Thank God for the kids!

One of the aspects that come along with a 62 year old dad suffering from cancer is the feeling that “dad” is no longer as strong as he should be as part of his family.  I had a long chat with one of my daughters last night and as we were talking the words to Harry Chapin’s Cat’s in the Cradle entered my head. The 1974 song written by Harry and his wife Sandy have long tugged on my heart.  Here is a sample of the lyrics that focus on a fathers love for his son (in my case, a daughter).  The following is an excerpt from the lyrics….

 My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home, Dad
I don't know when, but we'll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son
I don't know when, but we'll get together then, Dad
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

 I’m so proud of my daughters. They are absolutely my “rock.”

 To listen to the song click on the following link…

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7OqwKfgLaeA

Must stay positive, strong, live within the moment, and focus one day at a time are keys to my fight vs. cancer

One of the most important aspects of taking on cancer is being strong both mentally and emotionally. My psychologist stressed to me last week that one’s state of mind can have a huge effect on how your body responds to the weeks of chemotherapy that I’ll be living with over the next few months. She has given me the book Mindfulness For Beginners.  The author is Ion Kabat-Zinn talks about the importance of living in the moment.

 A lot of strange stuff goes on while fighting cancer. Worrying about one’s life expectancy, knowing that chemotherapy treatments are extremely tough on the body and sap most of one’s strength, staying positive even though your body is saying why. 

 I have already read the book twice!  My mission  over the next several months is to stop worrying about what may happen in the future and to focus on living within the moment.  Beating cancer is not a 100 yard dash – it is a marathon.

 As I attempted to do a couple of years ago during my bout with colon cancer – I focused hard at staying positive and to make sure I keep humor important to me.  I’m going to beat this terrible disease one day at a time!!!

Parise family embraces life's good moments during tough times

(The following story written by Michael Russo appeared in the Minneapolis Tribune on Sept. 27, 2014)

 

Zach Parise is one of the bright young stars in the National Hockey League. Parise stars for the Minnesota Wild. His father also called Minneota home during his playing career in the late 1960’s and ‘70’s. J.P. Parise played nine seasons for the North Stars in the early years of the former expansion team in the NHL. J.P. was one of the toughest players in the history of the North Stars which just happened to be my favorite team growing up in western Wisconsin.

With his son starring in the NHL, the elder Parise is currently waging the toughest battle of his life.

For the past seven months, The day before Zach was return from last the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Zach’s mother Donna gave the news to her son.

 
According to Zach, the doctor gave Dad two years. After he was diagnosed, my mom got in the car crying and he said, ‘Donna, if I’ve got two years to live, I can’t sit here and watch you cry every day. This is just life. This is how it’s going to be.’

The elder Parise has his good days and bad days while battling every day. He has needed to be hospitalized at times over the past several months due to losing his strength and stamina

 

“I am not complaining.” J.P. tells the Minneapolis Tribune, “At the end of the day,  I am still alive, and tomorrow I will still be alive. I am not dying tomorrow. How long this will last, I don’t know. It depends on my attitude, it depends on nature, it depends on how I attack it.”

 

 

 

Some good news on the cancer front

I just got off the phone with my oncologist, Dr. Leal, at the Veterans Hospital in Madison.  She called to tell me that the tests taken last week indicate the cancer HAS NOT SPREAD INTO MY LUNGS.  I am scheduled to meet with her on Tuesday at 2:30 PM where she will discuss a schedule for my upcoming regiment of chemotherapy treatment to my recently diagnosed stage 4 liver cancer.  On Tuesday she’ll talk to me about the port I'm scheduled to have inserted into my chest.

 

September 25 Tough emotional day today

Got word today that I’ll get the final diagnosis and how my disease will be treated when I meet with my oncology team early next week.  I’ll be the first to admit that I am scared.  Former Buffalo Bills all-pro quarterback Jim Kelly and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling talked recently about their current battles vs. cancer. Both admitted in ESPN interviews that fear was just part of the many emotions for them on a daily basis. I’ll be given my treatment plan and initial life expectancy from my oncology team on Tuesday.  I must stay positive!

