Reflections from the Home Team 10-7-13

“My hope is that each of us, as we struggle with whatever those “afflictions” may be in our lives,  be encouraged to take the opportunity to be open about those struggles and seek out faith and friends as a means of support to provide hope and comfort. "

Greetings from Cedar Falls,

I wanted to drop you all a note to share that I got home late last Thursday after a long day in Iowa City. A number of tests were run following my last visit back in July when my counts were in the abnormally high range.  Some good news at this point following the tests.  I started the morning with labs, then chest X-ray. Labs show that my counts are now in the "marginal" range.  That is much better than the counts back in July which were in the abnormally high range. Chest X-ray was clear showing no cancer! My team of doctors feels the infection created the havoc and caused my counts to escalate.  Given the fact we are still in the “marginal” zone, I will continue to check back in 3 months and monitor any possible new symptoms closely.  What a relief! On another front I received some sad news as my oncologist shared with me that he is retiring.  His wife is going through her second bone marrow transplant, and was having chemo today.  He shared he needs to spend some quality time with her.  He is quite a person and I am indebted to him for helping pull me through some very difficult times.  I thanked him for all he has done for me as well as all those he has served at the U of I Hospital Cancer Center. He made sure he introduced me to my new doctor, whom he has worked with and trained.  She is very pleasant and Dr. C said, "She follows the guidelines to a tee, just like me, so don't try to pull anything on her..."  He gave me a big grin, handshake and hug and left to be with his wife. Pretty emotional day for all!

As you all know, there have been many ups and downs on my journey with cancer. A comfort for me has been some words that were shared when I was originally diagnosed and working through treatments. Those words were; "Often our prayers and faith don’t save us from something, but rather, they save us for something." That statement has provided me a focus over the past four years.  I often reflect on that as I've battled the anxieties and difficulties that go with living through cancer, and in turn, have firmly decided that I'm not about to give up!   Having faith, family and friends, despite those uneasy and often painful times we face as cancer patients and survivors gives us the strength and stamina to continue.  I believe we can have an impact on others who may be facing similar trials and afflictions by modeling a positive and determined "attitude" as we battle this disease each and every day.  Just could be that is what we are being "saved for".

My hope is that each of us, as we struggle with whatever those “afflictions” may be in our lives,  be encouraged to take the opportunity to be open about those struggles and seek out faith and friends as a means of support to provide hope and comfort."

I have to share that I experienced such an encouraging event last Friday as I returned to school.  As has so often has happened here at Holmes, our students came through with an incredible support project for one of our students who is battling leukemia and had just undergone a stem cell bone marrow transplant. The Holmes Art Department, along with four of Will’s classmates and a number of Holmes students showed their support for Holmes 8th grader Will Reinart by taking orders for yellow paper hats in recognition that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. They then sold yellow paper hats at the beginning and end of the school day to help raise funds to support Will and his family during his treatments. Students were given a yellow hat on Friday, September 27th during our Intervention/Enrichment period called “Tiger Time”.  All the students and staff went to the gym and donned their hats to shoot a school wide video.  The video will be shared with the Reinart family and the greater Holmes Junior High community via y​ou ​t​ube as a gesture of our caring support for Will and his family.  The money raised along with the video was a way to show our school’s support for the Reinart family. I have listed a link below to view the video as well as some links which share the story of our students and staff coming together to provide Will and his family the hope and comfort that only friends and family can provide during such a difficult time.

The Assembly made me once again realize how important our friends and loved ones are in helping summon the strength and courage to "fight the battle" against this disease.  I feel so fortunate to have such a team in my “dugout” and I know Will and his family have all of us in their dugout pulling for him to rebuild and come back even stronger than ever!!  I am so proud of our students for rallying for Will and grateful for having them as a means of support to provide hope and comfort… We often hear people complaining about their suffering and that brings to mind a comment made by Joel Osteen which has stuck with me and seems appropriate after watching our students and staff at the Assembly.  “Encouragement is a wonderful thing, and people do not receive enough during difficult times. You need to be around people who are encouraging.”  I have to say, I couldn't be in a better place to have that happen than in our school and this community!

