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Hello everybody and welcome to Gut Checks. My name is Paul Weigel, and we're sharing stories of hope and inspiration in power perseverance. Today I'm here and I'm delighted to introduce my friend, colon cancer survivor fellow Ironman triathlete, Fran cCurry. Fran, welcome. I am so glad you're here today. Welcome.

I've been looking so forward to seeing you again. Thank you. This is awesome. This,

this is really awesome. Well, you know, friend, you and I were talking for a few minutes as we started about how important you have been to me for so long. And I want to I want to give everybody some perspective for where Fran was for me as we went through or as I went through my own journey, because honestly, I, I would, I'm sure I would be here. But I would not be the same man that I am. We're not for France involvement. And you have been, you have been amazing to me. He really had been. So when I got diagnosed, I had really good resources up in Seattle, I was I was lucky that I got introduced to some to some good people who are local. But when I started, I realized that I needed people like me. And it was critically important. And certainly when I've looked at when people look at my book, and they see things that I viewed myself as being a different type of cancer patient that I was hitting this hard. I wanted to be a survivor. I wanted to be a fighter, I wanted to do these amazingly heroic things. And when I was talking to people locally, I wasn't getting that same type of experience. And, and I got ice. I started looking around and I talked to Livestrong and LIVESTRONG introduced me to the Imerman Angels, and airmen angels is their love strong and Imerman Angels. And I know Johnny Ammerman is a friend of yours. Yes. And and everyman angels introduced me to Fran. And I said, nobody can be as strong and as determined as I am in God, and time and fake, and so many different things. Introduce me to Fran. And now I'm gonna cry. Fran was there for me. Throughout my treatment, although he lives in Texas, and here I got up was up in Washington State, he and I would trade countless notes back and forth and talk about our hopes and our dreams and what we imagined the future would be and, and how we could get through this and these just heroic things. What he gave me and Fran had cancer five years before I did three years, three or three or five years. I'm not quite sure. But then you gave me hope. And we'll talk a little bit more about that in a second. But I want to give a little bit of an intro about free and as we go. Fran has been married to his high school sweetheart for 36 years, into which he said on this note that it's been they've been together for 43 years consecutively, I guess your wife says that.

She does.

That's awesome. And that he has three adult daughters and two grandchildren. As I mentioned, he's a stage three who was the stage three a colon cancer survivor, and he was diagnosed after a race. And when I said I needed to know someone like Fran that was certainly the case. And, and it is so it is so neat for as I'm doing these podcasts to be talking with Fran and sharing his story and our story because it is so important to me, as we are thinking about ourselves and others as patients for what it means to dig deep and do amazing things. And France certainly is than that. than that. So, Francis, we start up. Welcome. Glad you're here. Yeah. Likewise. Likewise. Thank you again. So Fran and I also one thing I did not say was, and maybe I did. Fran was so great with me that when I was doing an Ironman Triathlon a few years after being treated, Fran drove up to or drove down to Houston, and he ran in the marathon portion of the Ironman with me. And now given my surgery background, I was not running a whole lot. So it was a good six in the six, six and a half hours that grant and I had the chance to talk and I learned so many different things. And Fran, you told me some about Have your discussions with doctors and how got you got diagnosed? But can you talk a little bit about how you got diagnosed some of the background before you found out etc?

We really didn't go the road less traveled, didn't you?

It was different than mine. Yeah. Yeah.

I actually do remember that. And that was in my notes, because I was because I could not swim very well. And it took me a lot of work. And when you said that, oh, yeah, my swimming training was nothing. I was

like, what I Oh, brother, I mean, like, the worst thing you can do, right? And but, you know, and this is where I'll say I have fuzzy logic. So my fuzzy logic was, well, I get to wear a wetsuit. And so I'll be buoyant. Oh, no.

Actually, you know, Fran, I'm going to interrupt you for a second. Yeah, this I was doing a little sprint triathlon last night. And my shoulders messed up. And, and, and I did a few strokes. I was like, well, at least I've got a life preserver, Ron. So I totally know exactly what you're talking, right. Yeah.

the right thing to do. It's the best app of your life.

Dude, it is the best nap of your life, you know, and you lose a couple pounds because you can't and I you know, that's maybe one thing I learned in the process. I don't know about you, but like, when I would go when I get ready to do the prep. I noticed that like for a day or two before if I went to soft food or to soups, man the prep was nothing the prep was so easy. Yeah, a steak or you know heavy food oh yeah that preps not gonna go well right you know if you if you're thoughtful about it, and you prepare for it there is it is so Gosh, darn easy.

