Dave Dravecky has survived three types of cancer, but at a high cost, specifically the amputation of his left arm and shoulder.  A pitcher in major league baseball who threw with his left arm, it was devastating news when a tumor was discovered in that arm.  Doctors feared he would never pitch again, but through a procedure called cryosurgery, Dave made a miraculous comeback.  However, not long after he returned to the big leagues, while making a pitch, his arm broke.  Dave’s faith has played a major role in his life once he had to retire from baseball.  He has engaged in skiing, golf and fishing, and serves as a motivational speaker.

 

Dave Dravecky’s cancer journey began in the winter of 1987 when he noticed a pea-sized lump halfway between his left shoulder and his elbow.  Doctors said an MRI did not reveal anything of concern, but by the end of the 1988 baseball season, the lump had grown to half the size of a golf ball.  Another MRI showed Dave had cancer.

 

Doctors said they would have to remove half of his deltoid muscle, and that outside of a miracle, Dave would never pitch again.  After ten-plus hours of surgery to remove the mass, doctors performed cryosurgery, which froze and killed all the cancer cells in his left arm’s humerus bone.  For Dave, it was a very difficult time physically, mentally and emotionally.  However, after healing, he returned to the big leagues on August 10, 1989 to pitch.  He went eight innings and was the winning pitcher as his San Francisco Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds.

 

However, five days later when the Giants were playing in Montreal, as Dave released a pitch, his left arm snapped in half.  In acute pain, Dave was rushed to a hospital to get x-rays.  He was diagnosed with a spiral oblique, in which the bone was spiraling and rotating and breaking at the same time.  Dave was forced to retire.  He went through radiation treatment, which resulted in a staph infection that threatened his life.  That plus two more diagnoses of cancer forced him to have his left should and arm removed on June 18, 1991. 

Physically, a determined Dave Dravecky chose to physically make the most of his life.  Although arthritis forced him to stop, for a time he played golf with his good arm.  He has also participated in fishing and skiing. 

 

Dave spreads the inspirational side of his story as an author and motivational speaker.  He has also established a ministry, https://www.endurance.org, which seeks to be of support to others.

 

Additional Resources:

 

Website: https://www.davedravecky.org

 

Ministry: https://www.endurance.org