne shared their dream – that other cancer patients and their loved ones would see their future as an opportunity for hope and peace of mind.
While today there are many sources of support groups to aid cancer patients in their search for further education, alternative therapies, hope and comfort, over 20 years ago, when Laddie and his wife, Jeanne, discovered that he had throat cancer, there seemed to be little support available. “Back then, you went to the doctor, obtained the diagnosis, had your surgery or therapy and that was about it,” explains Ms. Vance. “It seemed so cold. We felt so alone, with no recourse, no support, no hope. But we accepted it. You didn’t ask any questions, you just did what you were told. The realm of our understanding of the scope of the disease, how to deal with it, and the course it could take was so limited back then. We needed more.” By nature, Laddie was a mover, a shaker and even a bit of a rabble-rouser at times, many would say. For a man who traveled in the circles of high society, politics and influential people, he was very well grounded— an enigma, several have called him. But that’s what made him unique. That’s what made him Laddie. He couldn’t stop moving. Nothing seemed to stop or dampen his spirit and certainly not a bout with cancer, or so it seemed. Cancer has this way about it, eating away at your heart and gnawing at your soul, unless of course, you do something about it. And that’s what Ms. Vance and Laddie did. When Laddie was first diagnosed with cancer, he didn’t know just how lucky he would eventually be. He didn’t know that after two separate cancer occurrences, he would be completely ‘cancer-free’ for the next 27 years. So, while publicly he donned his high spirit and zest for life, privately he and his wife experienced the same fearful thoughts, sadness, anger and self-doubt that many cancer patients and their families do. “No one should endure these feelings alone without understanding and a helping hand,” emphasizes Ms. Vance. It was these very same feelings of loneliness and helplessness that motivated Ms. Vance to take action in laying the groundwork for the future Milton J. Dance Jr. Head and Neck Rehabilitation Center. After lengthy discussions with their lawyer, Lee Thomas, a noted GBMC otolaryngologist, Alvin Wenger, MD, and his head and neck surgeon, Robert Chambers, MD, an endowment was formed to fund a head and neck rehabilitation and cancer clinic. The main purpose of the endowment was to fund a center that would help educate and rehabilitate head and neck cancer patients while improving their quality of care and service. The Center still does this 23 years later. Now directed by John R. Saunders, MD, the Milton J. Dance Jr. Head and Neck Rehabilitation Center Director, the Center has grown to serve an average of 100 cancer patients a year with a staff of 12 full- and part-time dedicated healthcare specialists. Their integrated and comprehensive approach to educate, rehabilitate and serve patients includes a core team and ancillary professionals. The core team consists of a medical director, surgeon, nurse, social worker and speech and language pathologists who provide introductory and primary care. Additionally, satellite staff utilize the expertise of respiratory and physical therapists, nutritionists, vocational rehabilitation and psychiatric services. “We’re with you for life,” says Linda Clarke, RN, MS, CORLN, Head and Neck Rehabilitation nurse and 20-year veteran of the Center. “We work hard to combine as many disciplines as possible — surgical, medical, and radiation oncology, dentistry, speech-language pathology, nursing, social work and much more to offer complete services to our patients.” While some of the needs of head and neck cancer patients are similar to those of other disabled individuals, there are many unique problems, which call for a different approach. According to John Saunders, MD, Center Director, “Our team of specialists at the Center work closely together to provide the highest level of coordinated services for the best possible outcome. Once their needs are identified, patients are dealt with more expeditiously through an integrated and coordinated team approach. This results in a more comprehensive rehabilitation program which includes the family, and is also timely, sensitive, customized and complementary to the patients needs.” Jeanne Vance’s and Laddie Dance’s dream for cancer patients to see their future as an opportunity for hope and peace of mind is realized every day by the patients at the Milton J. Dance Jr. Head and Neck Rehabilitation Center. It achieved what they set out to do: alleviate fear of the word ‘cancer’ as well as the disease itself. This is shared in a note to Ms. Vance and Laddie from Andy Szulinski, the first cancer patient through the Center. He writes: “There are two simple words I would like to tell Laddie Dance and his wife: Thank you! That’s a short and simple statement that encompasses a vast amount of territory. If I were speaking to both of you right now, I would like to say this: ‘Thank you for your generosity and foresight in bringing such a needed and vital facility to GBMC. Thanks for caring and being such a positive influence in peoples’ lives during their adverse times. Thank you for seeking me out in a crowded airport and asking about my surgery and recovery. Thanks for being such a class act and caring human beings that made such a difference in my life as well as the lives of countless others. Laddie, you were an angel on this earth, congratulations on your wings!” People say you’ll live a lot longer if you think positive, have fun and laugh more. This was so true of Laddie Dance who lived a full and prosperous 76 years. Last November, Laddie died of a heart attack at his home in Manalapan, Florida, and is truly missed by his family, friends, and many Baltimoreans. However, his philanthropy and personal outreach to cancer victims and their families will live on forever.
