The 2022 Murph Challenge Day 23: Theron Drier
What does is take to be a four time cancer survivor? Resilience, mental toughness, and whole lot more. He uses this Sheilah Passegger’s quote to summarize his journey, “Although my life will never be the same, because of cancer, it will always be more meaningful.”
Today’s dedication has been through some battles. As for cancer specific ones, that battle began back in 2009 just after he turned 30. Here is a quick recap of his journey through 4 bouts of cancer:
2009 – Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma – surgical removal of lymphs, chemotherapy regimen and maintenance therapy infusions every three months for two years
2012 – a cancer of unknown primary – than diagnosed as small bowel cancer – chemotherapy regimen – small bowel rescission
2015 – small bowel cancer recurrence – chemotherapy regimen – removal of lymph nodes
2021 – pancreatic cancer – removal of spleen, gallbladder, 21 lymph nodes and half of pancreas and currently on 2 years of immunotherapy every 4 weeks with 1 year complete.
There’s no doubt that Theron Drier is a warrior and helluva fighter. During his first bout with cancer he endured chemotherapy, graduated school studies, and first time parenthood all at the same time. The second bout included more milestones of a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and the birth of his daughter in 2011.
The fourth bout in April 2021 (pancreatic cancer), hit him the hardest. Theron says, “I wish I could tell you that with so much cancer experience the diagnosis gets easier to hear. It doesn’t. It is a rollercoaster of ups and downs full of despair and hope. However, cancer does not care how old you are, where you are in your life situation, your plans, or who rides that rollercoaster with you. What I can confidently tell you is that when you are touched by cancer you always have two choices: fight or flight. I have always choose to stand my ground and fight!”
Theron leans on his wrestling background to help him persevere, “I’ve grown to view my struggle with cancer as being very similar to a wrestling match…if there’s still time on the clock, there’s still time to win. I turned in my wrestling singlet years ago, but I still rely on the skills and discipline developed in wrestling to provide the necessary foundation and toughness to see me through whatever cancer hands me.”
His hope from reading his story, “concentrate more on enjoying the little things in life, because they are the hidden gems that make life worth living. After all, you are in charge of defining your life, how the time you have is spent, the greater good you want to contribute towards, and how others will remember you.”
Every Day We Fight is blessed to dedicate Day 23 of 32 to a man that refuses to stop fighting the good fight, Theron Drier.
When I did the Murph Challenge for the first time I became hooked. Not because it was fun but because it was painful, challenging, and meaningful.
These 31 challenges are a dedication to a fighter, a warrior, a person battling that’s an everyday hero.
– Tate Wheeler
“The Murph Challenge is more than just a workout. It is a tradition that helps push us, humble us, and allows us the opportunity to dedicate a bit of pain and sweat to honor, LT. Michael P. Murphy, a man who sacrificed everything he had for our freedom.”
-Murph Website