Surviving Sunday: Packers news, notes and links for the football deprived
By adamczech
Eight months ago, I wasn't sure if I'd live to see another Packers season.
Today, I have real hope that I'll not only be here to enjoy the upcoming season, but enjoy it cancer-free.
On Friday of this week, I will undergo major surgery to try and remove cancerous tumors from my abdomen, colon and other areas inside my body. After the tumors are (hopefully) removed, doctors will pour heated chemotherapy into my belly to try and "mop up" any leftover microscopic cancer cells.
This procedure will be done in New York, meaning I'll be away from my kids, my home, my dog and other family and friends for a minimum of two weeks -- longer if there are post-surgical complications.
The purpose of the surgery is to try and make me NED for as long as possible. NED stands for "No Evidence of Disease." By removing the tumors they can see and following that up with a "heated chemo bath," doctors are hoping to give me some time where I can declare myself cancer free, or NED. If I'm cancer-free, it likely means I don't need chemotherapy. That's a huge deal because chemo is the absolute worst.
Of course, I'm always hoping and praying that my cancer is cured. But with how bad my situation is, a cure likely will never happen. What's more realistic is to stay NED for six months...a year...two years...three years...five years...ok I better stop now before I start dreaming too big and set myself up for a letdown. The bottom line is this: Surgery is an opportunity to give myself some time without cancer. How much time? Nobody knows. That's why I try and live by the "take things day by day" cliche as much as possible.
The surgery being performed on me in New York is the same surgery that was attempted on me in January at the University of Minnesota. The U of M surgeons stopped surgery because it was determined that my cancer had spread too far for surgery to be beneficial.
The New York surgeons feel that after four months of chemotherapy, my cancer has stopped spreading for the time being and even receded a bit in certain key areas. They feel surgery would give me a chance to be NED for a while. However, there is still a chance that what happened in January at the U of M could happen again this time around.
If you want more details on all of this, be sure to check out my Caring Bridge page.
So, what does any of this have to do with the Packers?
You'd think I wouldn't care about football while all of this is going on. Does it really matter how much Eddie Lacy weighs, how Clay Matthews will perform now that he's an outside linebacker again, or if Aaron Rodgers can bounce back after a (by his standards) meh season? No, it doesn't matter. But I still care. Packers football is one of the things that helps take my mind off all the other nonsense going on in my life at the moment.
Packers football also means Sunday afternoons and evenings spent lounging on the couch watching the games with my lovely wife. Our lives were hectic before I was diagnosed with cancer. But making time to watch the Packers together every week was something we always made sure to do. At our wedding, our entrance music to the reception was Todd Rundgren's "Bang on the Drum All Day." Our 2 year old shouts out "Go Pack Go" at completely random times -- including one time during a baptism ceremony at church -- and it makes me happy.
The Packers are a part of our lives.
I want this surgery to happen so I can be cancer-free, off chemo and as close to back-to-normal as possible for the upcoming Packers season. Of course, my main motivation for going through with surgery and working to get healthy is my family, but the prospect of enjoying the upcoming Packers season with said family while not having to worry about feeling crumby from chemotherapy is providing a little extra motivation. I want to have ample energy to cheer when the Packers score and yell at my television when Mike McCarthy calls a fullback dive on Fourth-and-1.
I'd also like the wife and I to get to Lambeau Field this season without having to worry about scheduling around chemo treatments and other cancer-related appointments. If the Packers are fortunate enough to host a home playoff game, it'd be nice to consider making a last-minute decision to attend and not worry about the cold weather causing my chemo-induced neuropathy to kick in.
Packers football is just a silly game, but it's a silly game that means a lot to my family and I. Some of our favorite memories revolve around the Packers. I want to make new memories this season, and I don't want those memories to involve cancer.
In the grand scheme of things, when you consider all that's going on in the overall world and my own world at the moment, Packers football really doesn't matter. But in my personal world it does matter, at least a little bit, and I'm proud to say that it does. I want a cancer-free Packers season, one that I can enjoy with my family, my misguided Vikings and Bears fan friends and all of my fellow Packers lunatics here at CheeseheadTV.
Here's to a successful surgery on Friday and a happy, healthy, cancer-free season of Packers football.
Comments (41)
vermontaigne
July 24, 2016 at 06:24 am
Wishing you the very best, and thanks for all the great free stuff for all these years.
Bearmeat
July 24, 2016 at 06:38 am
Adam, we've been praying for you for months. Will be praying for Friday.
