Editor's note: In 27 years on staff at The Mining Journal, Renee Prusi has written stories about everything from politics to education to police news to sports. Over the next few months, she will be writing from a different perspective... as a person battling cancer.
This isn't how Frank Drozd expected to spend the summer.
At age 19, he was fired up for his last season as a member of the Marquette Blues American Legion baseball team. And he was anxious for the other fun that summer brings.
Instead, Frank is waging war against cancer, hoping to be back in action sooner than anyone might predict.
With a positive attitude and a voracious appetite to learn all he can about the disease he is fighting, Frank is one determined young man.
"I feel I'm strong," he said. "I cried for a bit when I heard cancer, but then I said 'let's get it taken care of.' And we are."
We meaning Frank and his parents, Joe and Sandy Drozd of Marquette. Joe is an advertising sales representative at The Mining Journal and one of the few current employees with more years of service here than this writer. Sandy and Joe are devoting themselves to helping Frank make it through the many steps of treatment for cancer.
It started in February, when Frank was active as always. He was participating in early-season workouts for the Blues and playing basketball for fun when he hurt his left leg.
"I thought it was a strained Achilles and two partially torn muscles," he said. "One of my teammates, (Anthony Kreis), sent me to his dad, Mick, at Family Care Doctors. I got an X-ray in March and it was negative so I started sports therapy."
But the swelling in his ankle persisted and the pain became a constant.
"We used a lot of ice, but it didn't help," he said. "Then in early May, the pain was unbearable. I came home on a Sunday and iced it, then went to bed. I called my mom at work Monday morning and she took me to the medical center. They referred me to a foot specialist."
That Thursday, Frank had some more tests done and the next morning, Sandy received a phone call asking her to go to the office to speak with the doctor.
"That's when they told us it could be cancer," Frank said. "They knew something was really wrong so they set up an appointment for us the next Tuesday in Madison, Wis."
The Drozd family, including Sandy's mother, Shirley Miller, made the long drive to the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. They have battled cancer in the past, with Shirley's husband, Lowell, a seven-year throat cancer survivor.
But nothing can prepare anyone to hear that a previously healthy 19-year-old has cancer. The doctors at UW told the Drozds that Frank has osteosarcoma - bone cancer - in his tibia and ankle.
"The doctors were pretty sure on Tuesday that it was cancer, but waited until I had the biopsy to confirm it," Frank said. "The biopsy was the worst pain I had to that point. It was so bad."
Another five hours of tests and scans at the hospital had Frank reeling from pain. However, after some initial fear, he took the confirmed diagnosis in stride.
"My parents being with me all the time helps me to be strong," he said. "My mom sleeping at the hospital with me helped. My dad snores too loud so he didn't sleep there."
As he finished that sentence, Frank looked across the room where his dad sat listening. The two of them cracked up, together. Humor is a weapon the Drozds are using in this battle.
While in Wisconsin, Frank had a port installed in his chest to prepare for the rounds of chemotherapy he will have as part of the fight against cancer. He's had intensive chemo already and returns to Madison for another round this Friday, then again the following two Fridays.
Most likely in August, Frank will have surgery to remove his left foot. He will receive a prosthetic foot right away.
"They told him they can give him one with a spring in it so he can finally dunk," Joe said, smiling at his son.
Joe had nothing but praise for the staff at the hospital in Madison. He has a notebook in which he's written the names of every doctor, nurse and other medical staffer who has helped them along the way.
"The nurses, especially, are angels," Joe said. "They put Frank in the pediatric unit and the nurses there are phenomenal."
His son agreed.
"You let them know you need them, and the nurses are right there," Frank said.
While keeping a positive outlook, Frank has still experienced some bad moments.
"I got nauseous from the chemo and that took away my appetite for a bit," he said. "The hardest part right now is being bed-ridden, not being able to go out or to see my friends."
Because of the intense chemotherapy he has undergone, Frank needs to avoid exposure to germs at present. So he spends his time at home, watching movies, listening to music and waiting for his beloved Detroit Tigers or Los Angeles Lakers to play.
Once his blood counts are in a better range, he's hoping to get out to see his teammates on the Blues in action.
The team dedicated a game to him in May. In that contest, they played against Escanaba, who they hadn't defeated in some time. The Blues rallied to win the game they dedicated to their friend.
"It was so cool to hear that," Frank said.
Jack Reynolds, Dave Mingay and Mick Kreis are spearheading a Blues fundraiser for Frank on July 16. The team will have a spaghetti dinner on that date to help raise money toward medical expenses.
In the meantime, Frank will continue with the treatment plan his doctors have put together and look toward the future.
"One of my doctors told me about one of his patients who was a basketball starter. After he got his prosthesis, he was able to play again," Frank said. "So who knows? Maybe someday I can play some baseball again."
