Participating in the Tournament

On August 23rd, our lake community hosted its annual Pickleball Tournament. I had originally signed up for the event in July, prior to receiving my cancer diagnosis. However, the tournament was postponed due to rain. When the rescheduled day arrived, the weather was beautiful, and I decided to participate and play to the best of my ability given my circumstances.

The tournament organizers divided us into groups, and the format allowed for decent breaks between each game, which gave me time to relax and recover. After completing the main portion of the tournament—six games—I was exhausted. The heat, a pounding headache, and my need for a daily nap all caught up with me. As we waited for the playoffs to begin, I took the opportunity to meditate and practice breathing exercises. Sitting on the bench, I even managed a short power nap.

The Playoff Challenge

Just as I considered asking Darcy to find a substitute for me in the playoffs, I heard the organizer announce that the playoffs would consist of three additional games, with winners determined by points. Encouraged by my brief rest and some Advil alleviating my headache, I decided to continue and play the extra games.

In the final game, I was paired with Darcy, and together we won with ease. The award ceremony began, and to my surprise, I was announced as the Gold medal winner for the women, while Darcy received the Gold medal for the men. We were both invited onto the Pickleball court for a special presentation of the Damien Leroy Trophy.

Honoring Damien Leroy

Damien Leroy was a beloved Carefree lot owner with a passion for Pickleball. Tragically, he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in November. To honor his memory, his family established an annual trophy in his name. During the presentation, Damien’s wife and daughter handed out this impressive trophy to the winners. I noticed their T-shirts, which featured a beautiful photo of Damien, and I shared with his wife that I remembered playing Pickleball with him the previous year. She was deeply touched to learn that both Darcy and I had known Damien, and she became emotional.

In that moment, a wave of emotion overcame me. I found myself confused about the purpose of the trophy—was it meant for Darcy as the male winner? I wondered if, perhaps, there might someday be a trophy for women as well. Would this trophy be in my name next year? The significance of the moment, combined with my personal struggles, brought me to tears. What made everything more surreal was that none of my Pickleball friends knew about my cancer diagnosis—I had been playing with Stage 3 cancer without telling anyone.

Reflecting on Resilience

After returning home, I was still processing the day’s events. With Darcy’s support, I began to reframe the experience. I came to see the win as a positive omen—not because of the medal, but because I chose not to give up. I found the resilience within myself to finish the tournament, and I recognized that this same resilience would be essential as I moved forward with my cancer treatments.

Interestingly, when the tournament took place in August, I believed that my greatest challenge would be enduring the full course of radiation and chemotherapy. Now, halfway through my treatment regimen, I realize that my real challenge is staying committed to eating. Maintaining my caloric intake is crucial to help my body recover, but the treatments have severely affected my saliva glands and taste buds, leaving me without an appetite. Eating has become a difficult and painful task, with mouth sores and a sore throat caused by radiation making even small meals arduous. Week three was especially tough, but by week four, increased pain medication provided some relief. Despite these challenges, I am determined to stay resilient and continue eating, relying on mouth rinses and washes to help keep my calories up and support my recovery.