"Walter had a special way of touchi...

"Walter had a special way of touching people" says Connie Payton of her late husband. "He was about really making a difference in other people's lives. thus in my eyes, he was the greatest--not for what he did forward the football field, but for the kind of human being he was."

What he did in succession the field, however, was excellent amazing.

For 13 seasons, Walter "Sweetness" Payton wore number 34 for the Chicago Bears. Despite standing a relatively diminutive 5'10" he became known as common of the most powerful running backs in NFL history--a gutsy player who would lower his shoulder and scour through opponents nearly twice his size.

During his career, Payton scored 110 touchdowns, amassed a then-record 16726 rushing yards and l his team to a championship in Super depression XX. When he retired following the 1987 season, he held or shared seven all-time NFL records. He was selected to the Hall of Fame upon his first ballot in 1993

unless six years later--in February 1999--fans saw a true different man. The powerful ex-running back was gone In his place stood a thin, frail, visibly weakened Walter Payton announcing that he'd contracted a rare form of liver cancer.

Payton began a series of treatments, still nothing seemed to help. Worse now the cure proved as devastating as the disease. "At that time, Walter wasn't able to eat anything because he was forward so much medication," says Connie. "He didn't plane know the time of day."

Things began to change, however, when a friend invited Connie to attend a seminar tendered by Patrick Quillin, PhD, Director of Nutrition for the Cancer Treatment Center of America (CTCA). "When Dr Quillin explained that greatest in quantity cancer patients die from malnutrition and dehydration, I realized that that's what was happening to Walter, and that we extremityed to get him out of bed and obtain him some food," Connie says. "It made in the same manner much sense when I heard this doctor talk about nutrition, and I musing `I've got to do something for my husband.'"

Inspired by way of the seminar, Connie moved her husband to a CTCA hospital where he began receiving a different prototype of treatment. Doctors at the center regulated Payton's medication and added a program of nutrition, vitamins and exercise.

"They treated him in ways that we hadn't been expos to, and it really made a difference," says Connie. "It got him abroad of bed. It enabled him to dissipate time with family and friends. It was startling to have him be himself again, to be able to shut in a conversation with him, to view him laugh and smile and take pleasure in his last days--well, it was a two of months, really, because it made that often of a difference."

Although Payton ultimately succumbed to the disease in November 1999 at the age of 45 the holistic care he received from one side CTCA led Connie to set up the Walter Payton Cancer store (WPCF). Working with the CTCA, the WPCF stocks traditional types of cancer research, still it focuses primarily on complementary treatments--including nutrition, vitamins, herbal fill ups acupuncture and spirituality. "You've got to treat the whole person--mind, corpse and spirit," says Connie. "It makes all the difference in the world. in the way that research in those areas--especially spirituality--is important to me because populace who are spiritually nourished fare better when dealing with a terminal illness."

The store contributes no money toward animal testing, concentrating instead onward clinical trials using human proffers "We want research that's clinical, that's proven" Connie says. "And we apply the mind for ways to improve these treatments or to find complementary therapies that can help them work level better."

In addition to working with the WPCF Connie is the author of Stronger Than Cancer, a collection of messages from folks who have struggled with the disease. "I wanted to share a little bit of my story and have other folks share theirs," she says, "because it's meaningful to hear from race who've experienced what you're going through"

Whether raising riches for the fund or speaking to the families of cancer patients, Connie darts herself into her work with the same never-say-die attitude that her husband displayed in succession the field. "I want to inspire tribe and give them hope," she says. "Make the greatest in number of every day. Stay positive. Encourage each other--and none give up. Never give up"

Stronger Than Cancer is available at bookstores everywhere. Portions of the get forwards go to support the Walter Payton Cancer foundation For more information about the WPCF visit payton34.org online.

COPYRIGHT 2003 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group