Mental Fitness for Good Health

“Centered by a Miracle”

Surviving cancer was a miracle for Steve Rom.  A miracle that did not occur accidentally and in the solitude, while he laid in a sterile hospital room under the cloud of life-threatening cancer.

The miracle was delivered by an angel.  The angel was a retired, 300 pounds center and lineman from the University of Michigan, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens. 

In the big house and many stadiums across the country, this hulking lineman paved the way through menacing defenses for a group of star, running backs.  After his retirement because of injury and numerous surgeries, this caring friend and "teammate" paved the way for a miracle, his friend’s recovery from cancer. 

He went from centering footballs to centering miracles.

Rod Payne was an All-American center for the University of Michigan and a most valuable player on the 1996 Wolverine’s team.  He played for two professional football teams, after he took off the winged Wolverine helmet. He was a member of the Super Bowl winning team, the Baltimore Ravens, in 2000.

Rod Payne was no stranger to hospitals, as he had 11 or 12 surgeries. 

After retiring from professional football, he consented to be interviewed by Steve Rom, a beginning reporter for The Ann Arbor News.  Steve Rom wrote an article about his friendship with Rod Payne and his miracle recovery from cancer in the October 28th, 2006 edition of The Wolverine.

Both Steve and Rod had histories without fathers.  Coaches became Rod Payne’s fathers.  Steve Rom wrote, "I wasn’t so lucky.  I never did learn those lessons of manhood and mental toughness."

Rod Payne became Steve’s coach.  Rod shared with Steve the lessons he learned from playing football.  Rod taught Steve the value of "teamwork, pride, dedication and work ethic".

While on vacation, Steve was hospitalized with the flu.  He called and told his friend, Rod, he wasn’t coming home.  His diagnosis had been changed.  Steve said, "I have leukemia".

Steve did not remember very much.  He was hooked up to six IV machines pumping high dosages of chemotherapy into his body.  He had a morphine pump.  Every two minutes he used to pump, because of severe chest pain.

Looking though the cloudiness of his condition, he saw the 6-3, 300-pound Super Bowl champion coming towards him.  The gentle giant gave him a bear hug, which "almost crushed me".  Rod focused and committed: "Okay, let’s knock this out!  Let’s do this!"

On the web site,  Play to Inspire, Steve shared his thoughts and feelings as he looked at his Center.  "I thought, oh my God, this guy is there for me.  I knew I had a friend for life.  And I knew I would kick this disease." 

Steve believed "he just empowered me with a feeling that this is not going to be the end of me.  You don’t have any fear around this guy."  When Rod Payne played football, he motivated himself by thinking, "I play to aspire".

Steve also wrote, "I can’t say for sure that I wouldn’t have made it without Rod, but I’ll tell you what.  I’m not very strong mentally, I would have had a hell of a time.  I would go to the grocery store with my mom and be frightened if somebody would be coming down the aisle."

Rod Payne’s empowering perspective was built on his statement, "We became brothers.  I knew Steve didn’t just need me to sit by the bedside hoping.  He needed me to be there, calling plays, and pulling him up off the mat."

Steve learned mental fitness from Rod Payne and Steve became stronger than his illness.  "You have to get your head on straight" became the victorious thought to overcome Steve’s fears.

"If you’re behind 21-to nothing in the first half, what are you going to do?  Quit?  Go home? No!  You’re going to summon everything you have, everything you’ve worked for in practice, in your entire life, to rally yourself, and do whatever it takes to be a head by the end of the game. Period!"

Rod Payne wrote, "I am not a fan; a fan does not believe- he hopes.  I am a teammate, the one who has put in the time for the team and knows what it means to give of himself and his time, and whatever else is of value to man and, as part of team.  That I am:  a teammate," Rod Payne, 2004.

Steve has been visiting cancer patients around the country.  To these patients he communicates a football metaphor taught to him by Rod.  He communicates to them "With hope and faith, they too, will win their battle– as long as they know that, no matter what happens, they will be ahead by the end of the game."

Steve wrote, "though skilled doctors and nurses, advanced medicine, prayers and a great deal of luck would have ultimately contribute to my survival, my biggest miracle was delivered to me simply by a friend".  For more inspiration and strength to overcome illness and life’s problems, please read, "Centered by a Miracle".

You don’t need to wear a winged helmet or be a football star to be an angel.  Each of us can be an angel to someone in need.  If you need an angel in your life, open your heart to a friend, find a coach and read, "Centered by a Miracle".

Remember, You Live within the Environment Created by Your Choices.

Dr. Hal

Life and Mental Fitness Coach

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