If I you know, I've had more cuz obviously my training or my evaluations lasted a long time, but that was one thing I certainly learned too was that having soup for three days beforehand, was made the whole process very easy and very easy. Boy. Yeah. So Make it easier on yourself for sure.

All right, Paul, I don't know how you were. So Mike for my first prep, you know, again, humor, I did not know what to expect, right? So, you know, I've got I've got the, the, at that point in time, you had to actually mix it in a gallon jug and you need to drink it, you know, like in the

artificial flavors that always tasted horrible. And it was just so nasty. Right? Exactly. Yeah. Right.

So I got that set up. And so then I'm like, Well, I don't know how long this is going to last. So I get my TV tray, my, you know, the dinner tray, right? I got my computer on it. I've got like a stack of books to read. And my wife's like, where are you going? I'm like, Well, I'm going to the bathroom. I don't know how long this is gonna take. That's how I set up like, clearly I gotta be able to still get some stuff done. Right?

That is, you know, I always you know, through as I've gone through my process, I'm always a believer in Oh, I'm gonna be okay for a while. And then. So it's almost always that, I will sit back down, I will get comfortable. And then I'll realize Nope, it's time to go back next time, and I got my follow up this in the next in the next month. And so I will I will follow your guidance for the for the next process.

So fun. It's good. So how often do you have to go in now?

I still have to go every two years to that. Yeah, that? Certainly because I mean, we're getting different things that showed up and polyps and whatever, that I finally got cleared two years ago, and they still want me to double check. I think. Here's, it'll be set up for three and then I'll move to five. I think you're now on to five, right?

I am. So yeah, so now I made a five year increment. And as I got to my five year increment, now my oldest is going in. And so she's had her first and then she'll wait five years. And then by the time she's doing her second, my middle daughter will be getting her first. And you know, as they keep moving up their continuum, then our youngest will fit in there's a seven year gap between the oldest and the youngest. So they're all going to they're all going to be there pretty soon. So

it can be like a family party day, right? Depends on how many bathrooms you've got going

height, right? Well, you know, and we're fortunate. They're all moved out. Now. The oldest actually lives around the corner from us. So we get to see the grandkids a lot. But yeah, so I really don't have to fight with them for the for the bathroom, which you know, teenage girls, there was a lot of fighting going on. Oh,

imagine, boy, it's funny that as we've gone through and had this list of questions, you've covered so many of them. One thing that I know has been so important, and that we've talked about was God's plan for you. Yes, sir. And that has always inspired me. And could you talk a little bit some about what I mean, certainly, we don't know what God's plan is for us. Right. I mean, but but you do. But use I think you've said to me, you did not think that God's plan was for you to die of cancer. And certainly it didn't for has it for 15 years. So maybe can you say? Absolutely, and part of part of it is today of your story, too, and how you're sharing, but what is part of God's plan for you?

of numbers. It's hard as a teenage boy to read a book. They've got all those numbers, even if you're an accountant, right?

Yeah, well, for me, it usually is in ay ay. Ay, you've talked about the last part of the race. And certainly I think about when I finished Whistler, and it was Whistler was dark. And Whistler didn't quite have that quarter mile. Because it was smaller race, but it was silent and quiet. And then we had the lights and to have that celebration was amazing. But just as much I think about this fall I took part in air is the 70.3 here in Arizona. Yeah. It is. But this year, it was super hot. And so in. For me, one of my side effects long term is I don't do we're here you're talking about going up and exercising when it's 100 degrees. Yeah, for me, that is not a great thing that my body starts to fail on during the race, it's in the mid 90s. And my tights are going down lower and lower. And each and each, each mile marker, they're packing the ice, putting it pouring it down me just to keep me going, Oh my gosh. And I get to the last turn is the 70.3. So not as much of a celebration. But I get to the point and I'm 50 yards away from the end. And I think I see a friend of mine. And I start slowing down. And it turns out she's not there. So I just keep going. And I've mentioned my times have been getting slower and slower. Well, the deadline time for the 70.3 is eight hours and 30 minutes. Okay. And I'm I crossed the finish line. And I know my time is close, but I don't know how close can they say Paul Lydell has finished in eight hours. 29 minutes. And 51 seconds. Come on. Oh, my gosh. So if my friend had been there, oh, I would love to finish I would not have I would not have been an official finisher. And certainly when I was done, I was like I'm never doing another race. And then here I am. B ut then like two days later, yes, exactly. I'm like no, what's gonna be the next one and then I've got this big, big that is this year so then

we have to have a picture of that of that time stamp that is I

should I'll put that up behind me that will say that easy and and you know, actually, for different reasons. Ironman is no longer doing that race here. I think they're just some logistical issues. So I'm the last official finisher ever for Ironman 70.3 seconds. So how's that so?

