Friends of Team Whitaker........here is part of 2 of my musings, thoughts, & highlights from the last 3 months......thanks for your interest, prayers, & friendship. The written word is the forum in which I "work it out"......take what you like or none at all......so pull up a chair.
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June 2010: Captex Triathlon with TnT; Sooners are Omaha bound; the move is complete
June started off with a bang and the CapTex Triathlon on May 31st! I trained with the Central Texas chapter for this Olympic distance event and had "duel citizenship" with the Oklahoma team for this awesome event. Round 2 of my LLS speaking tour continued as shared our story and Mitchell's legacy with 250 folks at the Inspiration dinner the night before the event. Getting a chance to thank folks who have joined our battle...and honor Mitchell's legacy.....will never get old. I was "in" the moment....and the night went well. I know that alot of folks were moved by our story.....and my hope is that they "keep fighting" with us.
Race day went well in light of the lack of training I had due to work travel, moving, etc. It was an exceptionally difficult race weather wise....very hot and humid. I was pleased to finish w/o injury and conquer my "Olympic" distance. I put Olympic in quotations since the nimrods that organized this little fandango mismarked the swim distance by 350m and the run by 4/10 of a mile. So I knocked out a 1850mtr swim / 25mile bike / 6.6mile run........and then enjoyed the company of my fellow racers in the TnT tent.
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Sooner Baseball - GoMitchGo bands - "keep fighting" - Fathers Day in Omaha
Well....the Sooners got on a roll and put it all together during the regional. It was great to watch faces of young men that I have to come to know have success. It was even better to watch a coaching staff enjoy the same thing! All throughout the regionals in Norman and Super Regionals in Charlottesville........you could spot our "GoMitchGo - Keep Fighting" bands on many of the players.
Mitchell Whitaker has a framed #18 jersey in the OU locker room. The OU staff has announced that the Mitchell Whitaker Courage Award will be given annually to the Sooner that best embodies strength in the face of adversity. When Mitchell passed away, I received a call from Coach Golloway seeking my permission and a favor. Coach G wanted my permission to change his #29 for the 2008 season to #18...w/o a name on the back......in Mitchell's honor. It would be tribute to Mitch and allow him to "see" all the fields of the Big 12. The ultimate goal: Get to Omaha. Take Mitchell along for the ride.
So if any of you choose to repeat the sports radio and internet chatter questioning Golloway's "character"......I suggest you keep it buttoned up around me unless you need help with your healthcare/dental deductible. Nuff Said.
Well....it wasn't meant to be in 2008....or 2009......but 2010....had everything fall into place.
Promise made - Promise kept.
Dad and I were headed to Omaha to root on the Sooners.......on Fathers Day. Just another sign that my Heavenly Father has it all under control.
Providence....not coincidence
As I boarded my 4th Southwest flight in 6 days (work)....I was a little emotional as I reflected on Mitchell's last season of baseball. I just flat out was gonna miss him on this trip......and it was Fathers Day weekend as well. Ugh. It is always great to spend time with my Dad during baseball season....a common language and common understanding of how the game is be played......is perfect for the male species. It means we can spend a few hours w/o really talking and have a great time. Chicks don't get that....nor were they made to understand it. :)
Fathers Day morning in Lincoln, Nebraska was a wet and dreary affair. However, we both got out and ran 5.5 miles for to start the morning off and were looking forward to Rosenblatt. This was my 5th trip to Omaha....but Dad's first. There is no better athletic event in the world in my opinion. Baseball at it's highest "pure" level.....and 8 teams and fanbases pushing, yelling, & rooting.....to take the title.
We arrived early for BP and made our way toward the OU dugout to visit with players and coaching staff. Ryan Gaines, Director of Baseball Operations, was the first stop........followed by Kaleb Herren, #18, who knows full well that wearing that number is serious business :) We had a good half hour visit during the rain delay. Dad took lots of pictures and we were both struck as to how awesome the atmosphere is on that stage. Gaines approached me a bit later and says "Hey....don't be surprised if ESPN wants to visit with you during the game. They are always looking for human interest angles for each team and Mitchell is the obvious choice for us.......so heads up."
On cue....OU's SID plops down beside me with ESPN's Kyle Peterson in tow. We visit for a bit and agree that we will go "live" during the 3rd inning. Hmm....although my heart misses my son.......I now get to speak of his courage and my love for him on national TV.
Providence....not coincidence.
