| When I as a two-time breast cancer survivor was | | | | In another book authored by Dave, The Worth of a |
| undergoing breast cancer treatment, I wondered if I | | | | Man, he examines the impact of the amputation on |
| would ever recover. Was I dreaming that I'd live to | | | | his life. After a long search, Dave discovered his true |
| see my youngest son, who was only three at the | | | | worth could never be shaken by adversity or loss. |
| time, graduate from high school? Was there a chance | | | | Jan and he founded Dave Dravecky's Outreach of |
| of living beyond breast cancer? I was determined to | | | | Hope, a nonprofit organization based in Colorado |
| find out. | | | | Springs. God gave Dave a platform from which to |
| In my journey to find answers I was caught up in | | | | share hope with those around the world who are |
| the infectious enthusiasm of others who have faced | | | | suffering. |
| the jungle with grace and sophistication. Athletes who | | | | Another inspiring personality is Chuck Colson, who |
| are cancer survivors and motivational speakers inspire | | | | went to prison for his role in the Watergate break-in. |
| me to persevere. Dave Dravecky's story, chronicled | | | | Chuck emerged from jail to start Prison Fellowship, a |
| in his book Come Back, tells how he coped in the | | | | wonderful Christian ministry for inmates. He didn't cop |
| midst of overwhelming uncertainty. In 1988 he was | | | | out by saying, "I can't do anything now that I am a |
| at the top of his game as a major league baseball | | | | convict." Instead, he surprised his colleagues-and the |
| player. But his 5-1 opening day victory over the | | | | world- by humbling himself to work with people |
| Dodgers was overshadowed later that year by the | | | | whom some would consider to be the lepers of our |
| discovery of cancer and the removal of muscle from | | | | day-hardened criminals seemingly beyond mercy or |
| his pitching arm. Defying all odds, Dave came back to | | | | hope. His story of redemption is told in his riveting |
| pitch once more in the Major Leagues in 1989. Driving | | | | book, Born Again. |
| into Candlestick Park to play for the San Francisco | | | | Each of these heroes overcame tremendous odds, |
| Giants, he was playing a praise tape, and the song | | | | inspiring me to open a new chapter in my story of |
| "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart" caught his | | | | living beyond breast cancer. |
| attention. Dave had been told by his doctors that he | | | | Cancer can teach us how to lose impatience and |
| would never pitch again, short of a miracle. Yet that | | | | slow down. Why the hurry, anyway? I used to get |
| night he pitched a 4-3 win for the Giants. | | | | carsick as a child, and my parents would pull over and |
| Five days later, however, in Montreal, Dave threw | | | | stop to allow me to empty the contents of my |
| "the pitch that could be heard round the world." | | | | stomach. Cancer did the same thing as carsickness. It |
| Dave's arm suffered severe trauma, and he fell to | | | | forced me to put the brakes on my pace so I could |
| the ground, wracked in pain, devastated. The cancer | | | | relieve myself of the harried life and fathom the big |
| had returned yet again, and since his arm was not | | | | picture. We are always in a hurry to get somewhere, |
| improving, he was forced to retire from baseball in | | | | anxious about being diverted from our goal. But |
| November, 1989. Slowly the treatment and the | | | | carsickness, cancer, a car accident, a terrorist act, or |
| cancer ate away Dave's arm, leading to amputation. | | | | any other malady or suffering that life brings to us |
| In a book written with his wife Jan, entitled When | | | | allows us an opportunity to stop and smell the |
| You Can't Comeback, Dave describes his loss. | | | | gardenias. |