 The following lyrics are from Lee Ann Womack’s 2000 hit  “I hope you dance" written by Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers….

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

SVP and Russillo give love to Warhawks and DIII football on ESPN Radio

I’m listening to my favorite ESPN Radio Show this afternoon.  

Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo just spent a couple of minutes talking NCAA III football. Teams mentioned were Mount Union, Mary Hardin-Baylor and No. 1 ranked, and defending nation champ, UW-Whitewater. Up next – maybe a full segment on the Warhawk football?   Time to rock the social networks and lobby Van Pelt and Russillo to give more love to Division III.  

Unbeaten Warhawks are off on Saturday

 

The UW-Whitewater football team is listed as a prohibitive favorite over BYE on Saturday!  In all seriousness, the Hawks are off on Saturday prior to opening the conference season on Oct. 4 vs. UW-La Crosse in the WIAC opener at Perkins Stadium.

 Just one conference team will be in action Saturday. UW-Stevens Point (2-0) plays host to 5^th ranked North Central in nonconference action  at Community Stadium at Goerke Park.  NCC is coming off a solid 28-7 victory over 7^th ranked UW-Platteville in Naperville, Ill. last Saturday.  

 The Warhawks join six other WIAC teams taking advantage of a Bye week on Saturday

 

Looking forward to the opportunity to doing some writing on Warhawkfootball.com

Warhawkfootball.com publisher Jay Perkins and I have been talking the past few days. Nothing official yet but I may be doing a weekly column on Jay’s Website where I will take on a variety of Warhawk football topics. I’m very excited!

Voices battle vs. cancer with family, friends and football blog now online

I’m about five hours late but finally I have been able to launch Voice's battle vs. cancer with family, friends and football blog. I spent much of the day dealing with a number of issues involving formatting and allowing photos to accompany each post. Those problems will be rectified on Thursday. Beginning Thursday my blog entries will be much more personal as I allow you “inside the mind” of a cancer patient and Warhawk football insider!

Watching the Warhawk football team will be a key aspect in my current battle with liver cancer

As was the case, following my stroke in October 2006 and my colon cancer recovery in 2012-13, my doctors stressed the importance of staying positive and focus one day at a time.  My medical teams learned quickly that the UW-Whitewater football team was extremely important to me emotionally. As far as my current battle is concerned my Palliative care team is suggesting that attend a Warhawk football practice one or two times a week and sit in the press box each home game and write stories just like I’ve done every year since 1988. Hopefully the Hawk coaching staff and UW-Whitewater sports information director Chris Lindeke will allow me the access.

My cancer treatment game plan will include plenty of teamwork

I not only have an oncologist taking care of me at the veteran’s hospital in Madison. I also have the services of a Palliative care team consisting of a team of specialists including physician, nurses, social workers, chaplains and mental health providers.

Palliative care not only focuses on relieving physical symptoms of illness such as pain, but also addresses the social, emotional and spiritual needs that I may require along with family. I meet with both my oncologist and my Palliative care team.  I look forward to make many trips to Madison over the next few months. 

My Cancer Has Returned

Hello again everybody. I'm Tom Pattison and I was diagnosed on September 10th with stage-four liver cancer. The diagnosis comes just one year after having my 13 month battle with colon cancer determined to have fallen into remission.

 I might be down but not out. I want to make a difference as I go through this latest medical dilemma. This blog is intended to convey my thoughts and stories of my journey along my winding road that my life will undergo in the coming months.  I intend to have my posts in a “diary” format.

 It is very scary when you’re dealing with the big-C. I’m hoping that this blog might allow others to better understand the ups and downs dealing with the disease.

Getting ready for Chemo and Radiation

Well, here I go again. It was confirmed in early September that my cancer has returned. This time the diagnosis is Stage 4 inoperable
liver cancer.  Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments will begin next week. Many wondered during my battle with colon cancer why I didn't lose my hair.  My doctors told me earlier this week that I won't be as fortunate this time around. Lucky I own plenty of UW-Whitewater hats!!!   Despite the seriousness of my current diagnosis, my motto remains One day at a time!!