Well now you need an epilogue book because that is true. That's gonna stand Yes,

it will that will be my lasting legacy. Well, well, in terms of you talks about God's God's some of God's plan is just what you've shared today. Friend, I mean that. Thank you for being so honest, and, and so vulnerable on so many different things. I mean, I know as we started where I talked about it, you've been you and your story and who you are has been so magical and so important to me for so long. And I know we are we meet Absolutely, brother. And I think we said at the start and maybe it was before we started recording that. When I'm down in Texas later on this year, we can do some that celebrate it. So

Paul, that would be awesome. You need a place to stay. You're more than welcome. To do so I can't wait to introduce you to the family and recover

one at a time.

I love you brother.

I love you too. Thank you. I really appreciate Fran

Yep, it's the truth man. We will share something for a long, long time. We really well. And you know and we get each other through it, you know, so I think about you every time I go out to race, you know, fortunate, I had an ankle issue a couple of weeks back, I was supposed to do an Olympic, but it was it was, you know, that perfect plan because I got to recruit my oldest daughter in, I don't think I mentioned, you know, she was she was actually invited the Olympic trials as a swimmer just so I was very fortunate isn't a distance, as well. So she got to do the swim portion for us the the youngest daughter did the run. So we got to do the relay here. And Paul, you know, as funny as it is, we took first place like baby was just amazing, right. And so now the middle daughter and the youngest daughter are going to do the cap try here in May, the oldest daughter myself and, and then middle daughter's boyfriend are going to do the relay. And so it's just restarting back into it, the families get back into it. And it's really, really cool. You know, it's, it's something you know, and you know, this, it's not a team sport, per se. But we're all doing it together. And so you know, it, we're, we're texting each other, we're sharing workouts, and, you know, it's just something that brings us together, right and, and that's, that's how it is for you and me, you know, your book is going to be it's going to be glued to a lot of people you're gonna get, you're gonna get attached to a lot of folks and I appreciate you picking up the baton and run with it for the awareness for you know, helping men understand that this isn't this isn't something to be afraid of, you know, look at his made his point and clear for you. You're the lightning rod, you know, you're a beacon here for people to know and to learn about. And so thankful. I mean to thankful that we are not only that our paths have crossed, but they're going to be linked for life.

They will be absolutely what I'm going to close by just saying one thing. Fan curry, you are an Iron Man.

Man is there you know, you did Houston. So you know, so you know that that shoot? I'm not kidding you when I tell you this? It took me. I swear Paul, if we go back and look at at timestamps, I think it took me a half hour to do that shoot. And so I've actually got a video. And you know, the race director, you know, they call you in, right? I mean, they see your number coming for a long way. Also,

I interviewed Mike Riley earlier this week. Oh my gosh,

because that's who called me. So, yeah. So Mike sees me. And, and he's like, What is this guy doing? Like, he's been out there for I mean, you know, there's, there's a turn. So he's only seen me for like 10 minutes, but I've been on the other part of the shoot for the last 20 minutes. I touched everybody's hand on both sides. And then when I came all the way up to the finish line, it he's like ready to call me in Well, I went back because I had to do the other side of the shoot. And he's like, What is this guy doing? So now I'm getting ready to cross the finish line and he gives me the Heisman post. And he goes, No, he goes, Stop. Right, there. He goes, they're gonna call you in. And that's what they did. So it was it was special. I mean, it really is now I did a picture book for my family and I actually have that is as the closing photo. It's here. It was really pretty special. So I picked up Mike and I carried him across the finish line with me.

Let me get photo. That's awesome. Okay, awesome. Thank you, Fran.

Likewise beautiful. I agree. I'm I didn't I apologize for all the emotion but oh, are you kidding? All right. Well, have a great day. Anything you need holler. Again, thank you so much for what you're doing and ready to jump in with both feet and help you any way I can.

All right. Well, I'm sure we'll be in touch soon. All right. All right. God bless take care.

God bless you. Take care, buddy.