Sincerely, Dave

KWWL.com link on the “Yellow Hat” project:

http://www.kwwl.com/story/23555621/2013/09/28/cedar-falls-students-make-video-to-support-classmate-with-leukemia

You Tube link: “A Rally for Will”:

http://youtu.be/v5OELY6bo08

Link to: Reflections from the Home Team BLOG
http://reflectionsfromthehometeam.blogspot.com/

Link to Vimeo: Reflections from the "Home Team"... Go the Distance
http://vimeo.com/53873087

Link to: Tommy Emmanuel and "Angelina"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhR04kmcSXU

Reflections from the Home Team, August 2, 2013

“Be prepared. Luck is truly where preparation meets opportunity.”

Greetings from Cedar Falls,

I wanted to drop you all an update following some testing this week and to share that I had a successful right hip replacement on June 11.  I developed an infection following the surgery and have been fighting that battle most of the summer. I am finishing up a third antibiotic and feel this one may have solved the issue. I will be doing some testing early next week to confirm that. I was in Iowa City on Tuesday to do some cancer lab work and my counts are abnormally high which is a concern.  My team of doctors feels that it could be related to the infection, but want me back in six weeks to retest.  If the counts remain high, I will need to do a series of biopsies to determine if the cancer has returned. As a result, I’m going to hold off having the second hip done until a later date, once fully healed. As Regina Brett shares in one of my favorite books, God Never Blinks, “Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.”  Sometimes hard to allow that to play out, however, patience is the key and your prayers are appreciated…

Regina also shares in “It doesn't matter what has happened to you, it matters what you do with what has happened to you. Life is like a poker game. You don't get to choose the cards you are dealt, but it's entirely up to you how to play the hand.”  As often happens in Iowa City, I was waiting yet again in the Cancer Center for results last Tuesday. I closed my eyes to get a little rest as sleep has been hard to come by as of late.  A few minutes passed, and I felt a tap on my shoulder and opened my eyes to once again find little Taylor, (who is not so little anymore) who I had met in the pharmacy during treatments back in April, 2009.  He and I had played a game of toss in the pharmacy that day and I had showed him some of my "ball tricks". He and his mom were there for their 6 month check when I had last bumped into them back in July of 2011. That was the day I converted him from being a Cardinals fan into becoming a Braves fan. In fact, he was wearing the Braves hat I had given him that day at his check up this time around.  It was well worn, which is a good thing, and I told him I had another hat just like it in my truck to replace the one he had.  He said he would wear it, but that this hat was his “lucky hat” and he still wanted to wear it.  I told him I fully understand, and that this hat could, over time, become his “even luckier” hat. 

He was very receptive and said thanks. He has now grown into a 7^th grader (Jr. High material!!).  I asked how he was doing and he said he was playing baseball for his Summer League team, doing well playing short stop and pitching and that his leukemia still appeared to be in remission, although he was in Iowa City because he was more tired than usual.  I told him that often happens when you are working hard at being a good ballplayer! His mom shared that they remember well the day we met in the pharmacy in 2009, and they always talk about the "tricks" I showed him that day.  I told Taylor and his mom I was very happy for them, and that I'm excited he is able to "get back out and play"!  I shared what an impact he had on me that day in the pharmacy during my treatments by asking me “when I could get back out and play again”!  He made me reset my goals to be able to get back out and play. 

Taylor and his mom were getting ready to leave, so I walked them out of the Cancer Center and to their car.  I took Taylor to my truck as I had an extra Braves hat behind the seat. (…always carry a spare!) I asked if he remembered the “deal” we had made back in 2011? He smiled and said, “You told me to keep playing and stay healthy so that when I turn 15, you can invite me to a Braves camp so you can watch me play”.  I then took the Braves cap out of my truck and put it on his head and said, it's yours pal, and it can become your “even luckier hat” now. 

