Reports Of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated!

Dear Friends,

Greetings! I am pleased to tell you that last Monday's CT Scan revealed that for the second straight test period all of my tumors are shrinking again! Praise be to the Novartis Meds, Dr. Matt Taylor, your prayers and thoughts, God, and Phil Knight, not necessarily in that order. It is a sad fact that God and I used to talk primarily when my plane shook at 35,000 feet. Now we converse every day about a variety of things. Your prayers and good thoughts continue to lift me up. Novartis has provided cancer drugs that make me realize that I haven't felt this good since the '60's. Dr. Matt Taylor and his staff continue their excellent care of me and Matt calls with the news, good or bad, every time, same day. Phil and Penny Knight, having already given 100 million dollars to the OHSU Cancer Center decided they just hadn't done enough and threw down a 500 million dollar matching challenge, which was met by the amazing Fund Raisers at OHSU. What humbling generosity and kindness towards people they will never meet but whom, like me, will have a fighting chance because of their philanthropic giving.

Since we last talked I have had two experiences that I wanted to share with you.  The first was to get reunited with my youth baseball Coach Bill Viverto. He had called me to let me know that my teammate on the 1970 World Championship Colt League Team Tommy Pokorski had died of a heart attack. Tommy was our ace, our team leader, and a great guy. I invited Coach V to come to the University of Redlands to hear me speak and afterwards we out for coffee with former Redlands students Joe Richardson, Doug Everheart, and Doug Adams. Joe is an attorney, Doug E is a Student Affairs Administrator at UC Irvine, and Doug A is a Board of Trustees Member at Redlands. We talked until 11 pm which for old guys is late! Beer has been replaced by coffee but the fellowship with real and deep. Coach V has coached for over 50 years, has 1100 wins to his credit, and has mentored 17 major league players in his life. He has always been, along with my college Coach Dr. Tom Stubbs, the standard by which I attempted to Coach my teams over the years. Coach told me that our 1970 team was the first youth team enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Wow! What an honor! Rest in peace Tommy P, and thanks to Coach V, Joe, Doug, and Doug for making the trip.

The second experience led to the title of this blog entry. One of my college friends contacted me on Facebook and said she thought I had already died and was pleased to find out I was still alive. At least I have that going for me! This got me to thinking...how many folks around the country have accepted the melanoma charts giving me little chance of surviving? My close friends and associates likely know about this blog or my Facebook entries. I have noticed however that fewer professional colleagues are calling and I want to make this very clear...I am alive and doing well, and my speeches and presentations are better than ever. Cancer has focused me and taught me so many lessons that I am working hard to pass on to my audiences. I want, and need, to work, to feed my family and buy toys for my Grandchildren. I am making a concerted effort to increase book sales and work closer to home because in reality I do not know how much time I have left. I honestly haven't felt this good in two years and I am optimistic. Cancer, however, has taught me the need to be in the moment, focused on today, and not take time, people, or places for granted. Anyone considering me for a speaking event is invited to contact Vice President Char Burgess at the University of Redlands, Coach Betsy Hipple at Claremont Mckenna College, Vice President Tujuana Julian at Drury University, Vice President Chuck Cleveland at Whitman College, Dr. Tom Hill or Liz Kurt at Iowa State University, Dr. Eileen Sullivan at Elmhurst College, Coach Jackson Vaughan at Linfield College, Dr. Gary Dukes at Western Oregon University, or Laurie Prince at Seattle University to check up on me and see how I am reaching their students. I have also spoken to firefighters, chiefs of police, and medical professionals in the last year.

Will Keim is open for prayers and good thoughts, and for business! Besides your concerns, the greatest gift you all could give me is to purchase books which provides educational opportunities for the readers, income for me, and the added ability of being home to spend more time with family. I am traveling and was honored to be selected as a Keynote Speaker for the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values Western Conference in San Diego in April 2016. Recently Associate Athletic Director Dr. Henry Villegas of the University of New Mexico, and Freda Leurs, Director of Campus Life at Indiana State, bought a case of books for use with their students and in new student orientation classes. Iowa State University continues to provide a copy of "Keys To Success In College And Life" for each of the entering students. I am able to take orders now on Square making the effort easy and quick for my clients. Now is the time in my life when, because of the 'Ph.D. in Life' cancer is guiding me through, that I believe I have the most to say. I am also happy to tell you that my daughter Christa Keim Schmeder, Paul Strauss, and I are about to finish "Keys To Success In High School And Life" for high school students, their parents, and those who work with them. Christa and Paul are award winning educators in high school and middle school, and their insights to young students are amazing and spot on! I have never felt more creative in my life and I wanted you to know that and tell your friends. There is nothing like a look squarely in the face of your own mortality to speed up the creative energy and focus it on leaving a legacy.

So there you have it...Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated! I am not, nor will likely ever be, completely out of the woods. But right now, right here, at this moment, I am doing well and better than I deserve. 13.9 hemoglobin, up from 5.6! 74 heartbeat, down from 100. Blood pressure solidly in the great area, and all organs functioning well, and tumors shrinking. I have some things to say, some ideas to share, some lives to touch, and I am hoping that many of you will make that happen. I am well aware that I am not the only one wrestling with what one author called cancer, that is "The Emperor of All Maladies." I have begun discussion with a student group at the University of Nebraska about a national organization to help students and community members deal with the news that cancer has come into their lives. More on that will follow, but suffice it to say that there are some amazing students reaching out in their communities and changing lives. My thanks go out to all of you who continue to work me into your daily thoughts and prayers. It is making a huge difference in my attitude as I face my disease. Blessings to you and your families and please, be in touch and let me know if there is anything I can do to help you as you have reached out to me.

With love,

Will