DT4EMS
Kip Teitsort, Founder
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The Karate Dad.
When I moved my family to Gainesville after joining the Sheriff’s Office, I opened another Karate School. One day a tough looking guy (shaved head and goatee) pulled up and asked if we were accepting any new students.
We talked for a few minutes and he decided to sign his son up. His name was Rodger and his son was Joe. Within a few weeks, you could set your watch by them. They were at every class, every function, every tournament etc.
Rodger was the type of dad to always encourage Joe with motivation, praise and even a hug. It was always obvious Rodger loved Joe and was very proud of him. Rodger even set an example by joining in class to and would work out side by side with his son.
Rodger became what we affectionately nicknamed “The Karate Dad”. Rodger would load up a bunch of kids and take them to the movies, out to eat or whatever. All of the kids loved him, including my own.
During our time together I found Rodger to be an interesting man to say the least. He was a Tank Commander during Vietnam. He was a hard-hat diver after that. He owned several small businesses over the years, but he was the most proud of his son Joe, his greatest achievement.
Rodger was always careful not to impose. Always polite and would try to leave after only visiting for a while to never wear out his welcome. He always made us smile for different reasons.
After about a year, Rodger started experiencing some “spells” during a workout. He stated he would see the color green and everything was hazy. I would ask him to take a rest and he would. You could see the fear on his face. Finally he went and got a check up. The local MD he saw told him it was due to smoking. Later we found that not to be the case.
A few months later, Rodger went to the VA. They found what was described as the largest tumor ever seen (by them) on the pancreas of a living man. They gave Rodger 6 months. We talked about this and needless to say I was hurt and shocked. Rodger and Joe were very good friend of me and my family by this point.
Rodger waited a short while until he could find the right way to tell Joe. When the day came for him to explain the situation to Joe, his son took it like a man. See Joe is Rodger’s only child. Rodger went through a nasty divorce and has raised Joe alone for years.
Every time Rodger and I talk, Joe is always involved in the conversation and plans are being made for Joe for when the time comes. Rodger is always upbeat on the phone, even when he is telling me the VA has started the paperwork for Hospice to visit him at home.
I am worried about Rodger and Joe. Rodger just came off of a 3 week bout of pain… unlike anything he has had up until this point. The cancer has spread into his liver. The Chemo is over. The doctors have done all they can do. Rodger still stays upbeat and finds things to laugh about. It is tough to laugh with him because he is a real friend. He is older than me, but you would never know it with the way we have socialized over the years.
Before we found out he was ill, we always would joke about how I wished I would have known him sooner.
So, if you pray, pray for Rodger and Joe. Instead of being the “soccer mom” Rodger was the Karate Dad!
When I moved my family to Gainesville after joining the Sheriff’s Office, I opened another Karate School. One day a tough looking guy (shaved head and goatee) pulled up and asked if we were accepting any new students.
We talked for a few minutes and he decided to sign his son up. His name was Rodger and his son was Joe. Within a few weeks, you could set your watch by them. They were at every class, every function, every tournament etc.
Rodger was the type of dad to always encourage Joe with motivation, praise and even a hug. It was always obvious Rodger loved Joe and was very proud of him. Rodger even set an example by joining in class to and would work out side by side with his son.
Rodger became what we affectionately nicknamed “The Karate Dad”. Rodger would load up a bunch of kids and take them to the movies, out to eat or whatever. All of the kids loved him, including my own.
During our time together I found Rodger to be an interesting man to say the least. He was a Tank Commander during Vietnam. He was a hard-hat diver after that. He owned several small businesses over the years, but he was the most proud of his son Joe, his greatest achievement.
Rodger was always careful not to impose. Always polite and would try to leave after only visiting for a while to never wear out his welcome. He always made us smile for different reasons.
After about a year, Rodger started experiencing some “spells” during a workout. He stated he would see the color green and everything was hazy. I would ask him to take a rest and he would. You could see the fear on his face. Finally he went and got a check up. The local MD he saw told him it was due to smoking. Later we found that not to be the case.
A few months later, Rodger went to the VA. They found what was described as the largest tumor ever seen (by them) on the pancreas of a living man. They gave Rodger 6 months. We talked about this and needless to say I was hurt and shocked. Rodger and Joe were very good friend of me and my family by this point.
Rodger waited a short while until he could find the right way to tell Joe. When the day came for him to explain the situation to Joe, his son took it like a man. See Joe is Rodger’s only child. Rodger went through a nasty divorce and has raised Joe alone for years.
Every time Rodger and I talk, Joe is always involved in the conversation and plans are being made for Joe for when the time comes. Rodger is always upbeat on the phone, even when he is telling me the VA has started the paperwork for Hospice to visit him at home.
I am worried about Rodger and Joe. Rodger just came off of a 3 week bout of pain… unlike anything he has had up until this point. The cancer has spread into his liver. The Chemo is over. The doctors have done all they can do. Rodger still stays upbeat and finds things to laugh about. It is tough to laugh with him because he is a real friend. He is older than me, but you would never know it with the way we have socialized over the years.
Before we found out he was ill, we always would joke about how I wished I would have known him sooner.
So, if you pray, pray for Rodger and Joe. Instead of being the “soccer mom” Rodger was the Karate Dad!
