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“That which does not kill us – makes us strong.” 
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Why do some people have the ability to bounce back from adversity while others are defeated by the slightest setback? 

Resilience is “the ability of a body to regain its original size and shape after being compressed, beat or stretched; or the ability to recover from or adjust easily to change or misfortune.”

For living proof of resiliency, we only need to look at Mike and Nancy Moody.  This amazing couple not only survived brushes with death, but lives life more fully as a result and is an inspiration to all who know them. 

The Moodys have been married for almost 18 years and have two children: Chelsey, 12, and Chadler, 7.  What scares Nancy most is to think that they could have been parentless.

In September 2000, then only 39-years old, Nancy was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women.  The fit triathlete and marathoner learned that she was in “Stage 3” and that the cancer had spread to 80 percent of her lymph nodes.

 “I was totally shocked,” recalled Moody.   “I thought that this usually just happens to fat, old men, not a fit athlete like me.  Next, I worried that my biking days were over.”

Nancy Moody has always been athletic.  She lettered for four years in track at Doss High School and was the most valuable basketball player for two years, winning a Presidential Scholarship.  She attended Spalding University where she played basketball for three years, then transferred to the University of Louisville, where she graduated in 1983.  As an adult, she has played soccer, softball and volleyball and became a
certified scuba diver and instructor.

More impressive is her giving spirit.  She has coached soccer, taught swimming lessons and summer camp at the YMCA and dedicated countless hours to raising money for charities. 

In 2000, as a member of the “Team In Training For Leukemia” she biked 100 miles to raise money in support of two local youth with leukemia.  She has done fundraising for the Hemophilia Organization and participates each year in the “Walk for Life” and the “Susan Koman Breast Cancer Run.”  For 15 years, the Moodys have hosted an elaborate Christmas party to benefit local families in need. Each year they raise enough money to sponsor three to five families.

Nancy has run numerous half and full marathons, including over 15 miniMarathons and all three marathons here in Louisville.  She also competes in triathlons, which require swimming, biking and running skills. 

The fri/files/storyimages/who nominated her for a Kentuckiana HealthFitness Magazine People’s Choice Award, described Nancy as “almost too good to be true, an amazing person both on the inside and outside.”

A TOUGH ROAD AHEAD

Unbelievably, it’s what they found on the inside that turned out to be her greatest challenge yet.  With 18 inches of her colon removed, Nancy faced more than six months of grueling chemotherapy, going in once a week for six hours.  She also volunteered to participate in a trial case study, using an experimental drug as treatment for colon cancer.  One side effect was a numbing of the toes and hands. 

“During the entire period, I couldn’t pick up anything cold out of the refrigerator without wearing gloves,” Nancy recalled.  “And the numbness continued almost seven months after I completed treatment.”

Through it all, she never gave up, drawing strength from her family and friends.  One day her blood count was so low that she was carried in to the hospital with her mother on one side and her father on the other. 

Nancy continued her workouts at the YMCA, including spin classes, where she would hang a bag on her bike in case she got sick.  The class was close-knit – almost family.  Her girlfriends babysat the children, sat with her during treatments, delivered family meals, muffins, magazines and most of all – encouragement. Though the medical staff discouraged it, she also even ran the Triple Crown Running Series.

“They would tell me I couldn’t and that would motivate me to do it even more,” laughed Nancy.  “Running was my way of knowing I was going to survive.”

Workouts were a struggle.  She would carefully plan out her training schedule, realizing that the third day after chemo was the worst.

“Around Christmas, I was really down in the dumps because I wasn’t going to be able to host our annual party to raise money for the needy,” said Nancy.  “So a bunch of my friends gathered in my living room to surprise me with a red, white and blue Trek 5200 (the one Lance Armstrong rides in the Tour De France) and a jersey to match.  That really motivated me!”

She celebrated her milestones in her usual manner, with a party and her friends.  There was a celebration halfway through her chemotherapy and then again in April 2001, when she finished.

