His Journey with Cancer

Congratulations to this years NHL Alumni Ace Bailey Award for Courage our man Earl!!!!!

Darby and I (along with 26 others) were there to accept the award for him. It was a grand event, but could never compare to the grandness of Heaven.

Apr 19, 2011

There's Something about Earl

April Update

Well it is spring and it is still cold...way too cold. But the good news about spring is it is playoff time. Yes Hockey at it's best and for Earl there is nothing he likes better than cheering his Red Wings on once again. As of last night we are 3 and 0 over the Phoenix Coyotes and hopefully will sweep the series. We are hoping they will make it through to the third round, so that we can make it out east again.

Earl is doing well, with the latest MRI showing the tumor in his heart is stable. He has a ct scan this Wednesday night so we will find out what's happening with his kidney and affected vessels. He is on his week off chemo, but still not feeling the best....it really is hard on him, but when he is feeling good there is no stopping him. He will be cheering on the Manitoba Moose who have made their to the playoffs.

Short but sweet!

Take care and keep in touch.
Debbie

Reg Sherren is inspired by Earl

Reg Sherren on "The Earl Factor"

Have you ever met someone who changes the way you look at the world? Well, here's the thing. Two weeks ago, I badly tore some muscle in my calf. I'm a baby(man) anyway, but it hurt...a lot. Now usually I'm inclined to take to my bed for a week, demanding around-the-clock care. But this time, I pushed myself to get up and get on with it. OK, hobble on with it.

Why? Because of Earl Cook. Earl is a young man from Winnipeg whose tenacity in tackling life's challenges can only be described as inspirational. It starts with the fact that he really shouldn't be here. None of the medical experts expected him to survive - born premature and addicted, into poverty, with more health issues than any one person deserves. And then it was the cancer...and again the cancer, and still, at 23, he fights cancer.

But it barely slows him down for a second. He has something to say, something to contribute, or to call it as he sees it. From the first moment I met him, I had to admire this young character, with a goofy grin, always ready with a joke. He has a certain charm, moving around on his one good leg, jumping into his uniform for sledge hockey, talking about his Red Wings. Mike Babcock saw it too, and took Earl under his wing, so to speak.

Yes, that Mike Babcock, Olympic gold medal coach, head coach of the Red Wings.

And above all, I saw Earl's determination to not let his medical challenges decide what he could or could not do. No sir, he says, "Cancer is not the boss, I'm the boss." And he means it. He plays hockey, coaches hockey, all through his chemo, with his guardian angel - his foster mom Debbie - never far from his side.

Oh yes, I can get past this little problem with my leg. And I won't complain...much, thanks to Earl.

Getting to know Earl

Getting to know Earl
Earl and the Kickers

Earl's Trip To Minnie

Earl's Trip To Minnie

Checking out the New Guys

Checking out the New Guys
Earl and Paul Lapolice

Earl Cook

planning block

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