Whoa, I found my old iPod mini!  On it, there was an old playlist titled “10-25-05.”

I actually got a call from the hospital the night before major brain surgery.  They wanted me to come in early before surgery. This was quite an unexpected turn of events!  I scrambled to get things in order.  I issued this statement on my blog right before I was admitted,

“I know a lot of you wish you could be here with me. I’ll strike a deal. This is the playlist I’ll be listening to tonight on my iPod. Just play one of the songs and you’re there with me.”.

These are the songs I listened to the night before day that changed my life:
Lose yourself -Eminem
Mr. Brightside – the Killers
It’s so Easy – GNR
Breakout – Foo Fighters
Higher ground – Red Hot chili peppers
Gold Digger – Kanye West
Jesus Walks – Kanye West
Ready or not –The Fugees
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
In the Air Tonight – Phil Collins
A little Respect – Erasure
The promise – When in Rome
Only You – yaz
Don’t Stop Believing – JOURNEY!
Blaze of Glory – Bon Jovi
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN – EUROPE

I’m not sure who actually listened to those songs, but I never felt alone on the scariest night of my life.  Thank you.

I admit it now… I was scared.  I didn’t know if I would survive the surgery or what kind of impairments I would have afterwards.

1. I could have little go wrong – smooth sailing,
2. I could be on a ventilator for the rest of my life to help me breath, or
3. I could even pass away on the operating table!

Pretty serious stuff on my mind!  I listened to these songs alone in my hospital bed after my family left.  Kinda crazy knowing that my life would literally be in the hands of the surgeons.  Well, I’m told surgery was 8 hours and I was in the intensive care unit for 8 days.  I was in a coma for 6 of the 8 days in the ICU.  It is so weird that I have no memory at all of that whole week!  I spent a total of  6 weeks in the hospital.

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Last week, I got to attend a documentary at the Pacific Arts Movement Spring Showcase about Harana.  It reminded me of my days in college when we would get a bunch of guys together and sing to unsuspecting girls we had crushes on.  We would surprise them at their dorm rooms, the library, restaurants, etc.  The point was to put the spotlight on them and make them feel special.  We called ourselves “58 Woo”.  I actually have a rare 58 Woo recording here:  58 woo medley at 58 green 5 year reunion after party.  We were such cheese balls back then!  hahaha!

It got me involved with a multi-cultural co-ed a capella group at the University of Michigan, 58 Greene.  I took A LOT of slack from my brother for doing for doing something other than sports.  Sounds like an episode of Glee right?  Being in that little a capella group got me to appreciate things outside of my comfort zone!  Stepping outside of my comfort zone back then probably prepared me for another transition into my new world of “tumor thrivership”.  Almost all of my interests and hobbies were taken away from me, so I had to adapt.  A lot of people have trouble adapting to the challenges of their new reality after a tumor/cancer diagnosis.  It’s not an easy transition.  Some people need help.  Of course, I’m having fun finding people who want to help newly diagnosed tumors/cancer patients AND their loved ones navigate this difficult transition.

58 Greene had their 20th anniversary recently, but sadly I wasn’t able to attend.  I look forward to coming back to Ann Arbor in the future to see the latest incarnation of the group perform.

I went in with an open mind because part of me believes there is a link between Western and Eastern medical philosophies.  In traditional Western society, it is commonplace to have concrete measurable evidence to explain how and why things work.  Holistic Eastern medicine principles are much harder to explain.  I was trained in more “traditional” Western medicine.  Eastern Medicine is abstract and difficult to quantify.  After a quick online review of a few peer reviewed publications on “non-traditional cancer treatments”, it seems to me that that diet modification and yoga have substancial objective/ “scientific” statistical measures then other complementary /alternative medicine practices.   The benefits of Quality of Life (QOL) scales / surveys have been studied extensively and it seems that QOL is a very important measure in Eastern medicine research.  These studies are very reliable with specific tests/ questionnaires addressing of QOL.  This is very important because I think QOL is an “applied” research measure.  I found the conference very interesting because there are more studies popping up on “Eastern medicine” albeit with very small sample sizes.  I see very big potential for the application of diet modification and exercise prescription as modalities to assist in management of post tumor/cancer treatment “thrivership”.

Personally, I still don’t fully understand “Eastern medicine”.  I’ve always been the curious student that wants to know “why”.  I’ve started doing research on the benefits of diet and exercise.  That makes sense to me.  My mentors in Physical Therapy school looked at the benefits of a moderate intensity exercise program in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.  They determined it is safe, and actually can be beneficial to survivors.  Ironically, I had radiation therapy after my brain surgery.  I felt very prepared for everything I would be up against based on what I was exposed to in school.  Exercise remains a very important aspect of my life.  I see potential for post treatment exercise programs to be implemented in cancer centers to assist in recovery.  I will make clear that post treatment exercise must be monitored in the cancer patient population!  This already occurs in the post cardiac surgery and post orthopedic surgery population, so I think that post tumor/cancer surgery would benefit from a monitored exercise/rehab protocol.  There are too many benefits of post treatment exercise to outweigh the monitored risks.  I think that the social aspects of a post treatment exercise group could become another type of “post treatment support group.”

