CHS principal Glenn Adair steps over a ribbon which lined his office after students decorated it Tuesday. The students and faculty of the high school were congratulating adair for completing his last chemotherapy session seemingly overcoming his recent battle with cancer. photo by rick Gunn
Principal Glen Adair returned to Carson High School from his chemotherapy treatment Tuesday with good news: His cancer is in remission.
"I am happy to be me today," Adair said. "I just started crying today when I got done. I've been scared for so long and I finally got through it."
Adair was diagnosed with colon cancer when he went to the doctor in June with stomach pains. The next day, June 15, he was in surgery where he had a tumor and surrounding lymph nodes removed.
"I told my doctor if it didn't look right and I didn't need it, I didn't want to wake up with it," he said.
A week later, he was back at work.
"It was probably sort of stupid, but it was very apparent to me that this place was like a magnet," he said. "I didn't want to sit home alone and battle cancer. You can only watch the Oprah Show so often."
Adair remained at work despite chemotherapy treatments every Tuesday morning.
He returned from his last treatment to his office which had been decorated with blue and silver streamers and balloons celebrating his recovery.
"I was really excited when I got back," he said. "This place means so much to me and the kids are so important to me."
He credited his decision to continue to work through the treatments as his saving grace.
"This is my support system," he said. "It wasn't important that they knew that. It was only important that I knew that."
He said the next five years are critical to monitor how complete his recovery will be. He will continue to consult the doctor every two months.
Adair, who has served as principal of Carson High School for 10 years, also underwent heart surgery in January 2000.
"I look like I got in a fight with a really good sword fighter and lost," Adair said. "But between three or four of these guys (doctors), they basically saved my life a couple of times."
He also wished to thank those who administered the chemotherapy treatments at the Ambulatory Infusion Center of Carson-Tahoe Hospital.
"They look adversity in the face every day with humor, compassion and courage," he said.
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