Taylor is a great example of Regina’s thought that it’s all about “playing the hand you are dealt”. Seeing his happy smile and having a chance to talk a little baseball was a good thing for both of us. I did share a thought with Taylor that I learned from Randy Pausch in his book “The Last Lecture” which goes like this; “Be prepared. Luck is truly where preparation meets opportunity.” We talked about how hard work and preparation is important in both fighting cancer as well as working to be a good ball player. (…a little luck along the way doesn’t hurt either). Lots of parallels and lessons that can help each of us reach our individual dreams. I told him to never lose that determination, it’s just too important, and it’s truly what drives us.

We will both be looking forward to his 15^th birthday and his chance to show me his “stuff” as we both “work hard” to pursue our individual dreams and to fight this disease. His grin was definitely the highlight of my summer!  May each of you have a relaxing and enjoyable rest of the summer!

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Sincerely, Dave

Link to: Reflections from the Home Team BLOG
http://reflectionsfromthehometeam.blogspot.com/

Link to Vimeo: Reflections from the "Home Team"... Go the Distance
http://vimeo.com/53873087

Link to: Tommy Emmanuel and "Angelina"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhR04kmcSXU

 

 

 

Reflections from the Home Team, June 1, 2013

“When everything seems like it’s falling apart, that’s when God is putting things together just the way He wants it!”

Greetings from Cedar Falls,

I wanted to drop you all an update following some recent testing.  My blood counts have returned to the normal range, but I’ve had continued issues with the neck and jaw pain as well as some significant hip pain. Long story short, X-rays came back and show I have a severe case of osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease in both hips which seems to have accelerated since treatments, and I’ll need to have both hips replaced. Guess all those years “behind the plate” are “catching” up with me. I’m planning to have the first surgery Tuesday, June 11and the second done midsummer if no complications so I can get back to enjoying the active life style I have grown accustomed to.  The better news is that the cancer remains in check as I was worried that my elevated counts following the virus I had this winter and the increased “pains” were a signal that the visiting team may have returned to my dugout.  Always on the mind, so when that happens, I turn to my favorite pastime of reading, particularly about those who have overcome challenges in their lives to make a positive difference for others.

God doesn’t waste any pitches when it comes to teaching you about life from the game of baseball. Baseball has taught me many lessons that I have applied to my life and more importantly, to my relationship with God. I have learned the lesson of “endurance” from my journey the past few years.  As a good friend recently shared, “hips wear out and can be replaced”, and that is a positive way to view this, so I will!  Endurance is defined as “the ability to bear pain or hardship, the strength to continue despite fatigue, stress or other adverse conditions.”  Not sure if the writer of that definition had being a cancer survivor or a Junior High Principal in mind when writing that, but I guess it fits both.  After viewing the recent release of the Movie “42” with my wife Tricia, I found it comforting to read all I could find about one of the baseball heroes that had inspired me during my cancer treatments, namely, Jackie Robinson. Talk about  ENDURANCE…Jackie Robinson was more than an athlete, he was a man.  He stood alone as he challenged and integrated modern Major League Baseball. His task was not easy as he suffered many mental and physical hurts. He accepted and overcame the slings, slams and insults so that young black athletes could dream of playing Major League Baseball.  I struggle in my reading with how he was treated so cruelly by other human beings because of the color of his skin. I don’t know of many who could have handled the insults and venom directed his way.  One thing that is often not written about or understood about Jackie is that he was a Christian, as was the Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager, Branch Rickey. When Rickey called Jackie to his office to discuss a  contract he spent three hours grilling Jackie, role playing an insulting fan, a mean spirited player, a snobby hotel manager, a rude head waiter, an condescending sports writer and a disrespectful teammate (all of which happened during his career). He told Jackie players would come at him with spikes up, throw at his head and he’d get called out on strikes by racist umpires.  When Jackie asked if he was looking for a player who was afraid to fight back, Rickey said; “Robinson, I’m looking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back!” You will symbolize a crucial cause, one incident; just one incident will set it back 20 years.” 

