Foxboro Golf Open Featuring Mark Muench

Mark Muench competing in the Foxboro open in Fairport NY on the 19th hole.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING - Amazing things are happening

I know I am thankful today. I guess everyday should be considered Thanksgiving.

If I told you, you wouldn’t believe it, but its true. There are angels walking amidst us everyday. Since returning home & getting stronger my closest angels are my family. I cannot drive so they all take turns driving me to where I have to go. It’s especially nice when I am with my son Chris because he is a good driver who takes his time ( not like his dad!) Mary has been making her delicious soups & cooking & Brian is helping with many chores that need to be done.

All of my health care providers have been wonderful. I started Physical Therapy with Kathy Leonard who rehabbed my Achilles tendon injury in 1997. She is the best ! I am walking better everyday & only use a cane for safety ( and to get sympathy !)

What is truly amazing is the energy I have … STEROIDS ! That is what the docs say .. but I think it is from up above.

I start my radiation & chemo treatments on 12/7/09 at the Wilmot Cancer Center@ Strong. It will be a 6 week regiment. I was fitted for my radiation mask 0n Thursday. The people at the Wilmot Cancer Center are so nice.

All of what has happened has certainly put things in perspective. What is truly important are the people that are close to you in everyday life. The most important person is “ yourself ” – not in a selfish way. If you don’t take care of yourself spiritually & physically you can’t take care of someone else. So start with yourself.

I have to give credit for learning that at Matt Talbot Ministries in Rochester, NY. If it wasn’t for that ministry, my life would be much different. Remember the angels I was talking about ! I met some there.

More recently I have encountered so many wonderful people because of my illness. Just think if I wasn’t ill I would have never met them.

Just so you know I have had moments of just being plain “scared”. There is no definitive answer as to “ how long”. Only God knows the answer to that one. At one point in the hospital I thought “ this is it.” However, Mary & I believe in MIRACLES .. and a MIRACLE will take place.

I know all of your prayers are heard. Please also pray for other sick people that you know. The power of prayer can be unbelievable.

Also. A BIG “ THANK YOU” for all of the cards, letters, flowers, food etc. I have enough … just say a prayer each day that is all I/we need.

I doubt I will be able to respond to all of the wonderful things people have sent my way so all I can say is “ Thanks”.

Just remember this … Miracles happen and do happen everyday. You just have to open your eyes. If you keep them open I guarantee you will see an angel. God knows we need more angels in this world we live in.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!

PS - Check out the movie/dvd - AUGUST RUSH. It's a pretty good story. Very sentimental but has a good message. If you have HBO it is on this month. ( sorry I am spoiled)

MARK'S ENTOURAGE

Jennifer, Marcy, Mary, Kathy and Mark

Starting another journey .......

Eleven days after brain surgery …. A MIRACLE ! I am sitting at home with my family & would like to go out and play 18 holes of golf !! Unfortunately I have some difficulty walking so that won’t be happening. Don’t worry I started PT yesterday & they will have me walking better in no time.

THANKS for all of the prayers & support, that is what makes the difference.

Lou Gehrig said he was the “ luckiest man on the face of the earth “. I know what he meant. I am standing in his shoes.

Thanks to my surgeon ( Dr. Howard Silberstein) & the staff at Strong Memorial I am making an amazing recovery.

So here is where we are at as of today. I have been diagnosed with a brain tumor called a Glioblastoma. Most of it was removed but a little remains. I will start treatment in 2-3 weeks ( radiation & chemo-therapy ) combined. I will be treated at the Wilmot Cancer Center @ Strong Memorial Hospital.

Again, I want to thank all of you for your support. Keep praying .. it works !

Most of all what you can do for me & my family is to DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE LESS FORTUNATE THAN OURSELVES.

I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Family is the most important thing we all have … so cherish it. I believe if you have a strong faith, family & friends that you can make it through anything.

PEACE --- Mark.

I am Blessed !

Hello Everyone !! A week ago today I was preparing for surgery at 12:15 pm. I arrived home on Monday 11/16 @ 3:15 pm.

THANK YOU ! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! for all your thoughts & prayers over the past week. I could feel everyone of them. That has what has pulled me through & will continue to do so. I am so blessed to have the best family & friends in the world.

