Baltimore Residents Hold Prayer Vigil For Md. Gov. Hogan
BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Some good news for Governor Larry Hogan.
Today, he announced his cancer is stage three, not stage four, as originally feared. That significantly improves his chances of survival.
This-- as people come together for a prayer vigil for the governor tonight.
Meghan McCorkell has more.
Starting next week-- the governor will undergo intensive four day chemotherapy treatment at the University of Maryland Medical Center here in Baltimore.
In his first public appearance since revealing his cancer diagnosis, Governor Larry Hogan expresses some relief.
"Yesterday I got my results of my bone marrow biopsy which says I'm completely clear. I have no problem in the bone marrow," he said.
Welcome news as the governor battles Stage Three B-cell non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma--an aggressive form of cancer he says has spread.
The diagnosis is shocking for fellow republicans like Kent Boles.
"We know that Governor Gogan is a fighter and he will do his best to take on this battle. And we have every faith he will come through it," Boles said.
Tonight-- community members in West Baltimore came together to join in prayer for the governor's recovery.
It's a neighborhood Hogan spent time in following the uprising this spring.
"Just like Baltimore has started to rise from the unrest, the cancer will get away," said Corrogan R. Vaughn, Sharon Baptist Church.
"We wanted to gather together to show our sense of unity in our city and to pray for our leaders," said Bishop Reginald Kennedy, Baptist Ministers Conference.
Governor Hogan says well wishes and prayer services like this one have been overwhelming for him.
"The outpouring has been incredible. It's been humbling. I've had just thousands of people reaching out with prayers and well wishes," he said.
Now, as he begins treatment next week, he starts the first steps of the fight of his life.
The governor says he plans to continue working as he is fighting his illness.
The governor has been wearing a lime green ribbon on his lapel for Lymphoma awareness.
