The Indianapolis Colts have been playing this season with heavy hearts.
In September their head coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia and took an undetermined leave of absence to get treated. Since then the team has greatly exceeded expectations, having already won more games than last season.
The inspiration and involvement of Pagano has been great for the team, but also for the head coach himself. On Monday, the Associated Press reported that Pagano's doctor said that his illness was now in "complete remission."
According to the article: "Cripe said a morning exam showed Pagano's white blood cell count and bone marrow tests were normal as he prepares to start a second round of chemotherapy."
"The doctor explained patients typically undergo three rounds of treatment to wipe out any potentially lingering cancer cells. The second round of chemo is scheduled to start later this week and will last four to six weeks, Cripe said."
On Sunday Pagano was at the game at Lucas Oil Stadium against the Miami Dolphins for the first time since being diagnosed with the disease. The team rallied to a 23-20 victory and received a rousing speech from their coach in the locker room after the game.
"I mentioned before the game that you guys were living in a vision, and you weren't living in circumstances," Pagano said Sunday in the locker room, according to the Associated Press. "You know where they had us in the beginning, every last one of them. But you refused to live in circumstances and you decided consciously as a team and as a family to live in a vision, and that's why you bring things home like what you bring home today. That's why you're already champions and well on your way."
The team is a surprising 4-3 after finishing last in the NFL in 2011 with a 1-15 record. The win was the team's third straight.
"I've got circumstances. You guys understand it, I understand it. It's already beat. It's already beat," Pagano said during Sunday's postgame speech, hesitating to catch his breath a couple of times. "My vision that I'm living is to see two more daughters get married, dance at their weddings and then lift the Lombardi Trophy several times. I'm dancing at two more weddings and we're hoisting that trophy together, men. Congratulations, I love all of you."
The Colts have benefited from the play of No 1 overall pick Andrew Luck, who set a rookie record with 433 passing yards in the game Sunday.
"His presence is felt every day in the facility," Luck said. "But to see him in the flesh, in the locker room, to hear him speak I think gave all the guys a boost."
Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians took over for Pagano after he was diagnosed and has done an excellent job of keeping the team focused and determined.
"His (blood cell) count was great," Arians told reporters after Pagano visited the team complex Monday. "He knows that this next one (round) is going to be really tough and we're praying for him, and he's going to be fine."
The organization has fully embraced Pagano, hanging up signs and starting a "Chuckstrong" campaign to raise awareness for the coach and the disease. Although Pagano has improved health-wise, it is unlikely he would return to coaching this year.
"Once he comes back from Round 2 and is about to head into Round 3, our goal is for him to be on the sideline Dec. 30," Arians said, referring to Indy's regular-season finale against Houston. "We know what's coming, the downhill slide is yet to come," Arians added. "To me it's kind of like talking to him about the playoffs this week; one day at a time, one play at a time. There's some down time coming, but it's great to see him here."
