Terry and I were enjoying our first stay at Good Vibes, working hard on making it our own, and really liking the night sky we got. It gives Deck Time a whole new meaning. On Friday I got an email that a colleague and friend from Cal State Northridge had been taken off life support--the next day I got a follow up email that he had passed away. Here is the short announcement from the CSUN President's office:
It is with very deep sadness that we share the unfortunate news that Faculty President and Professor of Kinesiology, Dr. Shane Frehlich, passed away Friday evening after his long battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this sad and difficult time. His wife Dianne, his 3 year old sons Max and Miles, and his 11 month old son Jonas appreciate all of the love and support the CSUN faculty, staff, and students have shown them these past couple of years.
Dianne Harrison, President
(I found this longer announcement today):
I knew Shane for many years, mostly as members in the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education. He was a leader in NAKHE and was definitely on a path to be elected as its President before too long.
About 3 years ago, just before his twin sons were to come home after many months in the hospital due to premature births, Shane was first diagnosed with Leukemia. Shane talked with me a few times about Cancer World. He fought really hard to go into remission after about a year, and to return to his work at CSUN. He was feeling well enough about the future for he and Dianne to have their third child last year. I thought that he was well on his way to a long life as a cancer survivor, only to learn the terrible news this weekend, which was a huge shock to me.
There are very few genuinely good people in this world, but Shane was one of them. He was a great family man, a respected professor, a good citizen of NAKHE, and a friend to all he met. Anyone who spoke of him would always start or end with "He's such a nice guy."
(I found another story today):
http://www.gofundme.com/FrehlichFamily
The GoFundMe page is there for the story, not to solicit donations.
Beyond the fact of Shane's death from cancer, his passing has caused me to re-think my own current condition. Since the jaw surgery in June I have found myself often bemoaning my condition and fighting off anger--thinking more about what I can't do and have lost, rather than what I am still able to do. I was starting to forget my own motto that "It sure beats the alternative." Well, the 'alternative' slapped me in the face in the form of Shane's passing, and has caused me to once again be thankful for so many things I still have as a cancer survivor--a loving and supportive wife, great family and friends, a rewarding career, and yes, even that yucky Isosource I inject into my tummy three times a day.
While we were having lunch yesterday, I stole one of Terry's french fries just to see if I could eat one bite of it. I was not even close to being able to swallow it--but I sure could taste it! More evidence that without that yucky Isosource liquid, I'd be unable to function at any level short of nursing care at home.
This has also reminding me that my worst fear is that I will have to face another direct battle with the Prairie Dogs, as Shane did and lost. As long as that doesn't happen, I know I can handle the rest of what Cancer World holds for me. As my brother Jim once told me, "Any day you can get out of bed and both feet hit the floor at about the same time, you're doing OK."
That will always beat the alternative.
Rest in Peace, Shane.
Mike
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