My wife is a genuine, determined, principled and a caring individual but often times private. She wasn’t particularly thrilled when I told her I wanted to discuss and document our journey. The day before the surgery she made it perfectly clear,”No cameras”! When she discovered I was taking some candid shots with my iPhone camera  early the morning of surgery, she gave me the evil look but I wanted her to know I was doing it from my perspective as a husband and supporter, hoping that the endeavor might be a help to others. It also was, I guess in someways, a distraction for me. Something to keep me busy.

Since the tumor was aggressive (infiltrating ductal carcinoma), going into to new uncharted waters was a bit unsettling to say the least. Before meeting with Dr. Haun we discussed many issues, did some online research  and set out on our own pragmatic course.

There are times in our lives when things unfold in a very deliberate way. I think Dr. Haun was our lucky charm. We met Dr. Haun on January 12th and within minutes we individually could tell she was our guiding light. What was special about her was her straight forward talk of the circumstances we would face, options to attack this dastardly beast, and the great possibilities that lie ahead. She didn’t beat around the bush but she also had a calming and reassuring way about herself. She readily admitted she didn’t have all the answers right away but displayed confidence she would be able to lead us in the right direction while offering her expertise and guidance. All this with an upbeat demeanor, compassion and a sense of humor that would give Letterman a run for his money. In short she is a jewel.

Surgery day was a long one as anyone would expect. We left the house at o’ dark thirty and  Nancy was in  Kaiser’s radiology department at 6:30 a.m. for imaging dye. Then we shuffled a stone’s throw away to St. Joseph’s Hospital for her pre- op. I kidded with people they wanted to have her in the operating room while she was still asleep so she didn’t  know what hit her! Surgery wasn’t a cake walk for Nancy but things went without a hitch. Dr.Haun and her staff kept me posted by calling the waiting room on various steps of the procedures. That was a very comforting and satisfying gesture.

Because the of the lengthy time and detail of the mastectomy, I decided to grab lunch across the street with my sister who was so kind to come and sit in with me while the operation continued. Normally, I probably wouldn’t have budged from the waiting room but I felt so confident in Dr. Haun and her team I felt the small break would be good for me since I had been on task for over six hours.I was told I had about an hour and half before she would be settled in her room. Wrong! Just as my sis and I ordered lunch, the waiting room volunteer called my cellphone and said Nancy was on her way to her room.

A leisurely lunch became a quick bite and off we went to see Nancy.

I didn’t know what to expect and I certainly wasn’t sure what kind of shape my sidekick would be in after such an ordeal. Surprisingly, Nancy looked terrific! A little groggy and struggling with a slight sore throat from the intubation. But, hey who wouldn’t be complaining about an apparatus being shoved down your throat! She was already upright and partaking in a liquid lunch. She was a real trooper and I was very relieved.

Dr. Haun visited during her rounds late that afternoon. She was exuberant and extremely sweet in her discussions with Nancy. We knew from an examination during the operation that her Sentinel node reported no signs of cancer. Dr. Haun assured us she would let us know as soon as possible what the status of the other lymph nodes reported in the days to follow.

The highlight of the afternoon was when Dr. Haun asked Nancy if she had any questions. Nancy’s query was, ” Will I be able to go to Las Vegas with my friend Brigette the 13th of February?” Honest truth. I was chuckling inside because I knew right then and there Nancy had her own agenda on her recovery route. It’s an annual trip she and her friend take in February. The doctor thought that might be a little premature and wasn’t sure what Nancy’s post op treatment would be quite yet.

She kidded Nan and said if chemotherapy was involved and she lost her hair, she could easily go as Tina Turner one night and choose a another celebrity hairdo the next. Nancy was slightly amused.

Nancy could have gone home that evening but Dr. Haun thought a precautionary overnight stay might  be best since my wife tends to get nauseated with most pain medicines. The weird thing about that is Nancy never did take pain meds!

So, when I came to pick her up the following morning, not only was she dressed ( in a very becoming warm up suit, I might add) and raring to go, she walked right out of the hospital. I was floored.

