Can Greg Papa go from the bubble to the sales space?
The Bay Space broadcast icon is hopeful of resuming his position as radio voice of the 49ers for the final two video games of the common season as he recovers from leukemia that was recognized in July, leaving him hospitalized for 23 days and in worry for his life.
“I used to be yellow. My eyes have been yellow, my pores and skin was yellow,” Papa stated in a cellphone interview Thursday. “I misplaced 20 kilos in three days. I didn’t know if I used to be going to reside at that time.”
By rounds of immunotherapy and two cycles of chemotherapy, Papa is feeling higher and sees a window of alternative to get again within the sales space earlier than present process a possible bone marrow transplant that, in principle, would be the last step in his restoration.
“I’ve spoken to medical folks at UCSF, and a whole lot of them suppose I can do it, however my hematologist should approve it,” Papa stated. “I really feel like I can execute the decision of the sport, my imaginative and prescient is powerful sufficient, my thoughts is powerful sufficient, I may do it now. It’s not a gravely harmful scenario anymore.”
Confined to his Danville dwelling in a protecting “bubble” and with a dangerously low white blood cell rely, Papa went again on the air remotely on Sept. 16 with co-host Greg Silver on the “Papa and Silver” present on KNBR from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. He grew a scraggly beard — known as his “most cancers beard” as a result of he couldn’t shave (or use dental floss) for worry of a lower which may result in bleeding and a deadly an infection.
Papa was informed on the time of his analysis that he wouldn’t have the ability to drive or journey for a 12 months. However he’s again behind the wheel for brief distances to select up his meds, has dined in a number of eating places and has even gone to the films as a result of his labs have come again so constructive.
It’s a lot completely different than 5 months in the past, when leukemia was found in his spinal column and mind, and the chemotherapy was utilized by means of a lumbar puncture.
“I’m not the boy within the bubble,” Papa stated. “I may by no means go away dwelling, and it’s not like that anymore. All my labs have been dangerously low for months, and so they’re all within the inexperienced now. All the numerous ones are regular. I’m in a special place now.”
Papa, 63, just lately resumed medicine for a hereditary coronary heart situation he realized about three years in the past. The break in taking that medicine paused plans for a mid-November bone marrow transplant, which was delayed indefinitely.
The most important hurdle in getting a bone marrow transplant has already been cleared. Discovering a donor might be troublesome, however Papa’s older brother, Ray, and youthful sister, Judy, have been good matches.
“My mother and pa are each gone, however they might be amazed to observe one among their kids save the opposite little one’s life,” Papa stated.
When the transplant is scheduled, Judy could have blood and marrow extracted on the East Coast. It will likely be flown in for Greg to endure a grueling process that can go away him hospitalized for a month and have him again in a protecting bubble at dwelling.
“They mainly take all of the immunity out of your physique and take you right down to zero,” Papa stated. “It’s virtually like they take you right down to dying, put my sister’s blood and marrow in me, and produce me again to life.
“If I’d had it in mid-November, there’s no means I may have even thought-about coming again this 12 months.”
Whereas there aren’t any ensures Papa’s physique will settle for the transplant, it’s thought-about the easiest way to maintain him in remission with the smallest chance of relapse.
Within the meantime, why not do what he’s accomplished his entire life? He and 49ers director of broadcasting Bob Sargent started discussing the potential for Papa returning to the printed sales space alongside analyst Tim Ryan, presumably for the playoffs. The 49ers are 9-4 and at the moment the No. 6 seed, making a first-round dwelling sport unlikely.
Then Sargent, Papa stated, had an concept.
“He stated, `What do you concentrate on doing the final two dwelling video games? You don’t should journey,’” Papa stated. “I hadn’t considered that.”
The 49ers play this afternoon towards the Tennessee Titans after which go to Indianapolis on Monday evening, Dec. 22. Papa’s goal dates can be on Sunday evening, Dec. 28, towards the Chicago Bears and Sunday, Jan. 4, towards the Seattle Seahawks, a sport anticipated to be loaded with playoff ramifications.
It will likely be as much as medical doctors whether or not Papa will get the chance.
“It’s vital for me to do, but it surely’s not the be-all and the end-all,” Papa stated. “My well being is extra vital.”
Papa arrived within the Bay Space in 1986 at age 24, initially doing radio play-by-play for the Golden State Warriors. He was the voice of the Oakland Raiders from 1997 by means of 2018 and has accomplished native tv for each the A’s and Giants. He began calling 49ers video games in 2019 after a cut up with Raiders proprietor Mark Davis, who moved the staff to Las Vegas.
Papa’s highway to restoration has touched many individuals he labored with at these organizations, in addition to the fan bases of these groups. His mobile phone has been buzzing nonstop because the 49ers introduced Papa’s situation, and Papa and his son, Derek, a KNBR radio host, talked about it on the air on Aug. 1.
In addition to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and common supervisor John Lynch, nearly everybody on the Bay Space sports activities and broadcasting scene has reached out.
“It offers me a cause to get higher, however at instances it’s slightly overwhelming,” Papa stated.
Papa has reconnected with some school associates from Syracuse, and a gaggle of highschool buddies put collectively a fantasy soccer league to assist maintain Papa’s thoughts occupied throughout his bubble interval.
Whereas Papa’s cut up with the Raiders was acrimonious, Davis has reached out greater than as soon as to see how he’s doing.
“He invited me to Las Vegas to mild the Al Davis torch,” Papa stated. “When one thing like this occurs, you even join with folks you’ve had some powerful interactions with.”
Medical visits this week will decide whether or not a return to the 49ers broadcast sales space this season is a chance. Even when it occurs, Papa realizes the battle is much from over.
“I’m high quality, however I’m not there but,” Papa stated.
