Hello Everyone and welcome to the first-ever edition of “The 4:45 Times.” This will be a monthly publication put out by the DezyStrong Foundation and inspired by the message of our founder, Matt “Dezy” DiStefano. In this monthly newsletter we will highlight many different things that allow us, and all of you, to continue to carry forward the “We Get To” message of our foundation. We hope you enjoy it and please continue to support everything that our foundation stands for. We Get To!!!
a thanksgiving message from dezy's parents
Dear Friends, As we approach this year’s Thanksgiving, we can’t help but be overwhelmed with emotion.
Many of you probably do not know this, but our Matthew Frank, “Dezy” was born on Thanksgiving Day, and his name means “Gift of God”. That is exactly what Matthew was to us, a gift. Little did we know he would turn his life-altering prognosis into a journey of positivity, light and hope. And in turn, be a gift to all of you.
To say this past year has been difficult without him is an understatement. But Matthew would not want us to do anything but be thankful. Thankful, for the time we all still have here and thankful for all the love “WE GET TO” share with one another. And although this Thanksgiving will be different for all of us, due to COVID-19, let us all remember our son’s famous words that “WE GET TO” be thankful every single day we wake up and realize we can appreciate life.
Happy Thanksgiving! Love, MaryAnne and Vinny DiStefano
DEZYSTRONG WARRIOR OF THE MONTH
Brea Dowell was your typical 14-year-old girl who loved gymnastics, hanging out with her friends and of course TikToks. Towards the end of July Brea wasn’t feeling well and had a cough that would not go away. Over the course of a couple of weeks, she went to doctor appointments and walk-in clinics, with still no diagnosis.
Right before school started she went for a chest x-Ray where a mass was found. Brea and her family’s life stopped at that moment when she diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Brea was told her treatments would need to be completed in a series of 4-6 different 21-day treatment cycles. During her treatments Brea lost her hair, which was the most devastating thing for her, but with the love and support from her family and friends she is getting through it.
With many prayers and with God watching over her, Brea received fantastic news on October 28th. Brea learned that her treatment would be a total of 4 rounds of chemo followed by 4 weeks of radiation. She’s almost at the finish line! The following day, she saw her Oncoloist, who gave her even better news. It was at that appointment where she learned there was no more cancer in her lymph nodes and her tumor had shrunk by 60 percent!!
Brea's family would like thank everyone for all your support and prayers for their warrior.
We at the DezyStrong Foundation are proud of the spirit and mindset that Bree has shown throughout her treatment. We will continue to support this true Dezy Warrior and her family along their journey.
Please join us in wishing Brea continued strength and bravery as she continues her fight.
What "we get to" means to me.
In this first-ever edition of The 4:45 Times, we would like to feature a section titled, "What 'We Get To' Means To Me". In this section we'll feature how our supporters use this important mantra in their daily lives. First up are three siblings who have known Dezy their entire lives.
Taylor Cole
In the way that orange became so much more than a color, “We Get To” is so much more than a hashtag.
To me, Dezy’s phrase represents solidarity, being a part of something bigger than yourself, and dedication to the grind and to bettering the person you are and those around you. It means understanding how truly lucky we are to lead the lives that we do, and to channel that understanding into making the most out of every day.
Mackenzie Cole
It’s evident that Dezy’s impact went far beyond the people close to him or simply volleyball.
After knowing him all my life, I was fortunate enough to watch him share his story to UNC and Duke athletic teams. His mantra of “We Get To” that he preached to many people has drastically impacted many people's lives, including my own. My team took this mantra, and this way of life to heart. We begin every practice by cheering “We Get To” together. We use this as a reset and way for us to take a second and be grateful for each day we get to train.
Trey Cole
Dezy taught me how to live everyday like it is your last. That is what “We Get To” means to me.
As difficult as i t sometimes is, I try to wake up every morning at 5:45 and tell myself “I get to go to practice” or “I get to go to class.” If Dezy could wake up with this mentality everyday while battling stage 4 cancer, then I can do it while I get to do what I love. I try to carry the “We Get To” attitude with me through the good and the bad. It is easy to have gratitude when things are going well, but it is through trials and tribulations when I have to remember what he taught me.
SOMETIMES THE SIMPLEST MESSAGE MAKES THE MOST NOISE. By Joseph & Silvia Francese
A daily 4:45pm alarm on our cell phones reminds us that “We Get To.” It helps us recognize that no matter where or who we are with, at that moment, we must take a breath and acknowledge how blessed we truly are.
This simple message, “We Get To,” instantly resonated with our family, giving my wife and I perspective. With unwavering resolve, we have been helping Dezy disseminate this powerful message. Whether it is through volunteering, fundraising, or teaching students, “We Get To” teaches us the value of the little, yet most important, things we have in our daily lives. The path Dezy chose to fight roused us all. He inspired us to be a better spouse, family member, friend, teacher, and coach.
We Get To share Dezy’s strength, courage, and passion by discussing his inspirational message and reflecting on how it has impacted our lives. We will forever cherish Dezy and his family and are blessed to know We Get To continue to work with the DezyStrong Foundation to fully realize Dezy’s vision of mental toughness, sense of purpose, and to always pursue our goals with unwavering passion.
