Saying Goodbye to a Friend

Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance – Samuel Johnson

Chad Meyer was an inspiration to his family, friends and teammates with his strength and perseverance.
Even as his body weakened from the cancer, Meyer remained a vital part of the Adrian College baseball team, pushing his friends and teammates to work towards their ultimate goal.
The Bulldogs were set to honor the senior and recent AC graduate with a special day May 7 for their final regular season home doubleheader against Kalamazoo College. The team was to all wear Meyer’s jersey, members of the 1968 Detroit Tigers were to make an appearance, and Meyer was to get one last a bat.
He never got the chance to participate. That morning, a mere five days after receiving his diploma, Chad Meyer lost his two-year battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer. He was 21 years old, just one month from turning 22.
Farewell friend.
The college is a lot like Manchester, Belleville and similar towns in the area – a tight-knit community. I was fortunate to have known Chad well, as I still have many friends at the college. He had many friends as well, not surprising because there wasn’t anything to not like about him. All while fighting his condition, Chad never got down on himself. He remained the same guy – always upbeat, joking around with his friends, working hard to reach his goals, being one of the guys.
He played in 28 games for the Bulldogs in his four-year college career, 19 of which came during his sophomore year (2008). It was late in that season that Meyer learned he had cancer. He missed the majority of the 2009 campaign while going through chemotherapy, but managed to play in five games. Prior to that season, the Bulldogs all shaved their heads in a show of support for their teammate.
Meyer had to quit playing in March as his condition worsened, but he never left the team. His jersey hung in the dugout during home games, giving the Bulldogs extra motivation.
Meyer’s passing, along with heavy rain, forced the scheduled doubleheader against Kalamazoo to be played a day later. While some of the original festivities were scrapped, the Bulldogs still honored him. Everyone wore his No. 15 jersey, and Meyer received the start at third base, his equipment placed in the position. And during the fifth inning of the opening game, blue skies and sunshine were starting to peek through the heavy clouds, as if Chad wanted to check in on his boys.
The Bulldogs swept the doubleheader, downing the Hornets 9-2 and 6-0. They played the games they had to play, digging through every a bat, digging in to make key defensive plays, digging to the depths of their hearts to reach the perfect ending.
The opening win, which clinched Adrian’s fourth MIAA championship in six years, had an ironic twist as the Bulldogs finished with 15 hits. It was 15 hits in the win for No. 15.
A championship for Chad. Farewell friend.
Meyer was an inspiration to me as well. When I went through my procedure to remove a pre-cancerous mole last December, thoughts went to Chad and how he was handling things. Yet, I was lucky, as mine was caught early. I can’t imagine what Chad went through. But again, he always remained the same guy. He had more heart and guts in one finger than most people have in their entire bodies.
It’s a solemn reminder that cancer can strike anyone, at any age. It can also motivate people to get checked out and support cancer awareness efforts, like the WBCA Pink Zone in Manchester.
The lasting image of Chad for most people came May 2 at graduation. Though in a wheelchair, Meyer was still hanging with his friends. When his name was called, he wheeled across the stage to a standing ovation from his classmates and nearly 3,000 in attendance. Right before receiving his diploma, Chad flashed his smile and pumped his fist to the crowd. Always upbeat, the same guy to the end.
Farewell friend. You’ll always be remembered.