Rickey then reached for a book called The Life of Christ written by an Italian priest, Giovanni Papini.  Rickey expounded on Jesus teaching regarding an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth by sharing Father Papini’s thoughts that “to answer blows with blows, evil deeds with evil deeds is to meet the attacker on his ground.  Only he who has conquered himself can conquer his enemies.”  Rickey closed the book and faced Jackie asking, “Can you do it? I know you are naturally combative, but will you promise that for the first three years in baseball, you will turn the other cheek?  Three years, can you do it” Jackie replied, Mr. Rickey, I’ve got two cheeks.  If you want to take this gamble, I’ll promise you there will be no incidents.”  From the beginning, Jackie understood the impact he would make.  We will be forever indebted to Jackie Robinson for what he did and for what he ENDURED.  There is no doubt in my mind that his faith sustained him, and from that I have learned a great lesson which has helped carry me on my journey.

It is my hope that my journey can provide some comfort and encouragement for others who may be struggling to ENDURE hardships in their lives, just as Jackie Robinson’s journey impacted mine. Another good friend recently shared the following quote which has been a powerful reminder to me of how God’s plan for each of us works.  It reads; “When everything seems like it’s falling apart, that’s when God is putting things together just the way He wants it!”  I’m sure Jackie Robinson may not have always seen it this way through his experiences at the time, but with reflection, we can certainly see God’s plan at work by subjecting Jackie to these abuses during his Major League career and the impact his experience had in helping others achieve their dreams.

To close, I’ll keep you updated as I work through the surgeries this summer adding to my collection of “replacement parts”.  A verse from 1 Peter 3:15 brings me comfort as I work to ENDURE the next steps on my journey… “In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Sincerely, Dave

Link to: Reflections from the Home Team BLOG
http://reflectionsfromthehometeam.blogspot.com/

Link to Vimeo: Reflections from the "Home Team"... Go the Distance
http://vimeo.com/53873087

Link to: Tommy Emmanuel and "Angelina"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhR04kmcSXU

Reflections from the Home Team February, February 24, 2013

Reflections from the Home Team, February 24, 2013

“God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.  Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.  He can live anywhere in the universe, and yet He chose your heart.”

Wanted to drop you all a note to share some good news… After recent visits to my doctors, my labs seem to be heading back closer to the normal ranges, and I am very thankful for that!  We were concerned about that, and feel much more confident based on these results. We will continue to closely monitor things as always, but this is good news as I near my four year anniversary of being diagnosed. Also wanted to share that sometimes we wonder, as I often have, 'what did I do to deserve this?' or ‘why did God allow this to happen to me?' Here is a wonderful explanation of “why” a good friend recently shared with me!

“A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her, and her best friend is moving away.  Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the Daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.'

 'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers.  'Yuck' says her daughter.  'How about a couple raw eggs?'  'Gross, Mom!'  'Would you like some flour then?  Or maybe baking soda?'  'Mom, those are all yucky!'  To which the mother replies:  'Yes, all those things seem bad by themselves, but when they're put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!' God works the same way.  Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and *difficult times.  But God knows that when He puts these things all in order in His timing, they always work for good!  We just have to trust Him, and eventually, they will all make something wonderful! 

 God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.  Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.  He can live anywhere in the universe, and yet He chose your heart.”

May each of you enjoy a “slice of that cake” as you enjoy those spring flowers and beautiful sunrises each day!  God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. Wishing you all well and thanking you for being such a special part of my “Home Team”! 

 Sincerely, Dave

Link to: Reflections from the Home Team BLOG http://reflectionsfromthehometeam.blogspot.com/ 

Link to Vimeo: Reflections from the "Home Team"... Go the Distance 

http://vimeo.com/53873087 

Link to: Tommy Emmanuel and "Angelina"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhR04kmcSXU