MSM Talk February 4th

Last Night I gave a short talk at Mount Saint Marys University to promote their forth-coming Relay For Life. This was during the Women's Basketball Game. I was pretty calm until the announcer broadcasted " At Half time Hear the Powerful Story of Michal O'Grady, a Cancer Survivor"

Wow, Powerful would not have been the adjective I would have used as I tried to keep my story somewhat light. Didn't really want to discuss some of the "finer points" such as being dissected ! (Sorry I meant Resected)

Thank Goodness Sue was with me, I looked at her, she at me and we both laughed.

It went well but coming home my car started acting up, looks like we'll have both cars in the shop at the same time. They know us well at Enterprise Car Rental.

It's been cold and snowy here this last week and I am hesitant to train hard in fear of slipping and re-injuring my abdominal section, as I am slowly getting over it. I ran six and a half miles Sunday Morning with out use of the ACE wrap and it was fine.

Below is the text of my speech last night, I rewrote it so many times, thanks Sue and Joe for your input.

Stay well all...... Mike

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Good Evening My Name is Michael O'Grady, I have been asked to speak with you tonight about my experience with cancer.

I am a Husband, A Father........... A Mount Grad ......Class of.... OMG..... 1976......... an Ultra Distance Runner and a Cancer Survivor.

Three years ago my wife and I returned to the Mount to participate in the Relay for Life... We did so to honor the memory of a dear friend who had passed away from Pancreatic Cancer.

Little did I know, just a year later my phone would ring and the words no one wants to hear would ring clear, ............. “Mike, I'm sorry, it's Cancer”.

It's not that I thought it couldn't happen to me .... it just seemed the odds were in my favor.......... I was in great shape, never smoked, no family history, good diet..

Colon Rectal Cancer is a “Silent Killer”, a disease which can linger for years with no symptoms. It's the third leading cancer killer among men and women yet it's one of the cancers somewhat preventable with recommended screenings.

Where I went terribly wrong was assuming that I could “Push” the recommendations. I didn't get a Colonoscopy at fifty, ............. instead, I chose to enter middle age by running my first fifty mile race.

To be honest with you I would like to forget most of the time during my treatments but here is one story. My Surgeon, Dr. Howard Berg, happens to be the race director for Susie's cause, a 5k race to promote Colon Cancer Awareness. At my second appointment he left his office returning with a race application. “Mike” he said, I want you to be “My Horse” in the 50 year old division.

The problem was, this race was six weeks after Major Surgery plus I would be sporting an Ostomy bag. “Sure Doc”, ................I took his application thinking “No Freaking Way”.

I decided to try and perhaps because I was twenty pounds lighter, I managed a decent time and ......... won my age group. It was a wonderful feeling and timely as well, for the very next day I started chemotherapy.

Last Month The Frederick News Post Wrote a Story about Me...... the theme being that Cancer did not rule me. I ran through radiation, chemo and surgeries. .... a good story but not complete.

For what was missing is that I never, ever could have done what I did without the support of many.

First my wife, who stood by me at every step of the way. She lent me her ear and her heart in my darkest moments, never letting me know the depth of her own feelings as she dealt with my cancer.

My Children, who rallied to the cause. I was the recipient of many massages to “wake up” hands and feet, numb from Chemotherapy....... too often calling upstairs.......... Maggie....... “Can You Rub My Feet”.

If I could read minds, hers might have been saying “Sure Dad, just what I was dreaming of ..... to rub your stinky feet ! What daughter wouldn't relish that opportunity !

Family and friends whose calls, notes, emails and visits seemed to arrive when I needed a boost. And because of extreme generosity my son stayed in college and we kept our home as we tackled mounting medical bills.

The Docs, Nurses and the Medical Staffs ................ all part of the team helping me fight.

Strangers, most of whom I will never meet, lacing up their own shoes to walk, run or Relay raising funds for Cancer Research, and support and awareness.

Without all of this, I may never have gotten off the couch much less “Run Through Cancer”

This past November ten months after re-connective surgery I ran and completed my ninth JFK 50 miler.

I'll be back here to Relay Next Month. I hope to see many of you and invite all to walk / run a lap, maybe two ......... or perhaps fifty with me so we can all fight cancer together.

God Bless Go Mount

PS> Sorry to say that the Mount Women Lost the Game