Around on-field soccer feats, a former soccer player, who is known for his athletic prowess beyond his own country, the Australian subcontinent, Michael Turner transcended as a sporting hero. However, it has not been for long that the athlete could enjoy the highs in his sporting career since he had encountered a life-threatening battle beyond the gridiron. 

The 69-year-old soccer player had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that echoes a saga of unyielding hope and unwavering fortitude. However, Geelong’s sporting legacy encapsulates resilience against the harshest adversaries to come back to the normal tempo of life. 

Turner’s testimony of resilience in grueling times

Besides playing for Geelong, the soccer player had been a captain-coach of Werribee during the Victorian Football Association. Being the leading goalkeeper of the club with 40 goals, he received a devastating diagnosis of pancreatic cancer that had altered his life forever. 

It was in January that marked the onset of the daunting journey of Turner where he faced an uncertain future. Even though his diagnosis echoed a prognosis of a time period of six to twelve months, to live, Surviving the physically and mentally exhaustive journey fighting against cancer, his unwavering spirit defied the odds and overcame every hurdle.

It was also the time when he was dealing with the grief followed by the demise of his mother, when this diagnosis knocked him down. Turner shared his views in an interview with the Daily Mail, “I have never feared death. What I fear is, and what I lost during that 10 months, is my quality of life.” Hence, it is from the journey of survival that the athlete draws inspiration to pursue in life. 

Glimpse of victory culminating in the darkest times

Turner has undergone extensive treatment that included the intricate Whipple Procedure that comprised a nine-hour-long surgical odyssey akin to an organ transplant. During the surgical process, to ensure proper functionality of the digestive system, led him to lost half of his pancreas, gall bladder, and sections of intestine. The exhaustive operation was then followed by 12 grueling rounds of chemotherapy. 

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The athlete had always maintained a robust figure and hence this life-threatening experience had taken a toll on the player who once was gifted with a palpable athletic frame. Hence Turner expressed his gratitude by saying, “It’s been very challenging, but I’m one of the lucky ones.” In the process, he even fought with negative thoughts like contemplating his own funeral. However, gradually he regained all his strength and completed the prescribed rounds of chemotherapy. His improvement resulted in his blood cancer count being reduced from 700 to a reassuring 25. 

Even being away from soccer for quite a long time now, Michael Turner continues to be a legend inspiring others through his valiant spirit in the face of adversity. As he fought for his life, he ensured to savor little pleasures signifying that it is not about survival but the determination to stay positive in the darkest of times. 

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