Wolkins To Miss Six Weeks Of Session for Cancer Care
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
State Rep. Dave Wolkins will miss six weeks of the legislative session for follow-up cancer care. During a telephone interview this morning, he said his last day will be Feb. 6, and he will return to his duties the last week of March. “I will be there when they get down to the nitty gritty of the final votes of bills and for conference committee,” Wolkins said, adding that he looks forward to return to vote on bills. Wolkins’ cancer started in October when he couldn't get fluid out of his right ear. A specialist saw something in the ear, but didn't know what it was. The biopsy showed it was adenoid cystic carcinoma – an uncommon cancer rarely found in the ear. Wolkins on Dec. 19 underwent a 14-hour surgery at I.U, Medical Center when his eardrum was removed. He is now deaf in his right ear. “I’m feeling great other than the fact I have a bandage on my right ear. I’m overwhelmed with the love, support and prayers I’ve gotten from not only Warsaw and Winona Lake, but also from the statehouse,” Wolkins said. “The only place I can get the radiation is Naperville, Ill., and I have to be there at 5 p.m. tomorrow and they will start radiation 10 days after that.” He said he was aware of the surgery occurring and he heads the House Environmental Committee and those meetings have been conducted and State Representative Greg Beumer will chair the committee in his absence. Wolkins said he will watch votes online and will have input into what goes on. At the statehouse, there will be “Reverse Tie Day” Thursday to honor Wolkins and raise money for the American Cancer Society. The female legislators are encouraged to wear ties Thursday, but the men will not be required to do so. He said he does not like to wear ties and if he does they are usually clip on ties. “I just don’t like them around my neck and whenever you’re on the house floor you have to wear ties so I have nothing but clip-on and zipper ties and I don’t know how to tie a real necktie,” Wolkins said. He said the first day he was back from his cancer surgery his neck was swollen and he couldn’t get his shirt buttoned so he was allowed to not wear a tie.
