One of the last things you want to hear about is someone getting diagnosed with cancer. It’s one heck of a battle to fight.
I was told last week that Plant City High senior Russell Kemp was recently diagnosed with it, and that his football coaches and teammates were organizing a fundraiser for him that Thursday. I’m told it went very well — one of the busiest nights that that Beef ‘O’ Brady’s has ever had. Hearing about that success made me feel good about living and working in this community.
That was the easy part. The hardest part of the road lies just ahead. But cancer is something that can be beaten. Russell, I’m sure you know that, and are already planning for it.
Put up a fight like local softball player Taylor Goethals, who’s battled cancer twice and has always kept her head up. I met her at last year’s car wash fundraiser, as she was just beginning her second go-round with cancer. I was shocked at how upbeat she was. The nature of the event probably helped her out there, but I never picked up any vibes of weakness from talking to her — just confidence.
That’s impressive for anyone dealing with cancer, and even more so for someone who had recently found out that it came roaring back into her body. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that so many people in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World have been eager to support her in her latest fight.
One of my best friends from Florida Gulf Coast University, Dan, was diagnosed with brain cancer last year, right after he graduated and got a job on the East Coast. He’s probably the most stubborn person I know, for better or worse, and he made it clear right off the bat that he wasn’t going to let it get him down.
We were talking about NBA basketball one day when, out of the blue, he said, “By the way, I found out that I have brain cancer.” He was so candid when talking about it that I didn’t even get fearful for him right away. It took a few minutes for me to register how much more serious it was than he made it sound.
Dan went through several rounds of chemotherapy in Miami, which were hard on his entire body. But he was able to make it out to Fort Myers in January for a mutual friend’s wedding.
“My dialysis lady says I’m allowed to drink liquor now,” he triumphantly announced to a room full of fellow fraternity men.
He wrapped up initial chemo a few weeks ago and has to get either radiation treatment or a stem cell transplant sometime soon.
We all believed Dan would come out on top of this fight because he never doubted himself — not even once. I got the same feeling about Taylor’s self-confidence when I met her and, as a football player, I’m sure you’ll be similarly ready to meet whatever challenges you’ll have to face.
I believe coach Greg Meyer’s favorite saying, the one I’ve always heard the Raiders’ defensive players say, is something along the lines of, “If that tree doesn’t come down on the first swing, just keep chopping.” This is a big tree for anyone but, as long as you’re willing to use that ax, you can bring it down.
Keep chopping, Russell. We’re all in your corner.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.