Dick Drechsler, Sailing Through Cancer
Dick Drechlser is a very lucky man.
His meals consist have protein shakes. Variety comes from different fruit juices he adds to provide a bit of flavor.
And Dick Drechsler is a very lucky man.
Diagnosed with late stage throat and neck cancer in 2005, Dick was not even expected to survive.
He did, but that’s not why he is so lucky.
Dick Drechsler spent a lifetime working in the timeshare industry, and was on the cutting edge of new technologies. He quickly saw the value of wifi internet service, and Resort Wifi, the company he founded in 2003, was able to dominate the niche of providing wifi to timeshare resorts. Still not the reason Dick Drechsler is such a lucky man.
Though he survived the cancer, he was on a feeding tube full time, and he was unable to work, and he and his partner sold the company to AT&T, and he was able to assure financial security for his wife Sharon, and himself. Not the part that makes him so lucky, but we are getting warmer.
An experimental treatment was able to reopen his windpipe, to about the aperture of a straw, thus the liquid diet.
With a lifelong interest in travel, the Drechsler's seized the opportunity that the new lease on life combined with the financial means offered, and decided to purchase a yacht, and sail the world. Which they have done for the last three years. Having dreams and getting to live them, now that’s pretty lucky.
But it doesn’t end there.
On the first journey, Mexico to Alaska, Dick started blogging. The purpose was to chronicle the trip, and provide a way for friends to keep up with the adventure. But it turned into something more.
As Dick incorporated his personal medical issues into the blog, he started getting thousands and thousands of hits from other survivors, other patients in treatment, and their families who were inspired by his story.
The response was so great Dick memorialized it in a very well reviewed book, “Manning up in Alaska”. But it didn’t end there.
Dick and his wife Sharon have now taken on the challenge of the hundreds of thousands afflicted with various forms of cancer and other illnesses, both as advocates for improved care and treatments, but also for continuing to live life in spite of a serious illness. Sharon is the Yachting Examiner, right here at Examiner.com
They are trying to create an “Armada of Hope” where thousands of cancer patients and their families can enjoy a day out on the water. Individual yacht owners, willing to host an excursion can sign up at the website for their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt foundation, Sail Through Cancer. All the money Dick earns from the book, by the way, willl go to the foundation.
It goes even further for Dick. He has become an advocate for the quest for curing cancer, managing cancer, and more importantly, preventing cancer.
He has created a six point call for action that he recently presented to the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
Too often medical practices treat the tumor but ignore the patient. Dick would like to see that change.
For my readers in driving (or sailing distance) of Laguna Beach June 13 California, you may enjoy the Caribbean Casino Night to be held at the upscale Seven Degrees club.
Living the dream, making a difference. Now that’s what I call a lucky man.
Comments
Thank you so much for writing about my husband. You did a terrific job telling his story. I really appreciate your care and the time you took in putting this article together. Good luck to you.
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