As a husband and a prepared caregiver I made sure everything was in place when she came home to convalesce. Wait, the day before surgery Nancy was cleaning at home like a maniac though I did help with some of the chores. At any rate, we planned for various types of light foods and drinks. Her bedding was freshly cleaned and I charged up  my “walkie-talkies” so we could communicate from various locales in the house.

Within an hour of Nancy settling in for some quiet time the phone began to ring. Friends, family and professional associates were on the horn offering love, support and prayers. Nancy decided  that day to catch up on her email as well, which also was inundated with electronic well wishes.Then the flowers and food began to flow into our home. We could have started a small bistro with flowers for every table! Our home smells of spring and Martha Stewart’s kitchen!

The day of surgery her long time friend Marge equipped me with a mini cooler brimming  with containers of homemade “Jewish chicken soup”. That she said, ” was to hold us over until she orchestrated meals from Nancy’s friends and professional peers. Topping that with incredible dishes from our Evergreen area neighbors and friends, Nancy said her biggest fear was blowing up like a blimp.

It has been nearly a week since her surgery.She looks beautiful and her strength is pretty much back. She has been on a couple small hikes with the dogs, managed emails and phone calls and is determined to get as many thank you cards in the mail as humanly possible.

Her will, determination, attitude and resolve are sound. Along with those same objectives, I am concerned but very optimistic. The journey is long with some hidden curves but we are on the right path.

The wonderful light illuminating that path is shining from all of Nancy’s friends, our families and those that have entered our lives in so many different ways.

My View of Nancy’s Day by iPhone

The Kaiser Permanente radiology department was a bit eerie in the pre dawn hour. The good news was there were no lines.

Surreal light bathed our walk to nearby St. Joseph's Hospital

Paper work. Need I say more?

"ID"ed and "IV"ed

Around 8:30 a.m. anesthetization was the topic between Nancy and Dr. Conrad in pre op

A pink ribbon and a statue of Christ. Not bad icons to have outside the building of your operating room.

The waiting room was spacious and comfortable...not the Ritz Carlton lobby mind you, but it was a good place to relax and get some editing done and keep me preoccupied.

Nancy's surgeon Dr. Joyce Haun, a physician who upholds the ultimate credo of "bedside manner", gave Nancy a thorough briefing the afternoon following surgery.

Once Dr. Haun became aware of my photo essay she had to get in on the act and insisted I kiss Nancy!

In the balance of life this was not a great year. However, I have many blessings  to be grateful for and I look forward to the challenges  and adventures that come my way in the months ahead.

I wish the best for everyone as the year unfolds. Thank you to all that support me and my work and offer the personal relationships that make it all worthwhile.

Just for grins, I would like to share several of my favorite images of 2009. Happy New Year!

During a December NFL game Denver Broncos Brian Dawkins cranked up his mojo

In June Samantha Sagaser of Conifer CO. modeled for my illustration for the Arts in Evergreen feature article in the Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Directory

During the BMX Vert competition at the Summer XGames in Los Angeles last August, Jamie Bestwick went high flying.

I was contracted by local craftsman Don Harris to photograph his collection in April. The challenge was to do justice to these eloquent hardwood pieces sculpted with TLC, immense detail and fine rich grain.

Last May I captured a red fox enjoying an early evening nap in the field grass near our home in Evergreen, CO.

During the bike portion of the 2009 Ford World Ironman Championship last October, cyclists were greeted by the stare of a goat skull mysteriously mounted on the post of a guardrail just south of Hawi. If you are wondering , I didn't put it there either!

This photo is in memory of Taupe, our 13 year-old Weimeraner we lost last fall. She accompanied me on an assignment near Kenosha Pass last summer when I photographed her in a meadow of wildflowers.

Dull as it is, this has been my view and office for seven days as I try to heal from a back injury.

Somewhere between the Queen Ka’ ahumanu Highway covering the Ford World Ironman Championship October 10, the Boston Patriots AFL throwback game less than twelve hours later  in Denver October 11  or the hike with the wife and dogs on October 18th , four hours before boarding a plane to cover the Monday NFL game in San Diego, a nerve in my lumbar decided it had had enough. About mid day on the 18th not long after the hike, my left hamstring started barking at me like an old ‘Coon” dog.

