Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Stennett goes back to work

Senator to undergo radiation, chemo and experimental medication treatments


By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Sen. Clint Stennett works on the business of the day in 2006. Photo by Mountain Express

Faced with a life-threatening illness and new resolve, Clint Stennett went back to work Friday, Feb. 8.

Stennett, a Democrat from Ketchum and the Idaho Senate minority leader, went into surgery Tuesday, Jan. 29, for removal of a brain tumor that was diagnosed in an MRI on Jan. 24. His return to the Senate came less than two weeks later.

Next week he will begin five-days-per-week radiation treatment and chemotherapy at Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise. Also, he was accepted Monday to a program based out of San Francisco in which he will take an experimental medication that's intended to enhance the efficacy of traditional treatment.

"What I've got is a brain tumor. It's been successfully removed and now requires additional treatment," Stennett said Tuesday via telephone from his office in Boise. "And I intend to be working and taking the treatments at the same time."

Stennett said the cancer had not migrated to other parts of his body.

"It was in one spot," he said. "It's hard to say. I think it was (an early detection). Even the doctors have a hard time saying. It is what it is."

Stennett said that over the holidays he and his wife, Michelle, were traveling in Australia when he detected the first symptoms associated with the tumor.

"I noticed that I didn't have good, clean, crisp memory that I've always had, and I thought it would clear itself up," he said. "I had been there a month and thought it would clear up. And it just never did."

Despite the daunting nature of the illness, Stennett was upbeat.

"I'm positive about it," he said. "I feel good. I'm ready to fight it. I'm comfortable talking about it. I don't want the impression given that I'm giving up in any way. Because I'm not. I'm coming out swinging. And I'm going to fight it as long as I have to. And I am."

Stennett said he received a very warm welcome from his fellow lawmakers in Boise when he returned to work Friday. Also, the support he has received from the Wood River Valley has been amazing.

"I've received an unbelievable number of calls and e-mails and cards and flowers," he said. "It's a tremendous amount of support that I'm getting from our community. That gladdens my heart and gives me strength."

Stennett did not have many details about the experimental treatment he will undergo.

"I had to get accepted before I started radiation, which is next week," he said. "It was going to be late this week, but because of this additional add-on it's going to be next week."

Stennett leads Idaho's caucus of seven senators in the Legislature and is the state's most senior elected Democrat. He grew up in the Magic Valley and attended Idaho State University. He owned and operated media outlets in the Wood River Valley for most of his business career. He was first elected to the Idaho House of Representatives in 1990 and served two terms before being elected to the Senate.

Each week throughout the legislative session, Stennett and the other two District 25 lawmakers issue columns updating their constituents about the lawmaking process.

This week, Stennett's column was relatively short:

"I wish there were words to clearly convey the deep gratitude Michelle and I feel towards those who reached out. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers ... This ordeal has been a rude awakening, but I am feeling strong and am ready to face the challenges before me, including the legislative session.

"On Friday, I was able to return to the Senate."




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