Just thought I’d post a few updates about my friend Matt that I had spoken of before.
Below are two separate comments made by leaders in our organization. I think it speaks volumes for the type of man I’m honored to know.
Rather than talk about business results or strategy this month, I want to take an opportunity to talk about courage.
When we watch the news, we hear about the courageous battles that public figures wage on diseases. We wear yellow bracelets to recognize the courageous and successful battle fought by Lance Armstrong. We followed the recovery of Dick Cheney and Bill Clinton against Heart Disease. Thankfully, most of us view these battles from a distance.
That distance got a lot closer to all of us in the Princeton Search family a few weeks ago, as Matt Lemmons, an 18 year veteran of MRI and Princeton Search Indianapolis/HirePursuit, a lifetime non-smoker, was diagnosed with Lung Cancer.
Most of us know Matt as the tremendous producer and business strategist that helped create HirePursuit. Many of us know Matt as the devoted husband and father, and dedicated member of his church and his community. I know him as a person who has always supported my leadership, and has wholeheartedly supported the vision of where this company can go.
Last night, as I sat next to Matt at dinner in Indianapolis, I realized how much courage and conviction this gentle, good and extremely funny man truly has. After going through both Chemotherapy AND Radiation therapy yesterday, there he was at dinner, updating me on current business activity, cracking jokes at his own (and our) expense, and facing this disease as just another obstacle in the road of life.
Courage comes in many forms. It can be the brave men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan that face danger every day. It can be doing something that takes us out of our daily comfort zone. Or it can be showing up at dinner when your body probably is screaming at you to lie down and rest.
Matt Lemmons will beat this disease. I know that it couldn’t hurt for all of us to say a prayer to help him in his fight.
and this
If I could, I would like to add a Part 2 to Dave’s column. On that day that Matt had chemo and radiation prior to joining us for dinner . . . in which his presence lifted us all up . . . he did something that no one knows about and that he would never share with anyone because it is something he does practically every day without even thinking about it. Shortly after receiving his chemo and radiation, he came out of his treatment room, justifiably feeling pretty lousy physically and probably emotionally spent, he then came across a woman and her family crying in the waiting room. This woman who is fairly close in age to Matt . . . a non-smoker and in great health all of her life . . . was just told that day that her lung cancer (just diagnosed a week ago) had also spread to her brain. Matt could have easily kept his head down walked by and gone about the business of getting on with his own recovery. That is not Matt Lemmons! He stopped to console and encourage the woman and her family. And then he did something that, unfortunately, very few of us would do . . . he asked if he could pray with them. That act of kindness and God’s love, had a significant impact on the woman and her family, believe me. The reason I know this is because the woman is the mother of our brand new daughter-in-law, Kelly. Her name is Tressie Drollinger, and she is good as it gets as far as being a faith-filled, loving, kind, caring, friendly, wonderful woman.
Along with Matt and his family, please add Tressie and her family to your prayer list.
Gang, we are all in this game of life together. Know of my prayers and gratitude for each of you!
God bless,
Craig Lemmons says
I love you dad! I typed your name in on the internet and it showed your story. You are famous! I'm so glad you are still here on earth with me. I thank God for you every day!
Love,
Your son Craig
Craig Lemmons says
I love you dad! I typed your name in on the internet and it showed your story. You are famous! I’m so glad you are still here on earth with me. I thank God for you every day!
Love,
Your son Craig
bnpositive says
Thanks for sharing Craig. Your entire family is a gift from God. I'm so glad to say I have had the honor of working with and being friends with you and your family.
bnpositive says
Thanks for sharing Craig. Your entire family is a gift from God. I’m so glad to say I have had the honor of working with and being friends with you and your family.