I want you all to know that STRONG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (URMC) is the BEST medical facility in the world ! ( I am not kidding) The care I received from the moment I checked in the ED on Sunday 11/8 was unbelievable. People make the place & experience. The employees at SMH are fantastic. The first people that made an impression on me were the "transporters". They wheel you from procedure to procedure. They don't know who you are & they don't know what condition you may have but they are very important because most people would rather be somewhere else at that given point in time. Their smile & voice make all the difference.

The administrators, nurses. techs, doctors are the BEST in the world at SMH. They brought me into their home, fixed me up & sent me home. They did their job & a good one at that. Thanks to all of them I can begin my road to recovery.

Well - believe it or not getting tired already ... will start workouts soon. I will try to keep you posted daily on the blog & stay in contact with you.

Thanks again for your support & prayers they mean the world to me & my family.

LOVE - MARK

Picture of my surgeon Dr. Howard Silberstein

There's no place like home.....

Mark is so appreciative for the world-class care and all the kindness and he received at Strong but it sure is great to be home at last!

If you click on the Flickr Photostream on the right you can see some of the pictures from the hospital and some from when Mark, Mary and the boys got home today. The big sign in the neighborhood that reads, “WE [love] U MARK” says it all!

Mark sounds and looks great but, as you can imagine, he’s still pretty tired and needs some rest. Mark and Mary are still requesting your patience and to hold off on visiting for a couple of more days while they get acclimated to being back home. They continue to feel so blessed by all the support they have received. Every thought, prayer and encouraging word has made a difference. Mark, Mary, Andrew, Brian and Chris send their love and thanks to all!

P.S. For those that haven't joined it already please check out the "Pray for Mark Muench" group on Facebook!

Steve Jobs sends prayers out for Mark!

Chris sent an email to Steve Jobs, the famous CEO of Apple Computer telling him about Mark’s surgery and to ask him to pray for him. Chris didn’t do this just because he is an Apple fan but also because Steve Jobs is a cancer survivor.

Sure enough, Steve replied to Chris’s email within a matter of hours! He said he would send some prayers out for Mark and wished the whole family well!

How cool is that?! It’s great to have friends in high places and we don’t just mean Steve Jobs! ☺

Update: We feel so blessed by your kindness....

Hi everyone!

Mark and Mary along with Andrew, Brian and Chris are so grateful for the outpouring of support they have received from so many family and friends! They are truly touched by the love and kindness that has been shown to them!

As you can imagine, Mark is pretty tired from the surgery and all the activity. For the next couple of days Mark and Mary would like to limit visitors at the hospital to give Mark a chance to rest up and assist his recovery. Mark might be home as soon as Monday and it will be a lot easier for him to see visitors there. We’ll keep you posted.

Many have asked about sending flowers. Mark has asked that if you wanted to send something to consider a donation in lieu of flowers to either:

Fairport Challenger Baseball
c/o Ken Minor
36 Shannon Glenn
Fairport, NY 14450

OR

Matt Talbot Ministries.
514 Oxford St.
Rochester, NY 14607

OR

The Perl Foundation. (Computer Software Programming Language)
6832 Mulderstraat
Grand Ledge, MI 48837

The thoughts and prayers are making a difference. Please keep them coming. Mark, Mary, Andrew, Brian and Chris feel truly blessed and are so thankful for your love and support!

Photos

My Dad loves photos and there are zillions on his computer. We will be uploading photos frequently. We will pick out the best as he recovers. You can see them by clicking on "View Flickr Photostream" on the right side of the page.

4th Update

My Dad Mark Muench had a successful surgery to remove a tumor from his brain. He is recovering fast inside ICU. He loves everyone and wants everyone to pray and have fun!

3rd Update

My Dad Mark Muench is currently being closed up and stable. The Dr. will be here within the hour.

2nd Update

My Dad's surgery is going as planned and we hope it completes in 1-2 hours.

Surgery Started

My Dad Mark Muench surgery is underway. Pray for him.

Update

My Dad, Mark Muench is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday 10/11/2009 afternoon to determine what the mass is inside his brain (and remove if possible). The mass is 2cm x 3cm. As usual Mark is in good spirits and enjoying life. Update to follow after surgery. Pray for the best.