Tribute: Michael William Klenk

Here is a tribute I wrote for Michael.

Tribute to Michael William Klenk
February 27, 1988-December 16, 2008

Today we honor the incredible life of Michael Klenk, a wonderful son, a loyal friend, and an inspiring individual. From the time Michael was young, to his life as an adult, he chose to live his life doing the things he loved to do. Going to school, hanging out with friends, playing sports, fishing for squirrels, and attending Nascar and INDY 500 races, were just some of the many ways he enjoyed life. Even though his breathing was often short and his lungs were often weak, Michael did his best to never let cystic fibrosis hold him back. When deciding what extracurricular activities to participate in while growing up, Michael chose to play the rigorous, demanding sports of soccer, football, and baseball. When the decision came down as to what instrument he wanted to play in middle school, he chose the trombone, an instrument which required one to breathe. When deciding what to do during his first trip to Palm Springs, California, he chose to hike up to the top of a mountain. It was clear that CF was not going to hold him back.

Saying that Michael lost his battle to cystic fibrosis could not be farther from the truth. In fact, I believe it is the other way around; I believe that Michael is the one who defeated cystic fibrosis. After being diagnosed with a chronic illness, there isn't really a physical battle to be fought. Michael had no impact whatsoever with what his body would do or how it would react over the years. Instead, he had an impact on how he mentally handled his situation. With his positive attitude, perseverance, and determination, Michael stayed strong till the end and won a mental battle. He never stopped fighting, even when the light at the end of the tunnel was hard to see. Michael once sent me an e-mail, explaining how he got through the hard times. He plainly wrote, “I just have to look at the positives when things start to get hard and it reminds me how blessed I am to have been given what I've got. God is good. I have a great family, sweet friends, and a lot of nice people here at the hospital that take good care of me.” Michael, who was born with a horrible, life-threatening disease, who had endured many long, hard surgeries, and who was practically living in a hospital, miles away from home, called himself blessed. That remark speaks for itself and relays exactly how Michael looked at life; it was something worth treasuring.

Sometimes it's hard to understand why Michael was taken from us so soon. He was only twenty and had his whole life ahead of him. However, if we look at the time Michael did have here, it was pretty great. He was able to experience just about everything a boy his age should have experienced. He played, he loved, he laughed, but more importantly he lived.

I hope that people are inspired by Michael's story and become encouraged to never take life for granted and appreciate the things we have. With that said, I'd like to thank Michael for his inspiring lessons, his fearless courage, but more importantly his faithful friendship. He was an amazing person who will forever live on in the hearts which he so deeply touched.