My Dad Played the Drums for a packed house at my Grandma's suprise 80th Birtday on Saturday. This was the first time we've seen Dad play since his Cancer Treatments and Dad Rocked!!
"Below is a letter I sent to a few of our friends and family back in May of this year about my Dad's battle with Cancer. For those of you that don't know us personally. Not only is he my Dad he's also my Real Estate partner for the last 16 years"
It Looked Like A Shark Had Taken A Big Bite, A Big Vicious Bite, Right Into My Dad’s Neck.
December 29, 2006,
Dear Friends,
I am writing, on a personal level, and on a business level. I wanted to let you know my father has been very, very, sick. In fact he still is. With persistence, however, he is recovering.
Here is my story about my visit to the hospitial, I hope you are inspired by his example as much as I ‘m….
Under the pale white light in the hospital, I could see what seemed to be hundreds of staple marks running from his upper chest to his ear and down the backside of his neck. They were all bright red and painful looking. He was wearing a light blue hospital robe, and he was slumped over, looking older than I ever imagined seeing him. Nowhere present was the strong image of my childhood hero Gary Keeth, my business partner, my teammate on the basketball court, The man who I have never seen miss more than 1 day of work in over 30 years of his career, my friend, my father.
When I was first allowed to see my dad after doctors had removed 100’s of lymph nodes from his head and neck, removed the cancerous tumor from his throat and his tonsils, throw in a nerve graft in his neck and shoulder area, he looked, physically, bad enough to bring me to tears.
“I can lift it up!” Gary said. “I can still shoot a basketball!”
Contrary to his battered appearance, he was brimming with excitement and vigor! He was waving his right arm, the one he shoots a basketball with, frantically towards the ceiling.
“I can play basketball” he repeated, “AND the drums… I can still play the drums!”
Such are the lessons I have learned from my dad over the last thirty-four years. He has been a model of vitality, success against all odds, determination and persistence.
Such are the lessons we have incorporated into our business, pouring our hearts and souls into our clients unique lives and challenges.
Sincerely,
Dustin Keeth
P.S. Gary was told that he would be in the hospital for at least 6-7 days, that he needed to rest in bed and would most likely not be able to shot a basketball. Gary of course had his own plans. He is not one to sit still. So to the shock and awe of the doctors and nurses he was up walking around the hospital in less than 24 hours and at home within 2 days eating solid food and calling clients, despite only being able to talk just slightly above a whisper..
Best of all, I got to play basketball with Dad less than 10 days after his surgery and it was full court basketball too.
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