Is Your Life Worth Three Hours?

Nick Russo is full of civic pride and community service. The Mayor of Longport is a retired police officer -- and former supervisor in the state Attorney General's office. He also volunteers in the local fire department. One day a poster hung in fire headquarters advertising a free cardiac screening at Deborah through the "Gift of Captain Buscio Program" caught his eye. "I asked the Chief, are our members participating? The Chief said 'no'."

That lit the 63-year old Russo's call to duty. "I thought, I'm an older member, I'll participate and set an example for the others."

So Russo, who was in the prime of health, physically fit and able to bike 1-1/2 hours a day, went for the three-hour screening. The program was started by Donna Buscio in memory of her husband Captain Dominick Buscio, a Jersey City Fire Department captain, who died unexpectedly at 39 years old from a heart attack. The screening program is aimed at providing screenings to fire fighters, police, and emergency responders who may not go for the routine check-ups they should. Russo's choice became a life-saving decision.

While at Deborah he had a complete blood count (CBC), a complete metabolic profile (CMP), cholesterol levels, a fasting glucose level, a chest x-ray, a series of pulmonary function tests, and an EKG. Something showed in his left chest. "That afternoon I got a call from the cardiologist who told me that something was seen in my left chest, I would need further testing."

"I saw the lung doctor the following Thursday and then had a subsequent CT scan. The lung doctor said call for the results on Monday afternoon. I never made that call. The Deborah doctor personally called me before 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning to tell me what he saw. He said 1 needed to see a lung surgeon. "That led to Russo scheduling a biopsy.

"Dr. Ng (Deborah surgeon, Arthur Ng, M.D.) told me he would make a small incision for the biopsy and would have the results within 20 minutes. If it was not cancer, he would leave the mass in, and we would monitor it. However, he told me if it was lung cancer he would remove it."

When Russo awoke he learned that cancer had been discovered and that twenty-five percent of his lung, as well as some lymph nodes, had been removed. Russo was completely taken off guard.

"I am exceptionally lucky," he said. "Dr. Ng told me that by the time individuals have symptoms of lung cancer, the prognosis is not very good. When caught early, the prognosis is very good. My cancer was completely removed." Russo credits the Gift from Captain Buscio screening program -- and Deborah -- with saving his life.

"I personally called Donna Buscio," he said. "She is the real hero here. During a time of terrible tragedy, she herself thought about total strangers and how to help others. This was a wonderful gesture. "As to Deborah? Russo was full of praise.

"What makes Deborah different is the personal attention you receive. When 1 arrived at the hospital for my Captain Buscio screening appointment, 1 was personally met in the lobby and given information about my screening. After the screening, my cardiologist called me to alert me to a problem. When 1 came back to see the lung doctor, and learned 1 needed a CT scan, they made the appointment and did it the same day. Two days later I received a personal phone call from the doctor who told me what he saw. Dr. Ng even gave me his business card with his vacation days written on the back so I could schedule my surgery with him. 1 am so impressed with the care and attention I received at Deborah."

After a two-month recovery requiring no radiation or chemotherapy, Russo has been given a clean bill of health and is now easing back into his schedule as Mayor, driving on ambulance calis, and biking again. "If 1 had to sum it up, I'd say the screening saved my life. I ask everyone 1 know: 'is your life worth 3 hours?' 1 know mine is, and this screening saved my life."

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For firefighters, police or EMS to schedule a screening appointment, call the main number at Deborah Hospital and askfor the Marketing Department 609893-1200. The Head of Marketing is Tom CampbelL

Article written by Deborah Heart and Lung, Public Relations, Donna McArdle