I had writing a letter about my dad and his battle with cancer almost 2 years ago that I had sent to our family, friends, and our real estate family of clients we've helped over the years. I will post the letter below.
The first time I played basketball with dad after his surgery he wasn't able to make a basket or even hit the rim, but he kept playing anyway. Dad's favorite shot was always out far from the basket in 3 point range (where we play it's the 2 point range, since we play by 1 and 2's instead)
Dad played days after surgery but then chemo and radiation really took its toll on him. I had never seen him so sick. Of course dad kept playing every Thursday. It's now been 2 years in December 2008 since finding out about the Cancer. Just shortly after X-mas 2008 I brought my new Mino camera to basketball. I almost didn't go because I wasn't feeling good that day, but then I think if dad didn't feel good would he still play? I knew the answer so I went and I was glad I did.
Check out the video of dad in action
Previous letter I had written back in Feb 2007:
It Looked Like A Shark Had Taken A Big Bite,
A Big Vicious Bite, Right Into My Dad’s Neck
I am writing, on a personal level, and on a business level. I want to inform you that my father has been very, very sick. He still is. With persistence however, he is recovering.
Here is a story about my first visit to the hospital to see my dad after his surgery; I hope you are inspired by his example as much as I am….
Under the pale white light, 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 bright red and painful looking. He was wearing a light blue hospital robe, and was slumped over, looking older than I could have ever imagined seeing him. Nowhere present was the strong image of my childhood hero, Gary Keeth, my business partner and also my teammate on the basketball court.
This man, who I had never seen miss more than 1 day of work in over 30 years of his career, my friend, my father. When I was finally able to see him after the doctors had removed hundreds of lymph nodes from his head and neck, removed the cancerous tumor from his throat and tonsils, and place a nerve graft on his neck and shoulder area, he looked physically bad enough to bring me to tears.
“I can lift it up”! Gary
Contrary to his battered appearance, he was brimming with excitement and vigor! He was waving his right arm, the arm 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, and success against all odds with the help of determination and persistence.
These lessons are what we have incorporated into our business, pouring our hearts and our souls into our client’s 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 would need to rest in bed and would most likely never be able to shoot a basketball again. Gary
And best of all, I was able to play basketball with my Dad less than 10 days after his surgery and on a full court too!
