Godspeed my friend....

With a heavy heart, I cant believe what I have to type.....

Today Chad Clifton went home to be with the Lord. He never recovered from a heart attack and stroke he suffered last night.

People have asked me how I learned to ride the curves so well. The answer is Chad. I have been working with him for several years at various tracks on the East Coast. He taught me so much in such a short time span.......

The skills you have taught me I promise will be shared with as many folks as I can. You will be missed deeply, but what you have blessed me with will live on......

I have my memories of many phone calls, visits, track sessions, plus the skills he taught me are priceless.

A tribute to you Chad. You may have beat me home, but I will see you again someday.

I have a chemo treatment this Friday and I have been asked to be a pallbearer. Brenda and I will be making the trip to the Atlanta area while on chemo.

This one is not about me.....

I some to you my internet friends and family with a special request. My best friend broke his back last Wednesday in a motorcycle accident. Chad Clifton has mentored me in my motorcycle track days and really has proved himself as a TRUE friend.

Chad had surgery to repair 6 vertebra on Saturday. He has complete use of his legs which is a miracle and answered prayer.

Yesterday when the Doc's got him up to walk, he said he was not feeling well. By the time he layed back down, he was turning blue. He coded and was rushed into surgery. Several blood clots were found in his lungs and legs.

Chad was stable but still in critical condition most of the day. I just received a call that he has taken a turn for the worse. Please, I beg...pray for my friend.....

I am a complete basket case right now.......

Believe,

Kevin

Whirlwind......

1st off, let me say...so sorry between updates. It has been a rather interesting few weeks in Casa de Vman.........

I completed 12 cycles of Folfox with Avastin mixed in for 8 cycles. My fingers and feet have finally succumbed to one of the bad side effects of one of the drugs...they are numb just about all day. It can be difficult to stand, walk, pick up items, even type... This can be permanent...I hope and pray that it will pass...

Most of you hooligans know I have played softball most of my life. I started sometime ,around 12 or 13, something like that. I have had my heyday, being part of a team that finished 6th in the world in Orlando in 1998, many HR's, game winning plays, etc.

My doctors after surgery told me I would not be able to play for 18-24 months and I was mortified. Something such a large part of my life taken away.

On May 6th I actually played in my 1st game in nearly a year. Considering my current treatment last Friday....and my condition, this was nothing short of a miracle. My 1st at bat, 1st live pitch I saw in over a year I ripped a hard single back up the middle. I know it is hard to say, I nearly shed a tear on the way to 1st, it was that moving.

On May 20th, I had my 1st post chemo PET scan. For those that dont know what a PET is...well it is a CT using radio active sugar that is absorbed by cancerous cells/tumors.

Vman takes a deep breath....

My liver is showing a new spot and no growth or shrinkage in the current ones. In both lungs....a have numerous sports that "lit" up on the PET. So it is confirmed...I have cancer in not only my liver but also both lungs.

This is not the news Brenda and I were looking for after 8 months of chemo. I started a new set of drugs Friday May 30th for another 6 months. The bright side...this is not the WORST news either......

The new chemo is BRUTAL. I threw up over 20 times in 2 days. My throat tissue was burnt from the acid I kept spitting up. I could hardly eat and lost 12 pounds in 48 hours. Plus the treatment in LONG. I was in the Cancer Center from 9:45am to 5:00pm.

But, there are MANY positives from this scan. The cancer has not spread past my lungs. Yes I know we are facing many more months of chemo plus a few more surgeries.

Right now I am doing more than surviving...I am thriving. Cancer SURVIVORS in the treatment plan I am on do not play softball, they do not ride at a brisk pace up in the mountains and none that I know of ride at a race pace at a track day.

God is so REAL to me. People say that I am amazing, strong, an inspiration...yes maybe I am all those but my strength comes from ABOVE. I know without God, I would already be dead. HE has blessed me with another 8 months on this Earth.

There are times I feel like "is this chemo really worth the pain?" or "do I really need to continue?" I have so much to be thankful for......I am not ready to throw in the towel and quit. I just am tightening up the laces on my gloves, stepping back in the ring and I will continue to FIGHT this terrible disease.

People have asked, "do you need anything?" The answer is a LOUD yes. Brenda and I covet your prayers. We both know that I am in the battle for my life, my very right to exist. I cannot express what all the calls, PM's, posts from my FAMILY here mean to us. It just helps to know you are not in this FIGHT alone......

Believe,

Kevin