I first thought I tweaked  the “hamy”. Something I have done a gazillion times as a 10K runner and mountaineer. I stretched. I prodded. I massaged the back of my leg as I packed for my trip to San Diego. I figured a hot shower before I left would give some relief. I arrived in San Diego and began messaging and stretching once I got settled into my hotel room. As the evening progressed,  as I had dinner with my compatriots in La Jolla, the old dog really began to howl and I even started carrying a gimp.

The next morning, less than twelve hours before the game, my leg and foot were numb and I could barely walk. I threw up the rescue flag and called friend and team chiropractor Dr. Mike Leahy in his room. He said come right away. Hobbling down the hallway, past the team meeting rooms, getting odd stares and inquiries about my condition, I made it to Mike’s room and waiting message table. After about three thorough routines his prognosis determined a disk and nerve injury. He felt there wasn’t much we could do from that point forward until I could get a full exam.

At the stadium the stares turned to gawking. I sucked it up and did my best Frankenstein imitation shuffling up and down the sidelines. Team orthopedic physician Martin Boublik caught a glimpse of me as I bobbled by the bench. He scurried over and asked about my situation. Right then and there he ran me through several mobility tests and conferred what Mike Leahy had suggested.

Team doctor Steven  Geraghty was on my team bus back to the airport and in a rather genuine and heroic move offered to prescribe medication to start retarding the inflammation and promote healing. Dr. Leahy offered to see me at his clinic in Colorado Springs in the following days before he left for a conference in Toronto. Dr. Boublik updated his consultation on the bus as well.

Other than the medication, the only thing else I could commit to was their advise of ice, heat and rest. Thank goodness the team had a a bye week  last week as I was clearly on injured reserve!

So here I am seven days later making every effort to be ready for our next away game in Baltimore. Now I know how frustrated  injured players must get as they prepare their return to action.

Another thing folks should know is team often times goes beyond just the players and coaches.

Dogs, as canine owners know, get a peculiar smell after they have been rained on or have cruised through a stream or pond. Our dogs tend to have  a smell much like wet wool socks. It’s not really offensive but you are definitely aware of the smell.

Yesterday, after our jaunt,Gandalf was sitting in the backseat poised regally and stinking to high heaven. I knew the smell but couldn’t put my finger on it right away. It wasn’t until I saw the grass-green streak running down his shoulder that I knew he had rolled in elk poop. Let me tell you, fresh elk poop can bring you to your knees when it’s up close and personal.

There's nothing like a large glob of elk poop on your dog's collar to get your senses fired up.

I said something like, ” oh, Gandalf not again”. And there he sat proud as ever.

Then I couldn’t figure out w why such a small amount of feces could smell so bad. On further inspection when I got him out of the car at the office I discovered the culprit. It was a golf ball-sized clump of poop desperately clinging to his dog collar. I took the collar off, received an embarrassing glance from Gandy and proceeded to dump the collar in a bucket of hot water and deodorizer soap. Then I took a long deep breath of the fresh fall air.

A black bear made a surprise early visit tonight trying to load up on suet, seeds and humming bird nectar.

When I went out about 5:45 this morning to disperse the various bird feeders that adorn the property, twelve to be exact, there seemed to be a cooler feel to the air. It was rich, full-bodied with subtle hints of pine, aspen and the familiar smell of early fall. It is a hard one  to describe but it is something that always seems to happen this time of year in the high country. The lower lying meadow grass appeared heavy with dew and at closer inspection  I found frost on about a twenty yard section  in the lowest portion of our field grasses. Once I returned to the kitchen for my first cup of coffee there was a peculiar sound that lingered. A slightly musty smell permeated the room and then it dawned on me. The heat came on in the house.

What? I thought. August 17th? This can’t be, but sure enough I went over and held my hand to one of the registers and warm air was flowing. This time of year the thermostat is set at 50 degrees so needless to say the furnace was pulling off a preseason warm up.

