Off Script

An Angel in the dugout?

“Mark, do you read books?”  This question caught me off guard last month between softball games at the Southwest Championship tournament in Las Vegas.  

“To be honest, not very often,” I replied to Cathy, our Sidewinder’s team scorekeeper.  When I asked why, she told me she had been thinking about my situation and brought me a book I might like to read.  I felt a little unrefined and recovered by saying, “Diane likes to read, what’s it about?”  She told me a little about the book when she handed it to me and I thanked her and stashed it in my softball bag.

That was April 9th, the first day of our three day tournament.  We had a few more games later that day and on my way to the parking lot after the last game I got a phone call from Diane.  Our son-in-law Joel had been in a terrible accident.  She only had limited information at that time.  

We soon found out that Joel had been on his way from Denver via Texas and on to California to work at the annual three week Coachella Music Festival near Palm Springs.  Rachel was not with him at the time.  Her and Joel had driven their truck loaded with his pedicab and towing a teardrop trailer to see his family in Denton Texas.  They were there to see the eclipse and meet up with Joel’s brother Jessie who also had his truck and pedicab.  Together Joel and Jessie caravanned to California.  

Joel at work during the 2023 Super Bowl festivities in Phoenix

Traveling on I-10 near Chiriaco Summit in a typical Palm Springs windstorm, another vehicle cut in front of Joel causing him to swerve which led the truck to the soft sand on the side of the road.  The truck then rolled over several times miraculously tossing Joel out of the cab during the process.  Jessie, following about a mile behind in traffic saw the teardrop trailer on the side of the road and knew his brother was in trouble.

When Jessie came upon the scene he found Good Samaritans attending to Joel who was 50 feet from the wreckage and pinned underneath his pedicab.  One of the strangers was an off duty EMT and made sure to keep his neck and back stabilized.  Joel was airlifted to Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs where he was in ICU for 8 days, then a total of 13 days.  

His injuries were quite significant.  He had 3 surgeries.  One to repair his shattered clavicle, then one for his damaged sternum and finally to repair 19 ribs that were either broken or “floating”.  

Rachel flew directly to Palm Springs and was joined by Joel’s father and mother for the first week.  Then, Diane and I drove over for the following week.  Joel stayed in Palm Springs until the festival was over.  Some of his fellow pedi-cabers offered to drive him home to Denver however, the hospital recommend he not travel to the Denver elevation until his lungs improved.  They drove him to Phoenix where he stayed with us for about a week.  Then his dad Rich rented a motor home and drove Joel back to Denton, Texas.  There he was surrounded by family and friends and arrived in time for his Grandmother’s 95th birthday.  He is healing slowly but confidently and has been cleared to travel home in the next few days. 

Off Script (what to do when God rewrites your life) by Cary Schmidt

That’s the name of the book Cathy gave me that day.  Would you like to believe that it’s pure coincidence or are you knowledgeable to believe that this was God’s plan?  This book is what we needed, when we needed it.  Diane and I began to read the book simultaneously upon my return from Las Vegas and prior to our drive to Palm Springs.  

Cary Schmidt is a pastor in Connecticut who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and shares his journey when his earthly plans are altered by an unexpected trial.  Joel’s accident has altered their life plans.  The author and Diane and I are “Off Script” via unexpected cancer.  Trials will happen in your life, things YOU are not planning on, divorce, death of a loved one, addictions, any circumstance you would never choose.

Cary’s premise shares his ten decisions that will transform your perspective in the midst of your trial.  

“If your world has gone awry, if your life is off script, perhaps this book can help you discover God’s heart, God’s joy, and God’s truth in the fog of uncertain reality.”

Paul Chappell, Pastor of Lawrence Baptist Church in Lancaster, California 

Current Update:

Since my last blog I have had my second CT scan for monitoring progress of this new trial.  The first scan in March was very encouraging with significant reduction in the size of my tumors.  So significant that following that scan the doctors offered to increase my dosage from 160mg to 300mg.  

I learned that we are still in Phase 1 of this trial and approaching Phase 2.  Currently, there are 24 patients in this trial worldwide with 4 of us at MDAnderson.  Remember, this medicine is not exclusively for mesothelioma patients.  The medicine is genetic based, not based on a single cancer.  While it is available for other cancers, it seems to respond well in mesothelioma patients.

My second scan, on the new dosage, was last week and the results were amazing.  Almost a reverse “off script” experience.  The medical team that met with us explained that my bloodwork was basically unaffected by the higher dosage and my tumors have shrunk again!

The top graph represents the total mass of tumors in centimeters.  The bottom of the graph is the percentage of reduction.

In just 16 weeks there’s been a 51% reduction.  It is sort of mind blowing and very exciting for us!  The doctors were thrilled.  Remember, this experiment belongs to them and they want success for all the trial participants.  

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you.

Isaiah 43:2

Being a river guy, I love scripture that includes rivers so I threw in this photo of my trip on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon!

Diane and I arrived in Alaska a few days ago for the summer and we are enjoying the cooler weather and a chance to have a great summer doing Alaska things!  We hope to stay here until late October with a trip to Houston every 28 days.

As always, thank you for your love and support and following our “off script” journey.

Be Kind, everyone you meet is going through something you know nothing about.  Pray for each other and help lift people through whatever trial they may be experiencing.