L32 — August 2011 — Mort Crim and Cancer

Intro: He's been a national TV news correspondent and a beloved anchorman. Mort Crim covered news for decades. Over the years, he's seen everything from the first landing on the moon to political unrest in other countries. But perhaps his most challenging assignment wasn't while he was on a story in a dangerous place, but during his own personal battles with cancer.

(Shots of moon landing) I covered the moon landing.

A tour of Mort Crim's wall of fame gives a glimpse into the many people he's interviewed throughout his years as a journalist.

Michael Jordan; that's Bill.

Mort was a national correspondent during a very tumultuous time in our nation's history.

The Vietnam War, the beginnings of Watergate, the riots, the assassination of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Jack Kennedy.

Plus he was a well-loved TV anchor in Detroit.

And parallel to his passion for getting the story is one for flying. Mort's also a pilot.

I love the planning, I love the takeoffs, I love the en routes, I love being in touch with the controllers, I love the scenery, I love operating the machinery. I love flying. It's in my blood.

Ever since he was a kid.

I was building model airplanes when I was 8 or 9 years old.

For the most part, Mort's life as a newsman and pilot has been smooth. Only once can he remember a flight that was, well, pretty scary. He was with his wife Renee, en route to Vegas.

We got into some of the roughest turbulence we had ever experienced.

The couple also hit turbulence with diagnoses of cancer. Renee had breast cancer twice.

It wasn't as difficult as I had anticipated.

I had prostate cancer. Treated at Mayo, successfully, surgically, and then I had colon cancer.

Both were treated successfully at Mayo Clinic. Renee and Mort are now cancer-free.

We just thought, "This is just another pothole in the road of life, and we'll get through it and survive it and go on."

But the experiences changed both of their lives. They have a strong faith and believe in the power of a positive attitude.

We can't control the wind. We can only control the set of our sails. I really believe we can't control what happens to us. I couldn't stop the cancer from happening; Renee couldn't stop her breast cancer. What we do have control over is our attitude toward the things that happen. Our determination to make the best of our life. Our determination to enjoy life and to make every day a good day.

Mort's latest story is music. He's starting a jazz band. And every day he's thankful for a life that's full of melodies made from the love of family, flying and great adventures in the newsroom.

That's all I know.

For Medical Edge, I'm Vivien Williams.

Anchor tag:

Right now Mort is working on a new book and film about his life.

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