Then, this evening after I wrapped up some editing in the office, I thought I would go out and collect the feeders early because we had a bear visit recently and manage to wipe out a humming bird feeder I overlooked one night.

Much to my surprise as I looked out the office window, Yogi had invited himself over early. I immediately went into red alert mode. I ran and frantically closed all the doors that led to the garage where  the dogs could bolt out in pursuit of the bruin.

Then I sprinted to all the feeders within a safe range, gathered an arm load and retreated to the garage and shut the door. The last thing I needed was “Yogi-meister” clambering for the bins of bird seed, dog treats or any other delectable items stored within striking distance.

At last glance, the young bear stood outreached on his hind legs and took a sole swipe at a hummer feeder only to have the sweet nectar come splashing down on his ‘noggin. He examined the sticky aftermath, took a couple licks and then sauntered south.

This young bruin's reward was a soaked muzzle of humming bird nectar.

I can’t wait for the elk to start bugling and rutting at 3 a.m. in the next several weeks. You have to love fall. Especially in the high country.

Daniel Dhers flying in BMX Freestyle Park Final

I just returned  Monday from covering Summer X Games 15 in Los Angeles. It was my 14th year of covering one of America’s most unique and , I feel, sometimes underrated sports events. I missed summer 2004 when Denver Bronco John Elway  was inducted into the NFL’s Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio.

ESPN X Games senior marketing director Amy Lupo always busts my chops and tells everyone kiddingly, ” Eric needs to get his priorities straight. We can’t believe he would miss the X Games just to cover Elway’s induction!”

I got back at her this year however. I missed a portion of the extreme events because of a conflict with Denver Bronco training camp. Newly appointed head coach Josh McDaniels who hails from Amy’s beloved New England Patriots scheduled the opening of  training camp the same time as X Games. So when I broke the news to her that I would be a little late to “her” event, I told her that new knuckle-headed coach from New England needs to get his priorities straight.

As usual the Games were full of solid action and the courses continue to get better as do the athletes. Here are a few of my favorites from X15.

Rune Glifberg pleases the crowd with this grab in Skateboard Park Final

Even fifteen years later, Andy Macdonald is still huckin' with the best of them.

Simon Tabron was in the money throughout the BMX Vert Final

New head coach Josh McDaniels,white cap in center, addresses his troops the first day of training camp at Dove Valley in Englewood Colorado

Denver Bronco training camp officially started today which means my summer is over once again.

Each summer for the past 26 consecutive years I have covered the team’s summer camp. Until recent years camp was held about 65 miles north of Denver in Ft. Collins Colorado on the Colorado State University campus followed by numerous years on the fields at the University of Northern Colorado just down the road in Greeley. At has become vogue for  teams  to switch to their hometowns for the two to three week drills. Denver followed suit and has set up camp right at its Dove Valley facility in Englewood Colorado.

Not to slight the folks up north, this arrangement is more efficient, cost effective and a whole lot easier on the players. There’s nothing like sleeping in your own bed, even if it is a Sealy Postropedic at the hotel down the road. Before guys bunked two to four players in school dorm rooms on the less than inviting beds.

I don’t miss the heat and humidity that seemed to prevail on the campuses due to overly soaked fields. But I love the excitement, anticipation and the unknowns that unfold every year at training camp. There is a new head coach, eleven new assistant head coaches ( three remain from the former staff) and forty seven new faces in uniform. To me, that’s a recipe for a wild and crazy ride through the NFL season.

Sindballe, shown here at the 2008 Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii, was a strong, determined and well-respected figure.

I was saddened when I learned from a photo colleague today that Danish triathlete Torbjorn Sindballe had retired from triathlon competition due to a heart irregularity.

The Great Dane retired Tuesday June 30 after determining medical evaluations by Danish doctors showed signs of complications from an abnormal heart valve. He had been aware of the abnormality since 2005 but maintained regular check ups to ensure his well being for racing.