These were the topics discussed at the conference:

• The Role of Diet in the Development in Cancer
• Dietary Prevention of Cancers of the Breast, Prostate, and Colon
• The Chinese Medical Approach to Cancer
• Dietary & Mind Body Combined Intervention
• Naturopathic Therapeutics for Cancer
• Use of Integrative Medicine in Pediatric Oncology
• Biofield Therapies in Cancer Care
• Cannibus in Pain and Palliative Care
• Overview of Integrative Modalities in the Support of Cancer patients
• Self Expression to Promote Cancer Wellness
• It Takes a Village to Cure a Cancer:  The Essential Role of Community in Cancer Care.

“Integrative Oncology” is a very new field in the tumor/cancer realm, but the potential for application is very high.  “Thrivers” are unique individuals looking for ways to improve upon themselves.  With more evidence based resources and education, the potential for the use of “Integrative Oncology” practices will only grow.  This new way of fighting tumors/ cancer is about to raise some more eyebrows.

58 Greene 1996-97

A lifetime ago, in college at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, I actually sang in an a capella group,  58 Greene.  This shocked many of my friends from high school and family because in high school, I was a big jock.  This weekend is the 20th anniversary of the creation of 58 Greene.  Many of my friends are meeting up in Ann Arbor this weekend for the 58 Greene reunion and concert.  I wish I could be in Ann Arbor to attend, but I couldn’t fit it into my schedule.  I’ll have to say being a “Greenie” was one of the most unique things I have ever done and helped me overcome my shyness and fear of public speaking.  I definitely stepped outside of my comfort zone, but I learned that you cannot grow without challenging yourself.  I never felt nervous on stage with them.  They had my back, and I had theirs.  This translates well into the world of “tumor thrivership”.

I wasn’t the best soloist, but I had a lot of fun doing vocal percussion and adding base to the harmonies.

Here is a sample of one of my favorite 58 Greene medleys.

Dance Mix III: The Sexual Anthology

I’ll never forget performing with that little group.  I’ll probably never sing on stage again, but it was an experience I’ll always treasure!

Last week mAss Kickers Foundation had the opportunity to speak to Social Work Students and Social Work faculty at the University of Hawaii – Manoa. 3 tumor/cancer thrivers shared their stories and resources that they utilized to pass on to their patients. Marc Rodriguiez, Hannah Hansen, and Eric Galvez presented their unique and often times humorous perspectives as young adult survivors turned “tumor/cancer thrivers.” Survivorship is only the first step in recovery from these diseases. It was determined that each individual survivor will move on to “tumor/cancer thrivership” at their own pace. “A Thriver” is someone who gets an intimidating tumor/cancer diagnosis and REFUSES to let it control their life.  They become LEADERS in the fight against all forms of tumors/ cancer.

Along with the speaking engagements at University of Hawaii, this group of thrivers had the opportunity to take in a few sites in Honolulu and experience the authentic Hawaiian cuisine. The Honolulu zoo, Dole Plantation, and of course the beautiful beach on the west side of the island were a few of the sites they were able to visit in their short time on Honolulu. Future trips to speak in Hawaii are in the works to talk about “thrivership” life after an intimidating tumor/cancer diagnosis.

Later this summer mAss Kickers Foundation has plans to go to Tokyo, Japan and Manila, Philippines to speak to future physicians and tumor/cancer patients about “thrivership”. Stay tuned.
More trips are in the work next year!

On the 12th day of Kick mAss my doctor gave to me…

• a patient research seminar in San Diego,
• a charity kickball tournament in San Diego,
• a paintball benefit in Michigan,
• INTERNATIONAL TUMORS SUCK DAY an international awareness campaign, and
• NEW EVENTS: a survivor speaking tour to Hawaii and the Philippines/Japan
• attending select cancer conferences
• a US Healthcare colleges/universities lecture tour

I noticed that I eat too much stuff that is “bad for me”.

In December I am pledging to promote a heathy lifestyle for ALL tumor/cancer “thrivers” by:

giving up candy and sweet desserts for the month of December.

I’m not crazy!  I’m doing this to honor my fellow tumor/cancer “thrivers” and promote a healthier lifestyle.

I’VE BEEN ON A WILD RIDE SINCE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH A “NON-MAALIGNANT” BRAIN TUMOR! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ALL MY CRAZY IDEAS… I HAVE MORE IN THE WORKS!

Here are recap videos from 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011…

Kinda cool to see how things have changed over time, but cool to see how the support is growing. Please help me promote a healthier lifestyle by making a tax deductible donation to mAss Kickers Foundation or JOIN ME by creating your own mAss Kickers Holiday Challenge! WE CAN CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO HONOR THE PEOPLE WE LOVE.

2007, 2008

I was still figuring what to do…

2009

I did some cool stuff… it inspired me to do something…

2010, 2011

I found a new purpose…