It's the end of January in International Falls, Minn. Despite the frigid cold temperatures, the flow of adrenaline brings warmth to hundreds of racers about to compete in the Arrowhead 135 Winter Ultra – a 135 mile race that takes place in the coldest part of winter in the coldest city in the lower 48 states.
Arrowhead 135 is known as one of the toughest 50 races in the world, but one racer, Joe, is determined to bike across the finish line.
However, as he approaches the first checkpoint of the race, Joe senses something is wrong. He starts to vomit and is unable to continue the race. Later he will discover that he was throwing up blood, a sign of his internal bleeding that went undetected until then.
Though he doesn’t know it yet, he will one day come back to compete in the race again, and this time he will cross the finish line.
This is a story about Joe’s resiliency and how, after battling stage 3 colorectal cancer, he returned to International Falls to finish the race just months after completing chemotherapy.
Receiving timely, compassionate care at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Milwaukee
A few weeks after returning home to Milwaukee, Joe started experiencing intense, stabbing pains in his abdomen. The pain was so strong that he fell to the floor, waiting for it to subside. Fortunately, Joe was able to drive himself to the nearest Emergency Department at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Milwaukee Hospital.
After a series of tests and scans to help determine what was wrong, Joe was told he had stage 3 colorectal cancer.
This news came as a shock to Joe.
“I initially felt sadness,” Joe said. “I was trying to figure out why this happened. What could I have possibly done? I thought I was staying healthy. I tried to eat right and exercise and I still got cancer. I went through that for maybe an hour. Then sadness turned to anger. And anger turned to determination as I decided I was going to fight this.”
Beginning his cancer journey with the Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Milwaukee and Ozaukee cancer care teams
The first step of Joe’s cancer treatment was to have surgery at Columbia St. Mary’s Milwaukee to remove part of his colon.
The surgery was successful, and with the support of his cancer care team, family and friends, Joe began his road to recovery.
“My entire cancer care team at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Milwaukee and Ozaukee Hospitals – my surgeon, Nicholas A. Meyer, MD, my doctors, nurses and occupational therapist – were all helpful and supportive,” Joe shared. “My nurse navigator, Samantha, had a very serene demeanor and always answered all of my questions. I felt like I had a team working with me.”
After recovering from his surgery, Joe began outpatient chemotherapy at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee, and physical therapy at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Milwaukee.
Joe’s cancer diagnosis brought many new challenges to his life that he had worked to overcome. He had to learn what foods to eat with his nutritionist and worked with his occupational therapist, Vanessa, to teach his body how to function again. He started off slow, first working on the treadmill and then progressing to an e-bike. His friends and family went on walks with him around Milwaukee, and after much hard work and determination, he soon regained strength and movement.
Deciding to race in the Arrowhead 135 once again
After completing chemotherapy at Columbia St. Mary’s Milwaukee Ozaukee, Joe decided that he was going to race again in the Arrowhead 135 Winter Ultra.
“It was only a couple months after chemo, but I still had my room reservation for the race, so I decided to do it,” Joe said. “I wasn't 100 percent, but at the same time, failing at the race let me know I had cancer. I felt indebted to the race, and determined to finish it. I wanted to show to myself and friends and family that you can’t let cancer control and dictate your life.”
Joe worked hard for two months to train for the race and get his blood levels back up from chemotherapy so he could participate in the race once again.
Because of his hard work and determination, he was cleared by his oncologist, Dr. Nand, to return to International Falls.
Crossing the finish line
This past January, Joe once again found himself getting ready to race in the Arrowhead 135, but this time, he had a renewed sense of determination after completing his cancer treatment.
“I went back and it was probably the most difficult physical thing I have ever done,” Joe shared. “In good times, if you are healthy, it is very difficult to finish the race, even more so when you have recently recovered from cancer and chemo. It takes a lot of physical and mental determination to push your way through the course, but I made it through the finish line. Some of the race volunteers who once had cancer were at the finish line waiting for me and so was the director of the race. Usually there aren't huge crowds. You finish it and you are by yourself but there were people clapping for me this time.”
After the race, the director of the race, Ken, called Joe and shared that he was being awarded the Spirit of the Arrowhead award. This honor allowed Joe to select a charity for the race to donate to in his honor. Joe chose to support a cancer care charity in International Falls that helps fund transportation for cancer patients to receive treatment.
Next year Joe has plans to race in the Iditarod Trail Invitational, but he hopes to return to Arrowhead 135 as a volunteer.
Joe is grateful for the personalized, compassionate cancer care he received at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Milwaukee and Ozaukee Hospitals, and the support he received to regain strength to bike again.
Your heartfelt support makes a meaningful difference. Last year, donor generosity to Ascension Wisconsin Foundation helped ensure the 32,000 patients – like Joe – who turned to Ascension Wisconsin for support in navigating their cancer journey received the care they deserved. If you are interested in supporting cancer care today, click here.