Stay Strong.
NickPerry
July 24, 2016 at 06:40 am
I couldn't wait for "Surviving Sundays" because I couldn't wait to see if it was Adam writing the piece or not. When I saw "By Adam Czech" I read anxiously to see how Adam was doing, and his thoughts on the Packers. About half way through tears began to well up in my eyes as I read exactly what Adam and his family have facing them.
I wish you nothing but luck and my prayers are with you and your family. I have no doubt you and your family will be right there with ALL of us yelling at out televisions when McCarthy calls that full back dive on 4th and 1, with you being NED.
MissKathy
July 24, 2016 at 06:42 am
Sending many prayers for the ability to rename and call you NED very soon and for a very long time! Please know that your entire family and surgical crew are also planted firmly in those prayers.
dobber
July 24, 2016 at 06:55 am
All about perspective, man. Thanks for writing this, and God be with you.
...and the Bears still suck.
WKUPackFan
July 24, 2016 at 07:05 am
Thinking about you Adam. Surviving Sunday is the best CHTV column. Need many more years of wrestling news.
packfan44
July 24, 2016 at 07:22 am
Adam, it's time like these when we must put our faith in the LORD! We all in Packerland are praying for you and your family. Having been through the "C" word also brings the realization that we do need the higher power in our lives. Keep the faith, pray and always remember it's onre day at a time!
We expect to be reading your great analysis of our beloved Packers for years to come, GOD BLESS!
Handsback
July 24, 2016 at 07:31 am
I love your attitude. Keep it up!
Brian Carriveau
July 24, 2016 at 07:32 am
Kick ass, Adam. We're with you!
Tundraboy
July 24, 2016 at 08:01 am
May all your dreams big and small come true for you, your wife and children.
Sheila Allen
July 24, 2016 at 08:06 am
As a fellow cancer fighter, I understand exactly where you're coming from. May God be with you in this journey. I will be praying. Go Adam go!!
Spock
July 24, 2016 at 08:11 am
Adam,
I was very happy to see you were writing "Surviving Sundays" this week. For you every day is a "Surviving day". Best of luck with the surgery; it sounds like a real tough go. I'm an atheist, but I DO believe in the power of positive thinking. I've been through 17 operations myself and I can tell you have the proper attitude! All of the CHTV "family" I'm sure will be thinking positive thoughts for your NED. You are "due" some good luck; if there is any karma in the world I hope it smiles on you.
Klincker
July 24, 2016 at 08:28 am
Good luck and best wishes to you, and your family Adam.
EdsLaces
July 24, 2016 at 09:00 am
Good luck Adam. Well written article. We all want the same thing for you to Survive this Sunday and many more to come. Prayers for u buddy..
cheddarhead
July 24, 2016 at 09:13 am
You need to put an all out blitz on this cancer.
And get the win. So u and your family can get back what's really important, and that's family and Packers football. Our prayers are with u.
GO PACKERS GO!!!!!!
4thand1
July 24, 2016 at 09:14 am
Adam TY for everything. Everyone seems to have someone they know fighting this dam disease. Hope all goes well and you will have a full life with your family. They say laughter is the best medicine, so watch a lot of Bears and Lions and it should give you a lot of laughs. We lost our dad and my mom had successful surgery and has been cancer free going on 3 years now. There are tons of great survivor stories all the time and I'll pray yours is a great story also. GOPACKGO!
Roadrunner23
July 24, 2016 at 09:29 am
Prayers and light to you and your family Adam.
You are a brave man to face this as you have.
Stay strong and looking forward to reading your columns for many years to come.
Since'61
July 24, 2016 at 09:34 am
Adam - best of luck to you and your family. At Sloan- Kettering you have a great team on your side. Stay strong and know that we are all praying for you and sending positive thoughts your way. Looking forward to reading your articles in the future. Good luck! Thanks, Since '61
Doug_In_Sandpoint
July 24, 2016 at 09:36 am
Bop bam da da da...Go Adam Go!
Praying for wisdom and skill for your doctors, strength and healing for you, and peace in all of your hearts for you and yours.
PortlandMark
July 24, 2016 at 09:46 am
We are continuing to pray for you and your family Adam. My wife completed chemo and radiation. The doctors referred us to a plant based eating class. I was wondering what you think of this. We're giving it a try. The movie Forks Over Knives also helped to convince us. Stay strong!
adamczech
July 24, 2016 at 11:41 am
I cut out red meat and sugar right after I was diagnosed. The research is far from conclusive, but there is some evidence out there that red meat and sugar fuel colon cancer growth.
