This was submitted as a letter to the editor of The Daily Herald. We'll see if it gets published and/or if it gets shortened. A similar letter was emailed to the general manager of Sundance.
Our mom and dad raised eight boys: eight eagle
scouts, eight missionaries, eight fairly decent human beings. On December 19th,
our 70 year old dad was skiing with his friends of the Sundance Senior Ski Club,
on a mountain he has enjoyed since the days of Timp Haven. He had a hard time
walking to the lift that morning and a harder time making right turns on the
hill. He went home early thinking maybe it was his bad back. Over the next week,
he noticed increasing weakness and numbness in his right side and difficulty
expressing words. On December 26th, he discovered that he had a
large tumor in his brain.
UVRMC doctors, nurses, techs, and therapists
provided great care and he returned home less than 3 weeks after the tumor was
found. On the first Saturday back home, exactly one month from the day that he
noticed something wrong on the slopes, he returned to Sundance. He rode Rays and
Arrowhead and got to breathe fresh air at Bearclaw Cabin surrounded by beautiful
views, his boys and his ski buddy of 50 years. The weather was perfect. Ski
patrollers Logan Rodriguez and Ashley Lewis were incredibly professional and
kind in giving Dad one more run from top to bottom. He had a blast. We all did.
We want to thank Sundance for being so helpful and
supportive and making it possible to return our father to his passion. Specific
thanks to Mountain Ops Manager, Czar Johnson; Lift Ops and Bearclaw Cabin
personnel; and Sundance Ski Patrol, especially Ashley and Logan. Thank you!
The Avery Boys learned to ski at Sundance. Now we are
learning more about the fight with cancer. Dad has come out swinging and this small
victory is felt deeply by him, by us, and we hope by any others who are
fighting. Quality of life is his and will be to the end.
OK, so that was way too long. But I liked it. Here's what I pared it down to to equal 200 words (who knows if it will be published):
ReplyDeleteOur dad taught his 8 boys to ski. Now he is teaching us about the fight with cancer: a fight for quality of life.
On December 19th, our dad was skiing at Sundance, when he noticed some weakness in his right side. Over the next week, he noticed increasing weakness, numbness and difficulty expressing words. On December 26th, he discovered that he had a large cancerous brain tumor.
Exactly one month after noticing something wrong on the slopes, he returned to Sundance. With continued weakness in his leg, he rode Rays and Arrowhead and got to breathe fresh air at Bearclaw Cabin surrounded by beautiful views, his boys, and a close friend. We all had a blast. We express our appreciation to Ski Patrol, especially Logan and Ashley, for giving Dad one more run from top to bottom. Sincere thanks to Czar and all of the great people at Sundance!
It was not easy for Dad, but he has come out swinging in his personal fight with cancer. This small victory is felt deeply by him, by us, and we hope by any others who are fighting. Quality of life is his and will be to the end.
Avery Family