Pictured immediately below are two miracles. One, a man in recovery from cancer surgery performed by surgical oncologist Dr. John Vetto, assisted by Dr. Mayo. They removed a football sized growth from my abdomen which had been resistant to the chemo treatment I was receiving. They operated on December 18th, and I was home by December 23rd for Christmas. To me, this was a miracle! I was inspired by the words of Louis Zamperini in his book, "Don't Give Up, Don't Give In." You may remember his story from the movie 'Unbroken.' In his chapter entitled, 'Don't Ask Why, Ask What's Next', he advises, "Instead of getting all caught up in asking why, I ask, what's next? That's all you have to know." He continues, "Whenever I've had to go to the hospital, and the doctors tell me how long I'll have to stay, I always try to get better sooner. So far it's worked. Why? I help heal my body by--again--accepting the situation. I let the doctors do what they can, but in the meantime I also use the healing powers of cheerfulness. When I leave early, the doctors always credit my attitude. If you can't control your attitude, forget it. You're going to heal slowly or die young."
The second miracle in the picture is Gus the dog. He is my Granddog and technically belongs to my daughter Sami and her husband Steve. I never cared for small dogs before. But this little guy has won me over. He is a Welsh Terrier and whenever I am on the couch he lays with me and cheers me up. Some say it is because I feed him snacks. Oh, ye of little faith. He constantly makes me smile and be cheerful, and if Louis Zamperini is right, that happiness and positive attitude can help me get better. Thanks be to God, and Gus!
Tomorrow, on January 5th, Donna and I will venture to the Oregon Health Sciences University Knight Cancer Center for a new battery of tests in preparation for the next phase of the Clinical Trial. We are likely going to add one of the five experimental drugs to my current chemo cocktail. We have an 8 a.m. eye exam at the Casey Eye Institute, a 10:20 a.m. Dermatological Exam, an 11:50 a.m. staple removal and post surgery exam with Dr. Vetto, a 1:30 p.m. Cardiac Non-Invasive Test, a 3:30 p.m. CT Scan of the abdomen, and a 3:45 p.m. CT Scan of my head and shoulders. I have tried really hard to treat everyone at OHSU with respect and good cheer, and Lynn at the 7th floor reception area, John at the immuno therapy area, and the bearded checkout guys have told me it is always good to see me. I cannot control my cancer, though we are all trying. But I can control my attitude. Thanks to Lindsay Chandler for setting this schedule up and to the amazing Donna Keim for taking another day away from work to make sure I get there and get treated.
Feeling much better this weekend, Donna and I along with Sami and Steve decided to take in a movie. We chose Concussion, starring Will Smith as Dr. Bennett Omalu. Dr Omalu overcame a great deal of resistance to make known the fact that while it is a beautiful game, football is also a very dangerous game. The movie is powerful and really made me consider my love of the game. I concluded when JJ played football in high school that it was easier to watch other men's sons play the game rather than my own. I watched the games over the New Year with a different mindset.
In the movie, Dr. Omalu says to a fellow immigrant to America, "Need is not weakness, need is need." While cancer has provided me with an opportunity to embrace humility, renew my faith, and tell people that I should have told 20 years ago that I love them, I remain a proud man and would much rather be the one visiting the hospital than being the one visited. I would rather give than receive. As I prepared to come home, my daughter Hannah informed me that she and Christa, Sami, and JJ had set up a GoFundMe account for me to help with our cancer and living expenses. I was at once deeply touched, embarrassed, humbled, and yet proud that my children cared and had acted to make my fight with cancer less stressful. I know there are many needs in the world greater than my own. I also know that my travel is presently on hold and my expenses continue. I hope, pray, and plan to return to speaking, but the reality is that time will tell.
So with great humility and mild trepidation I am sharing the GoFundMe account information the Keim children set up below. Hannah said, "Dad, if every student you have spoken to gave a dollar, you could stay home and get well." I do not plan to beat this until it is a dead horse, but I will ask once for you to consider helping us and sharing the GoFundMe with any of your friends or colleagues that I may have helped or inspired along the way. I hope Dr. Omalu was right, as your help would be a lot easier to receive if it was simply need, not weakness. In either case, I appreciate your consideration, and in the event God grants me more time, I promise to pass it on! Blessings and best wishes for a healthy 2016!
Will
If you would like to support our family through my GoFundMe, which was set up by my children, click HERE.
Thank you for your support.
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