PITCHING FOR OUR HEALTH

When I was a full-time teacher, at Mount Clemens High School, I would often look out over the two dozen or more students in my classroom and say to myself, there's a great story out there for every kid. I don't know much about any of them and they don't know much about me.

I feel the same way about the horseshoe pitchers in the WSHPA. This comes to mind when I read in the Ringer Report about a surgery or health problem of one of our members.

As I talk to members and get to know them, they are willing to tell me about some of their health experiences. For myself, it was just a year ago in March that I underwent major surgery for an abdominal tumor the size of a cantaloupe, Lucky for me, I am fully recovered and playing the great game of horseshoes.

My friend and mentor, Claude Shannahan, this spring had major exploratory lung surgery. I was concerned as were all WSHPA members about his health and wondered if he would ever pitch horseshoes again. He's back, sooner than anyone thought, because he loves our great game.

Bob Mullenhour, after a terrible accident, never gave up and is now enjoying our game pitching left handed. George Tanner, whom I pitched against for the first time in last year's state tournament, is now pitching left handed because of an injury to his right arm some year's ago. Another of my mentors, Ted Kowalski, walks on artificial knees. Marv Falk is back pitching after heart by-pass surgery. Steve Summerlin and Joe Poliski moved up as short distance pitchers because of cardiac and other surgeries. These are just a few of the WSHPA members whom I am lucky to know who have overcome a medical problem. You may know many more. It's amazing to me to hear such stories, and I have to believe God gave us the game of horseshoes so we could enjoy life to its fullest.

And now comes the latest, Jerry Shene. I first pitched against Jerry at Berkley Days in 1999. I knew he loved our great game because of the shirt and jacket he wore. When one displays on a shirt or jacket the sport he plays, you know he loves the game and that alone promotes our sport. Like

all of us, we have our good and bad points and Jerry is no different. Jerry joined the Mount Clemens Indoor Horseshoe Pitchers Club last year, and some of our members would get a little irritated with him. But Jerry will grow on you and all the indoor members now love the man.

We drove to a tournament in Jackson early this year and Jerry was having some breathing problems during the 3rd or 4th game. He keep saying, "I was just to the doctor and he gave me some pills to take; I guess I'd better go back and see him, I'm short of breath." As we drove back to Macomb County later that day, Jerry and I had a long talk about health. I got to know him on the inside.

This year's Berkley Days found Jerry entering the tournament after many weeks of not pitching. The April Indoor Playoff Tournament was the last time he had pitched. Jerry, again, after two games found it difficult to breathe.

On Friday, May 26th, Jerry had a mild stroke, and was hospitalized. About three days later, his doctor let him out to attend his brother's funeral. Later in June, Jerry underwent tests and it was determined he had to have heart by-pass surgery if he ever was to compete in pitching horseshoes again.

On Wednesday, June 21, Jerry had quadruple by-pass surgery. I am now waiting to hear that it was a success.

I just wanted to tell you this story because sometimes we don't really know our fellow WSHPA members. We all have stories to tell about our lives.

Debbie Markley, this year, took it upon herself to send cards out to WSHPA members who have birthdays and are sick or in the hospital, and we are glad she took over that responsibility. I can tell you from experience that a card, phone call, letter, or small note means a lot. It will hurry the healing process so that we can get back to the game we love... pitching horseshoes. If you know of anyone who has been ill, or lost a loved one, especially WSHPA members, make an effort to welcome them back to the WSHPA and say a kind word to them.

You will have a friend for life!