21 Words That Will Hopefully Make Your Day...They Made Mine!

Dear Friends,

I wore number 21 in college baseball at the University Of The Pacific. Frankly, I wasn't very good but I lettered four years and finished .500, winning and losing the same amount. I made some very good friends and was coached and mentored by a great man, Dr. Tom Stubbs. I threw so slowly that when one of our opponents pitchers would hit one of our guys, our players would ask me not to  retaliate because even if I hit them it wouldn't hurt and then their pitcher might pluck one of our guys again. Once when I foul tipped a ball at bat against future major league pitcher Dick Ruthven, my teammates gave me a standing ovation from the dugout. 6' 2", 165 pounds, zits, shoulder length blond hair, puka shells, no fast ball, and a .225 career lifetime hitter. What a catch. My roommate and I had a signal when we had women in the room. He would put his belt on the outside doorknob. My sign was that hell would freeze over. (Thanks to comedian Dennis Miller for the last line!)

Yesterday, 21 little words on the screen of my smart phone made my day. I hope they will give you joy as well. They were from my Doctor Matthew Taylor. I got a CT scan at 10:30 a.m. His message of 21 words came at 12.23 p.m.

"Hey Will,
I just got the CT report. It looks great. All the
tumors are shrinking. Congratulations.

See you soon,
Matthew"

I'm so emotional anymore with my cancer induced appreciation of each moment that I began to cry. That concerned Donna who was driving. I couldn't read it to her so I handed it to her. It was so short and to the point, just 21 little words, that she could read it without endangering her driving. I forwarded it to my Roman Catholic friend Tim who goes to mass everyday and prays for me each day. He texted right back, "That is so great news. Had mass offered for you this morning up in the novena. We do thank you Jesus, thank you mother Mary, thank you St. Ann. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeah!" I sent the good news to Coach Don Patterson of the University of Connecticut football team who has been my friend for 20 years since his days at Western Illinois University. He called and said, "Praise God."
Don had tonsalur cancer and had six weeks of six daily radiations in a row followed by a day of chemo and then repeat. For six weeks! He is in remission and coaching again. I knew he would be filled with joy and understand my relief. Now you have the good news!

Stage 4 Melanoma does just go away folks and I want you to know that. But I am on new drugs, in a clinical study, and yesterday we won the battle if not the war. We do not know what might happen in the coming days. With Novartis' commitment to this study, Dr. Taylor's expertise, and your continued prayers and good positive thoughts, who knows? I do know the drugs are contributing to the shrinkage of my tumors. But hear me clearly when I tell you that I believe that your prayers and the power of God are shrinking them as well. And quite frankly, as the good book says, "If God be for us, who be against us?"

21 little words (counting CT as one for you english majors who were thinking it!:)) and my day was made. Perhaps the lesson is to take life one day at a time. Maybe that applies to those of with cancer and those of you who get so busy you get out of the moment. Right now is what we have, where we are, that which we can impact. Let us rejoice in this day. Let us find something good about it. We all know there are words to come that we do not want to hear or face, but right now, celebrate with me because you are part of it.

And lastly, how about a Doctor that emails less than two after a test with the good news! He is the busiest guy I know but he took time. I have an appointment with him on Monday, but his thoughtfulness will certainly make the weekend a lot better. I hope that in your time of need that you have:

1. Friends like you
2. A Doctor like Matt, and
3. Some faith to buoy you up when the news is good and when it isn't

This weekend Monsignor Robert Silva, my college campus minister, and three of my college mates, Dr. Tim Griffin, Craig Cruikshank, and Judge Alan Hardcastle are coming up from California to see me in what I dubbed the "Farewell Will Keim Tour." You have to laugh and find the humor or the seriousness of life and the situations in which you find yourself will grind you down and eat you up. I am happy and thankful for a caring Doctor who always seems to go the extra mile for me. I will have some good news to share with my buddies and my spiritual mentor. There is a rumor that the famous Irish healer Dr. John Jameson will be coming with them. I will let you know how that goes.

Blessings and thanks again for your support!

Will
#21