Sports feature

Indomitable spirit

Youth soccer coach exudes aura of positivism in his bout with aggressive cancer

By RICHARD A. ROSS

CALLICOON CENTER, NY — It’s almost inevitable that most of us will face serious adversity. When that time comes, one of two things is apt to happen. Either we will discover within ourselves the strength to endure and grow stronger, or we are broken down by circumstances we perceive as insurmountable. Once that happens, we may lapse into depression, lose our sense of self-reliance and possibly surrender the will to live.

That latter possibility has never and will never exist for Lenny Miret, a 38-year-old father and husband, a successful salesman for Federal Express and a soccer coach extraordinaire.

Lenny’s story is about the affirmation of life in its most positive sense—despite an unimaginable five-year battle with cancer that has racked his athletic body with intermittent attacks on his colon, lungs and now his peritoneum.

Following each bout and the ravages of the treatment he received, he has gone back to work and literally laced up his soccer cleats for the next phase of the game.

Since the latest and most perilous onslaught that began last October, Miret is challenged more than ever. Hooked to an IV that provides his nourishment and medication, Miret is no longer able to eat or drink. His doctors’ assessment of his conditional is terminal.

Although Miret admits that he is losing the physical battle, the war of the spirit, fueled by his incredibly positive outlook and relentless will to survive, is not only being waged, it is being won.

Lenny Miret is not dying. He is living.

Candidly speaking, Miret says he cannot fathom not being here. He has too much to live for: most notably his wife, Cathleen, and children, Caitlin, 10, Lenny, 9, and Patrick, 5. Miret also loves his work for Federal Express, a company that has never relinquished its support throughout this medical miasma.

And the love of sports invigorates him. A serious athlete and coach, that passion now resides in the kids he has coached at American Youth Soccer (AYSO) or at the high school level. One of Miret’s former charges, a young AYSO player who never appeared to be paying attention, wrote an essay describing Miret as one of the most important people in his life.

While Lenny’s disease looms large, it by no means defines who he is.

Not long ago, a group of soccer parents arrived at Miret’s home unannounced to finish work on his garage. Sitting in his living room, Miret heard the rumble of trucks and looked outside to see a cadre of neighbors unloading materials and completing the work he had been unable to do. His mother-in-law, Helen Mullally, and her husband, Tim, paid for the materials and enlisted help. The volunteers didn’t do this because they felt sorry for Miret, they did it out of gratitude and love.

Miret was overwhelmed by the gesture. But truth be told, he shouldn’t have been surprised. Positive energy begets more of the same.

Born in Queens and raised in Miami, FL, Miret has always been an athlete. A love of baseball came first, but Minet played soccer in high school and college where he made the transition from a center midfielder to a marking back. Making the team at Division I University of South Florida as a walk-on was a product of intense training, including swimming and daily runs on the beach. Miret’s eyes widen when he talks about his love of the game. Playing it helped defray the cost of college. Coaching kids has afforded him the opportunity to convey the joy of running up the field, dribbling the ball, moving without it, passing and, of course, scoring.

“Keep it simple,” he told the Sullivan West boys’ team last summer, as he volunteered to help coaches Debbie Owen and Ron Bernhardt. His energy and enthusiasm was contagious. The team recorded their best season in the school’s history.

Several years ago, Miret brought the same verve and knowledge to the school’s varsity girls’ team.

A staunch advocate of conditioning, Miret says if you aren’t in top shape, you can’t play the game well and risk getting hurt. A six-minute miler and a person with 10-percent body fat most of his adult life, Miret practiced what he preached.

“Attitude is everything,” says Miret, who has transferred his sports mindset to take on his most daunting adversary, his disease. Deploying prayer, meditation and positive imaging, Miret counteracts the negative force of his illness with a positive spiritual polarity.

Each day is a precious gift.

Some people may complain about the days of unending rain. Not Miret.

“It’s raining. It’s beautiful and I’m still here,” he smiles.

Miret met his wife in Florida and moved here five years ago so she could be near her loving and extensive family.

“They’ve been so helpful, even before the disease set in,” Miret says.

Family is one of the cornerstones of his life.

“Being a good husband and a good father is more important than anything else,” he says. The three young Mirets have been immersed in sports. In between bouts with illness, the family would play baseball or soccer on the front lawn. Those memories shine in Miret’s mind and he envisions days when they can all play together again.

Open communication is something the Mirets ascribe to. Cathleen has already had what Miret describes as “the death talk” with the children. They were greatly shaken, but like their dad they remain positive.

“Are you feeling better, dad? You look better,” Caitlin remarks some mornings.

“I’m trying honey, I’m trying,” answers Miret.

Miret says that his lifelong love of sports and his conditioning have given him a hedge against the ravages of the disease and treatment. But some days are very difficult.

“Sleep is a great escape,” he says. “In my dreams, sometimes I am running up a soccer field dribbling the ball and feeling the wind rush by me. When I wake up and find myself trapped in this body that can’t do that now, I feel devastated to discover that it was only a dream and I’m still sick,” he says in an unguarded moment.

Well, we have news for you Lenny. It isn’t just a dream. You are racing up that field and we are on the sidelines cheering you on. You teach us to love and treasure the game of life and your spirit inspires us to never surrender.