Brake in The Action
by Keith Brake
I went to Oz.
It was transformational.
Linda and I had been in Cuba City, Wis., less than a week when I had stomach pain that just wouldn’t quit.
“To Oz?
“Yes, and let’s hurry!”
An ambulance ride to Madison followed, then some middle-of-the-night surgery.
It went well. And my thanks to the doctors and nurses at the University of Wisconsin’s American Center. It was, well, just a different hospital experience. Different, as in totally uplifting. It’s a 50-bed hospital with attached clinics up on the northeast side of town.
It has deer running in the fields around it and wild turkeys coming up to walking paths which surround the place. Hardly the urban setting I was expecting in Madison!
More important, this very special place has an attitude – a positive attitude. I was there five days and I had never experienced anything quite like it in a medical facility.
But I’ve been around “positive” before – my time covering the athletic programs at Montezuma.
Now, back in Cuba City, I felt like I was in exile.
But now, I’m covering MHS teams again – but from 165 miles away.
We are hoping for Ally Fillmore to develop as a sports writer to go along with her amazing photo skills. And, I’m sure that she will. But, she’s taking on a new teaching job in Belle Plaine this fall, as well as her cross country coaching duties in Montezuma.
Being saddled with all that writing was a little more than she felt comfortable with.
I can help. Years ago, I covered more than a dozen high school athletic programs – by telephone – in order to write a sports column for a paper in Moline.
Now, we’ve got electronic devices we didn’t have then.
So, I’m here to help, for a while at least.
And, who knows how long?
Meanwhile, thank you so much to the Montezuma Community Boosters, for making me grand marshal of the “Let Freedom Ring” parade! I waved at many of you that day, and most of you waved back!
I had gastric bypass surgery last June 11. I weighed 278 before dieting some prior to that surgery. Recently, I weighed in at 153. My doctor in Madison said I had lost more than 100 percent of my excess body fat. He said the normal is about 60 percent.
He wants me to put some back on.
Well, OK. I guess I could force myself!
I’m also having trouble walking. I’m not in any pain, but I can’t hold up my right foot. It drops and I sort of march along. They don’t think it’s diabetes-related, but we don’t know for sure.
We think it can be corrected. But until it is, I’m not trooping football sidelines.
Sitting here behind the screen will work for a while.
I will miss shooting photos at games.
But I know Ally will do just great, when she is available.
I have a new e-mail address:
(I am developing my new business of coaching people who are in career transitions).
My phone is (641) 990-5433.
Our address:
Linda and Keith Brake
500 South Jefferson St., Apt. 2
Cuba City, Wi. 53807
Thanks to many who have e-mailed or called with encouragement!