OVERCOMER | Michael Holtz

Guys, I’m excited to kick this off with my friend Michael Holtz. I met Michael when I was first a volunteer for the American Cancer Society back in my Arkadelphia days. He was a communications guy and did all the ACS CAN stuff for the Mid South Division. I was part of the Hero of Hope, now Voices of Hope program and we tried to watch and be connected with our communication team so we could know what was going on. As I got to know this guy more, I was just continually impressed. I was impressed by his communication skills and that he got to do what he loved, for an organization he loved and was really good at it. He was part of the group that went to New Orleans and he trained to run a marathon and was rocking that Rock-n-Roll city. He was later diagnosed with cancer not long before I went to work for the American Cancer Society. I remember being mad and thinking…dang, why does it come after the good ones. But, I already know the answer. He fights with a greater fight than just himself. He knows the power of prayer and serves a Healer, the real Healer (heart, soul, mind and body). He is one that continues to inspire me and pushes on.

He also has an incredible sense of humor about the twists life after cancer has brought him and that alone is a perfect reason to be friends with someone! You want encouragement, follow him. You want inspiration, follow him. You want perspective, follow him. I’m so thankful my friend Michael said yes to participating and helping me celebrate.

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What have you OVERCOME?

I was diagnosed with stage-3b rectal cancer on March 27, 2012, five days after my 43rd birthday. To treat the cancer, I underwent radiation treatment and oral chemotherapy, a very complicated and difficult surgery, and six months of infused chemo. I finished treatment on February 20, 2013 and was declared cancer-free three months later. I have remained cancer free ever since, although quite against the odds. The likelihood of recurrence during the first two years after diagnosis was 80%. My surgeon reminded me several times that I should be sick or dead.

What was your TURNING POINT/PIVOT MOMENT?

About halfway through chemotherapy, I discovered Ann Voskamp’s amazing book, “One Thousand Gifts.” She writes about expressing gratitude during difficult times and how God is constantly showering us with gifts — friends, moments in time, sounds and smells we remember forever, etc — if only we stop and pay attention to them.

5-word life mantra – “You are carrying the fire.”

Quote you live by – “Eucharisteo — thanksgiving — always precedes the miracle,” Ann Voskamp

How can we find you?