A prominent race horse auctioneer and co-owner of 2000 champion older horse, Lemon Drop Kid, Laddie Dance saw life and the world as an opportunity…time that shouldn’t be wasted on feeling sorry for oneself. “This was frequently evidenced by the spirit in his voice when he called an auction and the gleam in his eye when he saw a great horse, beautiful women or fantastic business opportunity,” remarks his wife Jeanne. Laddie Dance frequently shared his vitality for life with cancer patients he met at annual head and neck rehabilitation conferences held by the Dance Center. He liked to share stories and anecdotes of his life experiences rather than dwell on things that were beyond his control. Laddie’s life and philanthropy were of particular significance to Andy Szulinski, a former radio announcer for WFBR and the first patient treated at the Center. “We accidentally met on a plane coming back from the West Coast, says Mr. Szulinski.” “You know how it is. When you have surgical scars, you tend to spot the same kind of scars on other people. The plane landed, Laddie came up to me and we started talking. He made me feel like I was the most important guy on earth…like somebody cared and that I wasn’t alone. You’ll never find a guy with a more positive attitude. He is not a quitter.” When asked if he felt his ‘accidental’ meeting with Laddie was a coincidence or fate, Mr. Szulinski profoundly replied, “I don’t think that there are any coincidences in life. Everything happens for a reason. Coincidence is a term that people use when they fail to believe that there is a higher power.” “Meeting Laddie was the icing on the cake,” Mr. Szulinski adds. “It completed the circle for me. I had met someone who helped me recover from surgery. I was gratified and humbled through his generosity, which directly affected my recuperation process. I was particularly grateful that all of the recuperative therapies were intertwined. Knowing that I was going to have the kind of support provided to me by the Center made a huge difference to me, because there isn’t a lonelier feeling on earth than finding out you have cancer. The whole caring atmosphere was like getting a package beautifully gift-wrapped. You felt like you weren’t alone. The feeling you get from the Center is extremely positive, a feeling like . . . we are going to beat this thing and you are going to live a normal life.” Others who knew Laddie also remember his confident and assertive attitude. “Laddie always had a remarkable presence and spirit about him. He was opinionated and firm about his beliefs. When he took a stand, he never backed down. A real man’s man, he was,” says Lee Thomas, Laddie’s long-time friend and lawyer. “It seemed like Laddie knew everybody, thousands of people. He was well-known and thought of throughout the Baltimore-Washington region and up and down the East Coast as a racing horse expert and top-notch auctioneer.” Laddie knew horse breeds and lines better than some people know their own relatives. He was good at it because he did his homework. A 45-year employee of Fasig-Tipton, he loved and knew the art of auctioneering inside out. Auctioneering came to him naturally though, probably because his father, Milton J. Dance, Sr. was also a veteran of the profession. Laddie had the good fortune of not having to worry about money, but he was in no way an elitist. “You’d be just as likely to see him chatting with those who cleaned the stable as the owner of the track,” says Mr. Thomas. “Nor was he political. He was very clear about what he liked, and how he felt, and he didn’t mince words. You always knew where you stood with him and that is probably what made him so special. What you saw, is what you got.” What Baltimore’s healthcare community received was the benefit of the Dance endowment’s great philanthropy as well as decisive thoughts on the purpose and value offered through a head and neck rehabilitation center for cancer victims. For this, the Greater Baltimore Medical Center is very grateful and would like to sincerely thank Ms. Vance and Laddie Dance for their philanthropy and outreach to cancer patients. We look forward to serving more cancer patients and helping them to survive and cope through stronger and better medical/social services, advanced technology, research, education and cancer maintenance programs. This article is a profile and tribute to Laddie Dance and his wife, Jeanne Vance, who made it possible for GBMC to have The Milton J. Dance Jr. Head and Neck Rehabilitation Center. GBMC is proud to be able to provide such a wonderful resource for head and neck cancer patients so that they can more fully understand their disease and have the best possible care, while maintaining hope, dignity and acknowledgement of their illness.
If you are interested in:
Thank You. The Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Rehabilitation Center at GBMC |
In 2003, an estimated 1.3 million people in the U.S. will be given the devastating news that they have some type of cancer. About 5% of them will be told that it is cancer of the head or neck, one of the most devastating types of cancer because its effects are the most visible and even audible. Thanks to Milton J. ‘Laddie’ Dance and his wife, Jeanne Vance, fewer and fewer of these individuals will face this news
|
|
|
