He Was My Hero - 2/22/21

8 years ago we lost my Pop to Retroperitoneal Angiosarcoma. He was diagnosed a little more than a year prior to his passing and while none of us knew how long he had or just how serious his cancer was, he amazed us with his fight and tenacity the whole year that he battled it. It started with what he thought were kidney stones but imaging and test revealed he had a large clot-like mass on his kidney. Drs decided they wanted to "wait and see" if it would get smaller so for 2 months, the cancer grew and started an attack on his body. Eventually, when things didn't improve, he had a large mass removed from his abdomen that had surrounded & crushed his kidney. I drove down to Mississippi to be with him & my stepmother when he had his surgery and was with him in the hospital the morning that he passed away.

If you knew my Pop, you know that he was larger than life. He couldn't go ANYWHERE without someone knowing him. He had a smile that would light up a room and he was charming beyond belief. He was so charming that he was one of the most successful Development Directors for Ducks Unlimited because he had a magical power that would cause donors to take their checkbooks out of their pockets as soon as they new Johnny Belz was in their area . Our Pop would bend over backward for anyone and always pushed my sister, brother and me to do our best and "show the world what it meant to be a Belz". He wasn't easy on us growing up and was a strict disciplinarian but at the same time was always there for us when we needed him.

Since June, I have so wanted to talk to him and hear him tell me that everything would be okay, and in some ways, I think he has. He sent me a sign the day Tim & I met with my breast surgeon the first time and I know has been with me in other ways as well through my breast cancer journey. I talk to him more now than I ever have. I spent 3 days with him in the hospital in February 2013 sleeping on the couch in his room, taking care of him, and watching LOTS of Law & Order reruns (one of his favorite shows). He kept a smile on his face in his last days even though I think deep down he knew what was happening. He was and always will my hero. He fought a fight that amazed all of us and never quit until he knew it was time to say goodbye.

"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but to all those who have loved His appearing." 2 Timothy 4