10 minutes later.....Rick Turnbill and his son, Brady, age 10 show up. Brady is a baseball terror.....and knows Mitchell's story from his parents. Rick has said that Bradys wants to meet "Mitch's dad"........and now he stands in front of me. Same height....just right....just like another 10 yo ballplayer that has been on my mind the entire trip. Shady Brady and I talk baseball for awhile....and joke....and hit it off. We agree to hook up with the Turnbills once the game starts and poach better seats. A spitting image of Mitchell at age 10.....with me in Omaha.....on Fathers Day.
Providence.....not coincidence.
As we finally get the game under way and make our way to out seats......I plop down beside to young men. Look to be age 13.....both ballplayers. Real baseball players can always spot other real ballplayers.....regardless of age. The hat is worn right......not like some wanna be weakstick MTV washout faux hit pop rap star. Dillon and Drake were, in fact, 13 years old from Plainview, Oklahoma.....at their first CWS....and wanted to talk shop about the teams. I was happy to oblige...since this is exactly what I would be doing with Mitchell.....discussing infield footwork, guessing pitch selection by player positioning, & arguing balls/strikes from left field. Talk turned to kids and my wrist band. I told them about Mitchell.....and told them that this band is what the players were wearing. They were very attentive and respectful as explained Mitchell's story (products of good parenting) and said "we are sorry for your loss". I hooked them up with some bands and told them about the website and facebook group.
3rd inning came and went......Espn came a calling.....as my section did a group think freakout as I left them and went to the camera for my interview. The rumor spread amongst our section that I was Chip Glass, OU MVP from the 94 national title........I just said "nope....I am Mitchell's dad." hahaha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6KlAHBINlM
Providence......not coincidence.
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School days for Meredith
As the Texas heat wore on........with a heapin' helpin' of humidity.......the start of the school year was just around the corner. Meredith had made some lil chick friends in our neighborhood to bring the first day of school anxiety level down a bit.......for mom and dad. I don't think Meredith was ever worried. The kid just goes with the flow, man.
As we walked her into class during the "meet your teacher" and "transfer student orientation" days.....we couldn't be help but be struck by the fact that Rowe Lane Elementary was recognized by the Leukemia Lymphoma Society as the #1 fundraising school in the Austin area during 2009 / 2010.
Providience......not coincidence.
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September 19, 2007 - rewind
I hate September 19th. It will.....for as long as I live be my saddest day. It was the last day that we truly had "Mitchell"........the last day I got to joke with him.....the last day that I got to have him kiss me. September 19, 2007, started off as a great day. Mitchell was feeling better after a surgery to drain his lungs and he was able to sit up most of the day. He was talking, joking, watching tv, eating, and working to conquer a Lego project on his little hospital bed table. I came in to relieve Tracy at 230pm. She headed home to pick up Meredith and spend the night in our bed. Dad was coming up in the evening to help out with Mitchell.....because it become a 2 person job to move IV poles, medication poles, etc for bathroom breaks during the night.
Our friend Trey Wells came by to visit.....and talk about life. We had a fun time until lights out around 9pm. I could tell Mitchell was restless and uncomfortable....but he slept off/on until about 11pm. The next 6 hours was hell. He was in pain......and was sick to his stomach every hour.....his legs hurt and he was sore from his bed.......so here we were......3 generations of Whitaker men......trying to save the youngest among us. At one point, after we had been up to use the restroom....again.....I just told Mitch that he needed to just walk in place for little bit to help out his legs. He did it.....and I have never been more proud of 10 steps in place in my life.....as I watched his little legs that were wasting away from this cursed damned disease move up and down slowly. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes.....in pain....at his father......and sobbed: "I did it for your Dad."
He managed as much of a smile as he could........body shaking.......seeking approval from me that he already had. I held him close....kissed his lips and the top of his head and told him: "You sure did. I am so proud of you....and I am sorry that you have to go through this. I love you, buddy."
The night drug on.....and Mitchell continued to get worse. Thursday morning, September 20th.......we were admitted to the PICU........where he was placed on a ventilator....and sedated. By late Saturday, September 22nd............we knew that he would not be making a comeback.
Mitchell passed away at 308am on Thursday morning, September 27th........but the boy that I knew was gone after September 19th.
My prayer is that in my weakened condition.....with flaws that embarass me to the core.......I can look up at my Father, through tears, and because of my obedience say: "I did it for you Dad."
He loves me.....and knows what is best......and my obedience, not my performance, makes Him proud. Giving the life of His Son for me, and you, provides me with all the answers that I ever need.
Providence.....not coincidence.
Be gone - September 19th.
Live on, Mitchell Whitaker.
Keep Fighting.
Posted on
Sun, September 19, 2010
by John Whitaker