Community Gratitude/Duluth Today

[Randy]

Community

Seems we form our communities in many different ways…work, family, neighbors, play, etc. This gift from Tighe for this site certainly has done a lot for holding the Minnesota windplayer community together and I just wanted to share something with you.
Some of you may know our younger son, Davin, received a diagnosis of malignant melanoma last Friday. I had to vacate the house on Sunday so he could propose to his girlfriend, so Mother Superior gave me a most outrageous session. You can imagine the mix of emotions felt as we shared our meal….tears of joy, pain and ecstasy…all at once. Davin underwent a five-hour surgery on Wednesday where they removed a good portion of his nose and repaired it with skin from his forehead. Four lymph nodes were removed for analysis, the results we hope to receive on Tuesday. Over the past week we’ve received incredible healing energy from various community connections and Davin’s well on his way to recovery. We’d certainly appreciate your healing thoughts for Davin over these next few days and we’ve come to see just how tight this sailing community is.

Get this: Dr. Runstad, a dermatologist we taught to windsurf last year at our house, first diagnosed Davin. He referred us to a plastic surgeon that’s been windsurfing since the mid-‘80’s who did a spectacular job, Pawel. Steve Tuohy was his anesthesiologist. Windsurfers have performed three of my last four surgeries. And today Ryan and I sailed ridiculous conditions of Lake Superior, only to be joined by Chris, a Duluth ER physician. We got worked in less than an hour, but can tell you the ramps were the best I’ve had in many years. We had misjudged the wind and entered 3.7M conditions with our 4.5M. Too much power to feel comfortable with anything except jumping. There was so much power it seemed like you could just suspend yourself at the peak of the jump. Ryan reported that feeling of readying for landing only to realize you’ve still got another six feet to go. Yes, these were brutal conditions and we didn’t last that long, but it was like bronco riding and we felt worked none-the-less, glad to have done it.

Here’s a reply we got from a friend of ours in Australia when we told him about the windsurf connection with Davin’s healing:
it's wonderful to hear the op went so well and that you were surrounded by
an army, a brotherhood of wave loving wind-surfers, whose divine love of the
ocean brought you together as one.

I'm only a body surfer but know of the ocean and it's magic. To me
wind-surfers are like knights whose courage and triumphant spirit is surely
tested by it's majesty and power. Knights that face the darkness of it's
depths only to rise transcendent on it's exhalant peaks.

Davin must be an extraordinary youth to bring together so much love and
light and remind all of us of the gift, joy and beauty of life.

Oceans of light love and laughter

Tighe, thanks for the reminder of positive energy in these trying times. We’d appreciate any of you throwing a jump or jibe for Davin. Oceans of light, love and laughter to you all.

[Coach]

I wish I could have made it to Duluth today, but the conditions looked a bit nutty for kiting. Besides, my 9m is still in need of repair from the last time!

I ended up doing my scheduled cycling training ride - 40 miles down to Afton and back. A good part of the time was spent thinking of Davin and sending him my positive energy.

Davin and I have had some fun in the past rollerblading together in your half-pipe, amongst other things. Many of us that have become part of the Johnson family's life due to windsurfing have also been there to watch and participate in Davin and Ryan growing up. I'm sure the unanimous opinion is that we all care for you and your family greatly and hope Davin comes through this experience somehow stronger.

And, we're all especially glad you had a rockin' time on the big lake... Wish I'd made it up!


-Coach

[Chip]

Randy -

This is an amazing community of wind enthusiasts and you are the pinical of our community. Everyone looks forward to your posts, your presence on the beach, your amazing outlook on life. I don't know Devin, but knowing you I can only imagine what an incredibly strong and postive person he must be. I am sure the thoughts of this entire community go out to you and your family. Our combined strenght is behind you all the way.

On Mother Superior -

Was that a humbling day or what? By the time I got on the water you guys had taken off already! I've never seen you come and go so fast! When I hit the water, I discovered why. I only lasted about 30 minutes before I washed up on the beach exhausted. I think I was out durring a minor squall. The wind was basicly 10 to 50 - and I stuggled to get up, only to go wildly out of control and get launched over the handle bars while being launched off a ramp I couldn't avoid... It was REALLY difficult to keep the board on the water. When in the air, you would grit your teeth and hope you could come down in a spot you weren't going to get trashed by the next wave. Its now almost 9pm and the wind is still blowing in the mid 40's.