But she wasn’t finished with hardship.  In June, she lost her father during a second by-pass surgery.

“My colon cancer was one thing, but my dad dying just about killed me.”

But it didn’t and she feels blessed.  Nancy credits her mother for her resiliency.

“My mom is the strongest person I know in every way both physically and mentally.  I got it from her,” she said.   “I love my family, my friends and I love life.  I want to live to be 100 years old.”

AND THE ROAD GETS TOUGHER

Mike Moody also counts his blessings every day. 

“I am fortunate to come from a good family. We’re not rich and we’re not real fancy.  We don’t try to keep up with the Joneses.  But we’ve always been optimistic, thinking whatever the problem—we’ll figure it out and get through it.”

Researchers at University of California at Davis are convinced that a positive outlook is a trait associated with greater resiliency.  Furthermore, their studies concluded that the strength of the parental bond established in early childhood influences a child’s capacity for resiliency.  The Moodys certainly have had their share of trials that have tested their ability to bounce back.

Like his wife, Mike was always athletic and healthy.   He was raised on a farm in Iowa, which developed his strong work ethic.  He played baseball, track and football –that is, if his chores were done.

In 1979, Mike came to Louisville on a football scholarship with University of Louisville.  That’s when he met Nancy.

So began their athletic adventures together.  The Moodys have always run the Louisville miniMarathon, though Mike claims he is not competitive like his wife.  They also enjoyed biking vacations, including “Bike Virginia,” where they rode 70-100 miles a day for five days.  They were young, energetic and eager to explore more roads ahead.

That’s why Mike was in utter disbelief when he heard the news about Nancy’s cancer.  He remembers it as “heavy duty shock.”

But no more shocked than she would be several years later.

On June 4, 2004, Mike collapsed about two miles from home, during his morning run.  A neighbor found him lying on the sidewalk unconscious.  He was 45 years old.

After working for 20 years as manager for United Parcel Service, Mike had only taken one sick day.

“I took my health for granted,” Mike said.  “I felt indestructible.”

When they ran the dye through his heart to check for blockage, the dye stopped completely, revealing 100 percent blockage of the left anterior descending artery.  That’s why it’s called “The Widow-Maker.”  He needed surgery the next day. 

“I was lucky,” Mike claimed.  “I had a single bypass and the graft they used was pulled from another artery.  The clogged ones are open, plus the ones my heart grew on its own.” 

Talk about resiliency.  His heart miraculously performed its own kind of bypass, creating alternative arteries to go around the blockage.  The doctors likened it to a tree root growing up against a wall to fill and feed the restricted area.  So, Mike’s fitness actually saved his life.

The couple is now even more committed to living life to the fullest.  They plan to take more biking vacations, visit the Grand Canyon as a family and go on a cruise with friends.

Mike continues to run 15-20 miles a week and works out in the gym at least 55 minutes a day, wearing a heart monitor to keep an eye on his heart rate.

Mike also carefully monitors his life to keep his priorities in order.

“Things you thought were important weren’t,” he concluded. “You readjust, spending more time to appreciate family and friends and being slower to anger.  You ask yourself, ‘Will this really matter two weeks from now?’”

Mike and Nancy claim a Tim McGrath song as their life theme – “Live Life Like You’re Dying.”

Mike reminds us, “You don’t know how long you’re going to be here, so do it right the first time.” 

Cheryl Hart is the owner of 2nd Wind, a motivational coaching business with a focus on the mental aspects of training and life goals.  She is also a certified personal fitness specialist and spinning instructor.  Cheryl was Kentucky’s NCAA Woman of the Year (1993) and National Inspirational Athlete of the Year (1994). She is a member of Tea USA, most recently winning silver medals in both the 2004 World Triathlon and World Duathlon.  She was named All-American in triathlon and duathlon (2003 & 2004).  Cheryl has a B.A. in English from Centre College, where she served as communications associate, cross-country coach, and sports information director. To contact Cheryl, call 693-7443 or e-mail offrunnin@yahoo.com.