We see pro athletes come and go. Some not so willingly and others whose bodies have had enough. As a photographer who often covers professional sports, there are always some athletes you are glad to to see ride into the sunset on their terms. Then there are those you wish United Van Lines would pick up in the middle of the night and transport to some God-forsaken place never to be heard from again.

Torbjorn was one of those athletes you always rooted for no matter the circumstances.  He was a most likable guy.

Off the race course he always had time to converse and my Swedish photo partner Tony Svensson at the Ironman Championships never had trouble pulling the fun loving, jovial side out of Torbjorn. It was riot watching those two tall , strapping Scandinavians  carrying on a litany of one liners in a mishmash serving of Swedish  and Danish.

Sindballe was generally in the hunt in competitions. He was always easy to spot in his trademark white competition attire. His facial expressions were always worth noting. Photographically he made great images.

I recall last year coming up on him as he was systematically and rhythmically grinding out the last six or seven miles of the cycling portion of the Ironman Championship. He was focused and resolute but for one brief moment he calmly rolled his head to the left, looked at me as I focused in on him and he gave me a soft “how are you doing” smile and then went about his business.

All I know is he will be a champion at whatever he decides to do going forward after leaving the solitude he embraced in the saddle, on the road and through the water.

The Dane clocks out at the 2008 Ford Ironman Championships finish

Sindballe trying to cool down along Alii Drive in Kona last year.

Even Gandalf got tired of my sticky notes!

I can’t tell  you how elated I was when the upgraded version 3.0 of my iPhone launched and this foreign little icon of a microphone jumped out at me on the screen. It was a voice recorder. A built-in microphone. Do you realize what this has done for my world?

No more sticky notes! No more scraps of paper clinging to whatever crevice I can find to hold the note. And, even better no calendar alerts to myself just to remember how bloody lame my memory can be sometimes.

Years ago I used to carry around a small pocket-size tape recorder. In fact, I still have it buried deep in the back a of a desk drawer figuring I would use it someday on another assignment. It was very handy at times when you really didn’t have time to take notes in the field. You could dictate scenes from photographs, grab folk’s identification and telephone numbers to follow up on a particular comment or element pertinent to the story or project you might be working.

The trouble with those devices were the collection of batteries and the the myriad of tapes you stored for fear you might need that quote or address one more time.

Now I’ll I do is activate the iPhone app and deliver my verbal list of things to do or things to remember to do.

I have a weird feeling though I will want to have a sticky note somewhere reminding me that I have things to do and I should check my iPhone listing!

I am back after about a month’s hiatus. Things in my life were clucking along just fine, then May 2 I lost my father. No matter how prepared you are for a time like this, it still turns your world upside down.

He had some health issues. Most folks at 83 years-of-age do have problems. His issues were related to metastatic prostate cancer. All in all he had a great life to the end. And best of all it was on his terms. He was  out and about the day he died. He lived by himself and was very self-sufficient. The day before my sister and I had visited because his health care provider set up a meeting at his home to offer some extended services. My dad was optimistic all the time and I think he stunned the visiting doctor and nurse. There we all were in his living room enjoying conversation with these health care representatives. The doctor , who happened to be female, was asking a myriad of questions  many of which were very caring and sensitive in nature. He had recently been experiencing regular back pain and had a lot of sleepless nights. Trying to seek information that might be beneficial to dad’s care the doctor inquired,” Sy do you have any long term plans that we may be able to help you achieve ?” Dad, sitting comfortably in his reading chair, paused, then smiled and said, “No, not really. I just bought my 2009 fishing license so I think I am going to be around for awhile.”

At the meeting’s conclusion, I got up and excused myself from the doctor and nurse. I went over to my dad, shook his hand and patted him on the leg and said, “I’ll see you Saturday afternoon when I finish my assignment.” He replied,” that’ll be great.”

Not much more than twenty four hours and he was gone. I am so blessed that I left him on good terms and he left on his terms.

As years past we became more than father and son. We were friends. Up to the end we shared a lot of great times together. He was a good dad. A great outdoorsman and as I told a lot of friends at his memorial,  he was a true Norwegian who could squeeze a dime out of a wooden nickle.

He will be missed by many folks.