Editor's Note: The sole purpose of any story posted on todayinhealth.com is to encourage hope in people who otherwise feel their life is at an end because of a debilitating illness or condition. Reading about overcoming these situations can help inspire hope and peace of mind in some people. Note that some names have been left out or changed for confidentiality reasons.

It's business as usual again for Donald and his wife Andrea. The couple owns and operates Sannes Skogdalen, a nursing home that employs 85 people in a rural Wisconsin town. Not long ago, Donald was working hard and feeling great when he noticed a pinkish tinge to his urine. His urologist performed a cystoscopy, a test that permits inspection of the urethra and bladder. The procedure identified a bladder tumor the size of a robin's egg, and a small piece of tissue was taken for analysis.

At the end of a busy day at work, Donald's doctor reached him at his office with the test results. The tumor not only was cancerous, but also had progressed to Stage 3, an advanced form. The tumor was growing in toward the bladder. "How is the nursing home going to function, I thought," says Donald. "I was devastated."

Donald called his grown sons, who live in different Midwestern cities, and they came to support him. The family turned to Mayo Clinic, Donald says, noting that his sister was impressed with Mayo after researching bladder cancer on the Internet; Donald's best friend had even been treated there for cancer.

Before the surgery, Donald's doctor informed him that, in addition to removing the tumor and reconstructing Donald's bladder (neobladder surgery), it might be necessary to remove his prostate and some lymph nodes and perform an ileostomy (creation of an opening from the small intestine to the outside of the abdomen for the passing of wastes). He was hesitant about the neobladder procedure. "In the end, I didn't really have a choice." Donald says. "However, the doctors said that since I was 56 and otherwise in excellent health, I was a good candidate for a successful procedure.

"I had the two most remarkable physicians at Mayo and became very close to them. Their confidence and competency was very important. Before the surgery, I knew that it would go well. I just took a deep breath and said 'Here we go.'"

The surgery did go well. The surgeons removed his prostate and nearby lymph nodes, but an ileostomy wasn't necessary. And the prostate, lymph nodes, and urethra were clear of cancer.

When Donald returned home after the surgery, he felt old and debilitated. He had a urinary catheter in place and experienced some incontinence at night. Within a month, though, he was back to an eight-hour workday, had gained back his weight, and was feeling less tired as the days progressed.

Mayo personnel were encouraging throughout the ordeal, prior to the surgery, and afterward when he struggled a bit (as many patients do) with depression and getting back to a normal sex life. "They became part of our family in the process, although they remained very professional," says Donald. "My faith and a family support system also got me through."

Today, he has complete urine control and is sexually active. His lifestyle is normal, and he is happy to have avoided the need for a urinary abdominal bag. Donald has no cancer and, after the surgery, had no need for radiation or chemotherapy. He's as energetic as ever and enjoys taking out his pontoon boat and riding his WaveRunner.

Based on his experience, Donald offers this advice: "If you have symptoms, time is of the essence. And if surgery is necessary, it is going to change your life somewhat. But you can live with it.

"The situation has taught me to put my life in order, that I'm not infallible. I've started thinking more of others, too." The Donalds have made a business of helping others, but perhaps now they have even more compassion than ever.