12 years ago, was a turning point in the lives of yours truly and my wife Donna. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, and we were at the Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital for her mastectomy. We knew she had the best care in the world and the surgeons were hands down All Stars. Still nervousness and trepidation ruled. The event that stands out in my mind more than any that day was walking with the love of my life to the operating room. We were hand in hand going down a hall. A nurse appeared and said kindly to me, “look down, the different colored tile means this is as far as you can go. I’ll take her from here.” Imagine having to relinquish everything to the unknown…the feeling was horrific.
After hours, the surgeon came out and said the surgery was a success, but the recovery would be a long and winding road. Thanksgiving in ’12 was exceptionally warm and it was even warmer when Donna asked me to walk her up the driveway to the street and back. We have a lone drive, and this was an extraordinary accomplishment by this strong woman.
Today Donna (aka Mrs. Munch and #DonnaStrong) is cancer free and we thank God daily for her comeback. I need to share with you how all this came about as there is a sports angle to this story! It also seems to be like a Talking Heads song…”How did I WE get here”…
Flash back to October of 2012. Truly football, in this case NCAC D3 football, helped save my wife’s life. Our oldest son was a freshman at Denison University and a member of the Big Red football team under the tutelage of great HC Jack Hatem. We made the trip to Granville, Ohio, and most other schools for all the games and this Saturday was extra special as the month is dubbed “PINKTOBER” for cancer awareness. My son was all excited as he called us the night before the game to pay extra attention to the new divas of football, the wide receivers as they came out for their warmups. Sure enough we were locked in as the WR’s came out in pink socks, pink gloves plus pink stickers on their helmets and cleats. We were impressed that young men cared enough to support this cause. At this time too cancer was the farthest thing from my mind and Donna’s mind. Looking ahead to Monday after the game I came back from the station (ESPN 850 WKNR) at the time and Donna seemed troubled. We sat and talked, and she informed me that seeing the players with their pink accessories Saturday led her to do a self-exam when she found a lump in her right breast. We called her Doctor, and she was immediately admitted for a checkup and scans. A few days later the call came, she had breast cancer. Go back to the top of this story and of this Musings and this journey has a happy ending after much sadness and pain, tears and hugs plus sleepless nights accompanied by much prayer.
Thank you, Denison football, and thank you to all who realize REAL MEN WEAR PINK and many more cancer awareness initiatives are not meaningless. Also THANK YOU for allowing me to bare my heart and soul to you and share this story.
Read more MUNCH MUSINGS at NEO SPORTS INSIDERS and Munch On Sports is powered by the Ken Ganley Auto Group and Ganley Chevrolet of Aurora.
Please take care of each other and remember, it’s your world, pay attention. As always enjoy every sandwich and for now, ADIOS AMIGO, long may you run.
High School
Men for Others – Remembering Nick Restifo
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