I was busy with a boat project today that kept me driving up and down the point. As I went by the Tot Lot at 3pm Chris was still out there! What an animal! I don't know how he hung on so long! I bet he is stuggling at work tonight.

Well, it sounds like we may have a near repeat tomorrow - so stay tuned and we may get to do it all over again! (the weather certainly isn't good for anything else)

Randy - thanks for being a trooper and coming up, take care and God Bless!





out as un, I can only imagine the fantastic attitude towards life Devin must have.

[Jan]

Randy, after talking to you today in Duluth, I never would have guessed that you carried such a burden. Your positive spirit is very uplifting. My thoughts and well wishes go out to you, your family and Davin.
Strength,
Jan (by the way, I sailed at Scheveningen once too. That was my first wave sailing experience.)

[cdelp]

Randy, you inspire much, including a sense of brotherhood amongst us. My best goes out to your son.

On a different vein, after a day on the Mother I feel I need windsurfing lessons. I am trying to salvage my pride by saying "That is why enjoy Windsurfing, because it is so humbling" But that is a load of fecal matter, I would much rather NOT be humbled by continuous lake water whole bowel irrigation.

Thanks Chip I was struggling at work, but the second patient I had in the ER was a surfer who got a corneal abrasion from the sand. I just smiled.

Jan, nice to meet you!

[BSMITH]

Randy,
Your positive attitude and energy is such a refreshing change from my daily grind at the "Legion of Doom". Davin is lucky to have you around. The positive energy and lust for life that resonates in the boardsport community has incredible healing power.
See you on the water soon Davin!

[Sid]

Randy, Please drop me an e-mail with a phone number or current e-mail address at - sidney.roberts@sheldahl.com
I have something to share with you.
Sid

[Jim N]

Have shared your unfortunate news with all the sailors & kiters I've encountered over the last few days, & we all want you to know that all of our thoughts and prayers are with Davin and all your Family. May all the positive energy being focused in his direction make for a positive out-come.

[Mike W]

Davin and your family will be certainly be in our thoughts and prayers. This community will lose a lot when the Johnson family heads west. Let's hope the place on Forest Lake never sells.

[Eric S]

Hey Davin,

We only met briefly last fall at Mille Lacs. You and your bro totally stoked me out when we stated talking about trying to use surfboards behind wakeboats. You have fire in your eyes. You are an inspiration.

Let's wakesurf with you when you are ready, two up.

Mahalo,

Eric

[Tighe]

the weather has been full of energy these last few weeks, some of us have been enjoying the ride, connected to the wind, eachother and the moment...or, well, pretty much everything. I have been trying to take those moments, signified by gratitude, and focus that breath toward your healing Davin. It is a strong sense on my end, I only hope that it reaches you and gives you strength.

We've only met a few times, though as your father points out we are all connected..in the wind.

ride on

[Randy]

Thanks to all of you for your positive vibes in thought, feeling, word, imagination and humor. It is being received fully...have no doubt. We can't stop the wave, but we can learn to "ride it" and we hope these posts have further inspired all of you to relish the joy in each ride. The 'breath of healing' is in our recognition for how beautiful these moments have been, are and will continue to be....for all weather conditions.

[steveb]

Randy, you did not tell us if she accepted Da's proposal.

[Randy]

Steve, my boys know how to pick 'em. Jenny has been nothing short of 'inpsired greatness' through this episode. They are deeply in love and looking forward to a wonderful life together.
We did just send out the following update:

Dear friends and family and friends of friends,

We thank all of you so much for taking time to put your prayers, attention and positive energy to Davin’s healing. Today we received news from his pathology reports that were positive for three of the four lymph nodes that were removed from his neck. Surgery is now being scheduled for two weeks from now to remove regional lymph nodes from his neck. These will then be examined and the next course of action will be determined from this. At the same time as this surgery, they will cut the connection of his nose flap from his forehead, the first cosmetic surgery for his nose repair. From the beginning, we were told this would be a marathon rather than a sprint. We believe the healing vital force energy from your prayers has dramatically contributed to reducing the severity of Davin’s ‘dis-ease’.

Life has shown us that ‘what we put attention to grows stronger’ and we are more dedicated than ever to put attention to Davin’s healing…not to his sickness. So please feed the seeds of joy and happiness as we support Davin through this most challenging marathon. We will once again post an update to you in a little over two weeks.

With much Aloha, Davin and Jenny, Ryan and Lisa and Jane and Randy

[Woody]

All the best for Davin and your family Randy!!

Woody

[Tighe]

Here's a shot Randy snapped of Chris just before he hit the water.