November is Hockey Fights Cancer Month across the NHL. So each week this month, the Penguins will share a story that inspires hope and courage for those who have been affected by cancer to show our support as an organization. We are proud to help create awareness and raise funds to fight cancer.
Sullivan Makes Virtual Visits to UPMC Hillman Cancer Centers
After Mike Sullivan finished his virtual visits at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Centers in Punxsutawney and Shadyside on Thursday, Chuck States - a staff member at the Punxsutawney location - summed it up best:
"This has been one of the most surreal days of my life," he said.
Coach Sullivan virtually visits patients at UPMC
The Penguins head coach, who is currently at his home in Boston, took the time to chat and engage with the patients and hospital workers he met after a hospital staffer brought over the laptop that Sullivan was connected to via WebEx. Sullivan started by asking each one of them how they were doing, telling them that he felt for them and that they were in his thoughts.
Many of them had plenty of Penguins-related questions and topics ready for Sullivan, who was more than happy to discuss the state of the team with them in thorough detail.
"These people are going through challenging times in their life, and they're so supportive of the Pittsburgh Penguins and what we do every day," Sullivan said. "So to have an opportunity to visit with them and maybe take their mind off of some of the challenges that they're going through on a daily basis, for me, it's the least we can do."
While connecting with them over a computer might not be quite the same as meeting in person, the interactions were just as fulfilling, particularly for Sullivan.
"We gain so much more through the interactions with these people than I think they gain from us," Sullivan said. "They're inspiring. They're truly inspiring with what they go through every day and in the courage that they display each and every day to fight through some of their challenges."
The same goes for the doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel in the UPMC health system helping them through their treatments. At both locations, Sullivan - whose wife, Kate, is an oncology nurse - took the time to thank the UPMC staff for their hard work and dedication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
"You guys put yourselves in harm's way each and every day to help people," Sullivan told them. "Professional sports is an environment where people look up to us for what we do, but I wanted you guys to know that you are our unsung heroes and you don't get enough credit for what you do each and every day."
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The virtual visits began at the newly-opened UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Punxsutawney. The first patient Sullivan visited was a man named Joe, who was all decked out in his Penguins gear.
"Are the Penguins all ready to start?" Joe asked. "Hopefully, the NHL will be playing pretty soon to give you something to watch and root for," Sullivan replied.
"I can't wait," said Joe, with Sullivan laughingly responding, "ME TOO!"
"We've been waiting for quite a while," Joe said with a grin. "Yeah, I hear you," Sullivan said. "We're a little anxious to start playing as well."
The two of them discussed a number of Penguins-related topics, like the team's health, Tristan Jarry becoming the starting goalie, the difficulty of coaching decisions, the new third jerseys and how Sidney Crosby is doing.
"I hope that you stay safe and you continue to get better, and hopefully we'll be on the ice soon to give you something to root for," Sullivan said after a few minutes. "I'll be watching," Joe replied.
From there, Sullivan stopped by to talk with States, who works in the hospital's IT department. Calling him a Penguins fan "might be an understatement," States said.
He started by thanking Sullivan for coaching the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and '17, as States and his wife actually got a chance to come down to Pittsburgh after the first one and take a photo with Lord Stanley's chalice.
"That was one of the bucket list items," States said. "That wouldn't have happened if you guys wouldn't have won it. So that's amazing."
"That's great," Sullivan said. "There's nothing like it, I'll tell you that. It's such an amazing experience. And when you win it a couple of times, like we won it, it makes you hungrier to want to do it again. And so we're fighting hard to try to bring another one back to Pittsburgh."
From there, States had a few questions prepared for Sullivan. His most offbeat ones were about Sullivan's piano-playing ability and AT&T SportsNet rinkside reporter Dan Potash, the latter of which a smile on the coach's face.
"Dan Potash comes to your house for Thanksgiving. What does he bring as a side dish?" States asked. "Oh, that's a good question," Sullivan said before adding with a grin, "He probably comes in some sort of a '70s costume. I'll state that one right up front."
The rest of States' questions were more straightforward, and Sullivan gave thoughtful, in-depth answers to each one, which was something that States appreciated.
"Being that it was a WebEx, it was like watching him on TV but having him answer your questions," States said. "He's a really nice gentleman. The questions I asked, he spent time thinking about the answers and giving me ones that were interesting."
Once they wrapped up, States stepped away - until Sullivan called him back. "Is Chuck still in the room? I just wanted to just take an opportunity to say thank you to you guys for everything that you guys do," Sullivan said.
"It was really nice he did that," States said. "It was nice to get an acknowledgement like that from him."
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From there, Sullivan visited five patients at the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Shadyside.
One of them was a patient named James, who joked, "I thought you'd be out there scouting somebody today!" he joked. He later told Sullivan that he does his physical therapy at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
"So I keep an eye on you once in a while," James said. "Well, hopefully we'll be there pretty soon," Sullivan said. "You can watch us practice."
James had marveled about the quality of care he was receiving at the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers thanks to UPMC and the Mario Lemieux Foundation, and another patient Sullivan visited did the same.
Boyd Hanson moved to Pittsburgh 23 years ago from Huntington, West Virginia to work at an investment management firm in the city. He didn't grow up watching hockey, but friends introduced him to the sport. And now, he's convinced that it's the best sport there is to watch live.
Hanson has since been to a lot of games with his family over the years. He typically takes his son Zach when he's home from Grove City College, and sometimes takes his daughter Hannah. "The first game she went to was against Philadelphia and there was a hat trick, shootout and a brutal fight," Boyd laughed. "She was like, this is great!"
Usually, Hanson goes to 6-8 games a season, but that number went down drastically the last couple of years after he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
"My spine collapsed," Hanson said. "Myeloma apparently thrives on bone matter, so it just goes to your spine. I never associated a sore back with cancer. I play a lot of golf. But one day I fell and couldn't get up. And that's how I knew."
It was particularly rough for Hanson because he dealt with other complications in the midst of his battle with multiple myeloma, including numerous infections and a bowel resection.
Fortunately, Hanson was able to take part in a clinical trial that involved taking out T cells and genetically modifying them. Doctors put them back into Hanson's body during a 14-day hospital stay in July, where those modified cells killed all his active cancer cells and put him in complete remission.
Now, Hanson only has to go to the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers once a month for immunity and antibiotic IV treatments once a month versus 2-3 days a week.
"It's amazing," Hanson told Sullivan. "I always say I can't figure out to put water in a bottle and sell to people for two bucks apiece, and some guy is sitting on his couch watching a Penguins game going, 'we could modify these cells.' So it's amazing to be in Pittsburgh and have that kind of stuff going on."
"It really is," Sullivan agreed. "It's one of the benefits we have. It's probably one of the best medical regions in our country. And these are some of the best medical facilities in the world. We're fortunate to have the opportunity to utilize that. And so I'm really happy for you. I wish you continued success. It's so inspiring for me to hear stories like that."
Before Sullivan left, Hanson asked him a question that Zach had about the possible realignment of divisions.
"I thought it was very nice that he stopped by," Hanson said. "He seemed like a very down-to-earth, normal guy. Which I think is kind of a Pittsburgh thing."
