Any way all the best with your rehab you are very lucky to have your family and friends around you and keep up the positive attitude.
Best regards
Larnich

I heard about the accident a while ago, and while you have often been in my thoughts it has taken me until now to be able to put some of them into words.

Firstly, I need to honestly acknowledge my own feelings of shock and sadness in response to the news. I mourned the loss of your physical ability. I felt the discomfort of trying to imagine how I would respond if I was in your situation. It is tempting for me to avoid writing this – to only be positive – but I felt it was an important place to start.

Having said that, I’m now grateful to have the opportunity to pass on a long overdue thanks that I owe you. It stems back to the time we worked together at Smith’s Snackfoods in 1995/96. I was immediately struck by your response to the standard greeting of “Good Morning, how are you?” – which is so often said without much regard for the answer (which in my case was typically “Not too bad”). Your enthusiastic “Fantastic!” has stayed with me not just because of the energy with which it was offered – but because it was clear you had made the choice to be fantastic. That simple moment has stayed with me and I often remind myself that I have the choice to decide how I feel.

I saw an article in last weekend’s paper ( 16/8/2008 Sydney Morning Herald Good Weekend magazine). It was by Deborah Snow about Anna Donald – a doctor who discovered in February 2007 she was riddled with cancer. While cancer is quite a different situation than your own, I thought you might find her spirit and attitude interesting. The following is an extract from the article…

“Donald is greatly inspired by Ian Gawler, the Australian authority on mind/body medicine, who is now a friend and correspondent. He recovered from a cancer deemed totally incurable by his doctors nearly 30 years ago, relying heavily on meditation, diet and an encounter with an Indian spiritual healer.
“If it wasn’t for his example, I would be much more inclined to say, ‘Well, it’s all very well, this stuff, but show me!’ The fact is he actually demonstrated that it was possible. And you only need one example, one thing that you can’t explain but can’t refute, and you have to think, ‘Well, how can that be?”
She admits she cannot know at this stage what is working. “So far I’m defying the odds. I should have died last year, statistically. I am not disputing that the chemo, and radiation and hormone treatments are why I am alive. But I am also open to the possibility that they are not the only reason I am still alive.”
…
“I do want to live, I do not want to die. I’m 42!” she says in a voice that is half mock protest, half the real thing. “But when I thought I really was dying, it was fine. It was better than fine. It’s a bloody adventure, it’s unpredictable. But I’ve come to realise experientially, rather than intellectually, that the only time that exists is now. And trying to make ‘now’ as good as I can – that’s a real achievable goal while I’m alive.”

Best wishes,
Michael Weiling

I have been following your progress through this website since I heard about your accident.
It really does seem that you haven’t changed much in all of those years since high school! Still super motivated, super determined and I imagine super stubborn! (All of those traits I envied during our years of ‘competition’ in economics!)
Michael, you truly are inspirational and it sounds like you have surrounded yourself with wonderful people. Your wife Mon and your daughter Ash are gorgeous.
I have every confidence that you will continue to inspire and amaze as you negotiate this ‘bump’ in the road as only it seems you could do.
I look forward to following your continuing progress Mike!

Cheers,
Kellie Bousfield (nee Langfield)
MAHS 1990

Have been thinking about you guys every day since we heard the news. Your progress has been amazing and logging into your website has become a highlight of the day. The girls (Maddison 9, Gabrielle 6 and Amily 3) keep you in their prayers every night before bed. Even Amily does her best… “Dear God, Pray that Pete’s brover gets better… and I have a good day at Kindy tomorrow. AMEN!”
So, guys, each and everyone of us is behind you all the way!!!

Love Leesa, Barry, Maddison, Gabrielle & Amily. xox.

You have touched so many peoples hearts here at the ANZ and we wish you, ash and Mike all the best for this recovery period. All our love and support from the ANZ CDS team. “Live strong” as Lance Armstrong says…..I actually wear hi armband just to remind me that every day…..opsi, I do hope Mike was a fan of lance……..I love his book “its not about the bike”.

Take care and keep up your amazing passion and love. Anything is possible Luv jacs