Asking For A Big Personal Favor

[David Sklansky]

Those of you who have the second printing of my Tournament Poker For Advanced Players may have noticed that I dedicated it to my father's (Irving Sklansky) doctor. I called him the best urologist in the country and thanked him for keeping my father's advanced prostrate cancer in check for eight years.

That was three years ago. Six months ago things looked like they had finally caught up with him as the chemotherapy had stopped working and was making him feel terrible. He was ready to give up and stop taking treatment. But Dr. Vitenson would had none of that. He feverishly did the research to come up with an alternative. And he pulled off another miracle. He has brought my dad's PSA from over 300 all the way down to an amazing EIGHT. And with no side effects! I just got that news today. He really is an amazing doctor. He is also astonishingly caring for a man with his stature and his schedule.

Although I have comped Dr. Vitenson to shows when he visits Vegas, that is not nearly enough to show him the gratitude he deserves. But what can you get for someone as succesfull as he is that he couldn't get for himself? Luckily I was in a position to give him something unique by dedicating my book to him.

But with this latest accomplishment I want to do something else. And again I am very lucky to be in a position to do this. But I need your help. What I want do is shower him with thank you cards from all over the country and the world. I am asking the readers of this forum to do me a great favor by writing a letter, a note on a card, or a postcard saying something along the lines of

Dr. Dr Vitenson,

I hear you are a great doctor and I just wanted to think you for the terrific care you have given my poker guru's dad. We need to keep his mind on the game.

Actually I would prefer you use your own words to convey similar sentiments. Feel free to mention my father by name.

I may or may not be able to find out which of you were nice enough to do this for me. If I don't, please accept my heartfelt thanks now. At the very least I will post on these forums the reaction my little scheme produced.

The address is

Dr. Jack Henri Vitenson
Urologic Institute of NJ
331 Summit Ave
Hackensack NJ O7601

Please do not email him. I will be posting this on several forums. Thanks again.

[HavanaBanana]

[ QUOTE ]
poker guru's dad

[/ QUOTE ]

This is NOT about you David!

I will send a snail mail from South Africa though /images/graemlins/smile.gif
I do also appreciate the fact that he didn't give up when everyone else did, to a certan degree that is how I play my game.

ToT

[Granite]

I'll send him one from Ireland.

Cancer has touched the lives of so many of us, and I have been truly humbled to see the kindness and lengths that hospital staff go to in the fight. It is such a tough job for them and they all deserve some recognition.

Granite

[Webster]

Being a cancer survivor he's getting one from Madison.

Thanks for the heads up!

[Baulucky]

Very good news on your father's recovery. I hope he continues to improve. He'll be in our prayers from now on.

What was the treatment administered by Dr. Vitenson?. Triapine® by any chance?.

[daveymck]

Not to pour cold water on this but it might not be a good idea as it could get out of control.

Some kid over here did an appeal as wanted to break the record for most number of get well cards, I think its somthing like ten years later and he is still getting numerous sacks of mail each week. He keeps being on the TV every now and again appealing for people to stop.

What to get for the people who have everything and you want to show gratitude, I suspect a note of thanks from you would be more than enough.

If its stays in the forum and he gets a few dozen cards then fine, but its the internet and things can get out of control very quickly, if it does I suspect the good doctors reaction may not be positive.

[GrannyMae]

four coming from four different names and addresses in ct.

our pleasure. there is an amazing bond that happens between a doctor and a paitent when the family and friends of the family take the time to send a card to the doctor. it is a less common act than it should be, but at the same time it makes the doctor feel fantastic. it also keeps his mind firmly on that paitent's best interests any time there is a care issue because the medical provider almost feels as if he has dozens of family members looking over his shoulder, and would have all those people to face if he did not continue to do great work. it is an homage to the m.d. and a tool all at once. i know this firsthand.

our prayers to your father for continued good news.

[I Play 2 Ski]

Thats Fantastic news! Consider it done

[dogmeat]

Nice post, David. My father is in treatment in HI - his doctor too, is terrific. I'll drop a not.

Dogmeat /images/graemlins/spade.gif

[KowCiller]

I'm a cancer survivor and my mother is an MD, so I know how under-appreciated Doctors often are. I'll send a note from Kansas City to him.

Perhaps this would be a good opportunity to send a note to my former doctors, thanking them again for saving my life /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Good post Mr. Sklansky.

KoW

[_2000Flushes]

Dr. Jack Henri Vitenson is getting the best Heart of Texas post card I can find. Keep us updated.

-2kF

[dogsballs]

Write another book.


Seriously, I'm with daveymack. A persopnal note of thanks from you will be more than sufficient I imagine.

[Mat Sklansky]

Hopefully you guys are mistaken. I do know that if this works well, Dr. Vitenson will be very appreciative. He deserves the honor.

[DrSavage]

I'm glad to hear that your dad is better. I will not be mailing any cards, that's just silly.

[daveymck]

Was just pointing out the possible downside to this, just think there are other ways of showing appreciation.

A cautionary Tale (http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/children/shergold.htm)

Make A Wish Press Release (http://www.wish.org/home/news/news_nrl_CraigShergold_010199.htm)

Think it will be fine if just people on here do it, but if people here get people they know to do it and it gets outside the forum could be a nightmare.