My new diet also makes me feel a little bit empowered. It's me doing something instead of just sitting there and getting pumped full of poisonous chemotherapy.
Best of luck to your wife!
Ibleedgreenmore
July 24, 2016 at 03:13 pm
Adam really praying for you here. My mom got 11 days notice she had cancer. Never did get treatment you are in a spot you can get treatment and I am so pulling for you man. Prayers out to you and your family lets pray for years of watching Packer football and many TD for them and you.
Matt Weiske
July 24, 2016 at 10:14 am
Sending positive thoughts and vibes for a successful surgery on Friday.
Mojo
July 24, 2016 at 11:57 am
Not only will you be watching the Pack cancer free in SB51, but also against the Las Vegas Raiders in SB75 with MVP QB Brett Rodgers at the helm.
LL&P
AndrewInAtlanta
July 24, 2016 at 01:03 pm
My family will be thinking of you Adam. You're going to beat this. I also think this particular post should be required reading for every professional athlete. Outstanding take on how sports can sometimes bring togetherness and hope. Well written. Stay strong
Point-Packer
July 24, 2016 at 01:15 pm
Wishing you the best, Adam. Very well done and thoughtful post.
JerseyAl
July 24, 2016 at 03:35 pm
#CancerSlayer
daveh
July 24, 2016 at 03:52 pm
Adam, my wife and I know exactly what you are going to go through. Our daughter (48) was diagnosed with ovarian cancer three tears ago and struggle through surgeries , on January , 2015 went through the surgery here they pour hot chemo into the stomach, then they rocked her back and forth help move the chemo, this procedure is called . CHIPEC it took 3 hours, unfortunately, my daughter never beat the cancer and died June 3rd. Our prayers are with you and your family.
adamczech
July 24, 2016 at 04:57 pm
That's the same surgery I'll be having (or very similar).
Three years is a long time to fight the fight. May your daughter rest in peace.
Thom Tedson
July 24, 2016 at 04:24 pm
Hope all goes perfectly. Thinking of you and your family and pulling for you, big time. As others have mentioned, I will think of you every time they run that stupid dive play (even on the rare occasions when it works).
Denise Chanterelle
July 24, 2016 at 05:22 pm
Best of luck to you Adam. We're all pulling for you, want to see you healthy, and continue to read your great articles! Aloha,
lozmel
July 24, 2016 at 06:39 pm
Adam good luck . Try juicing 5lbs of carrots. Many people have been helped by fasting on carrot juice.
gr7070
July 24, 2016 at 08:00 pm
Best wishes! !
You're the biggest reason for cheesehead TV Benning on my rss feeds.
MSchultz62000
July 24, 2016 at 08:25 pm
I look forward to reading your posts all the way to the Super Bowl, and enjoying your comments on the Cheesehead TV Game Blog. All the best to you.
Dough21
July 24, 2016 at 09:22 pm
Glad you're doing well Adam. I knew you wouldn't give up, as we know all Packer fans are fighters. I look forward to reading your articles not only this year but for years to come. Wish you continued health and happiness.
MarkinMadison
July 24, 2016 at 10:12 pm
:-)
Thegreatreynoldo
July 25, 2016 at 12:07 am
There is nothing I could write that would match your eloquence, Adam. Good luck.
lucky953
July 25, 2016 at 07:00 am
Adam,
Staying positive is powerful. My 84 yr old father-in-law is now 5 years post pancreatic cancer dx. He had the Whipple procedure and is a walking testament to "Never Give Up". You can be successful. And may a little luck o' the Irish rub off from this message.
RCPackerFan
July 25, 2016 at 08:05 am
Adam.
Stay strong! Keep fighting for you, your family and friends. We are all wishing you the best of luck!
Bohj
July 25, 2016 at 03:34 pm
Adam,
Everyone on here has been following your struggle and story. It's amazing to me to see an invisible community come together to support a loveable stranger. I'm sure your writings have been cathartic. And I'm sure the support here has rallied your positive vibe. Your column makes this place real and adds much needed perspective to the game of football and life. Your notes about the importance of a simple thing like sports are spot on. Sometimes we all just need a reason to congregate and support each other as random humans. But regardless....I hate to speak for anyone here......you are a friend to us all and have our support and best wishes. Cheers,
Bohj
adamczech
July 26, 2016 at 03:16 pm
Thank you all for reading and for the support. I appreciate it.