Above, David Weringa, center, gathers with his family members in Elmore. Left to right, are niece Kelsi, father Tom, mother Dawn, sisters Tanya and Dayna. Not pictured is David’s brother Dan. At left, Weringa sports his Vikings T-shirt, of which he is a diehard fan. Below, David runs into a friend at his parents’ home.

I f you wake up and don’t want to smile, if it takes just a little while. Open your eyes and look at the day, you’ll see things in a different way.

It started with swelling in his legs and an enormous amount of pain to go with it. Taking up to 20 ibuprofen tablets a day just to keep from screaming in pain, David Weringa, 43, born and raised in Elmore, went to his doctor in Jackson, where he currently lives, in August of 2016.

After months of testing at the Sioux Falls Sanford Medical Center to try and figure out what was going on, three months later, on Nov. 30, David’s doctor sat down with him.

“The doctor asked if I had a ride to Worthington,” said Weringa. “He said, ‘We’re not talking years or months, we are talking weeks.’ That certainly woke me up.”

A diagnosis of B cell acute lymphoblastic Leukemia was given to Weringa on that doctor visit. This type of leukemia is usually found in children and is not only rare in adults, but is harder to treat in adults.

Weringa described his legs as swollen two to three times their normal size and in excruciating pain. That is what prompted the doctor visit in the first place. Weringa says he is happy he didn’t hesitate any further.

Growing up in Elmore, Weringa and his family lived like any local family, meeting challenges of day to day life with their greatest efforts. Some days were good, others were more difficult, but Weringa says he has had a good life so far and is thankful for every day. His past includes being a well-known voice on the local KBEW radio station for a number of years before another career move prompted him to move to Jackson about six years ago.

Dayna Price, David’s sister, described her brother as “just a regular guy trying his best to provide for his family.” But that was before the cancer.

Now, after a full month of treatment, including two invasive chemotherapy treatments, Price says her brother has changed entirely. A person who once kept to himself mostly, and kept his nose in his work, now has changed and for the better according to Weringa’s sister.

“He’s become more involved with our family, he keeps his hope and courage so high. He smiles more, he laughs more, he’s just changed,” says Price.

The family has pulled together for their brother, father, uncle and son by holding a benefit, to be held on Jan. 14 in the Elmore Assisted Living small gym. A meal will be served as well as a silent auction held to help Weringa offset the expenses he has accrued with his treatments and inability to work.

Why not think about times to come and not about the things that you’ve done. If your life was bad to you, just think what tomorrow will do.

Now, after those intense chemotherapy treatments, which Weringa says did not even make him sick but more tired than anything, Weringa’s legs are back to a regular size and are practically pain free.

“I had to have my buddy carry me over his shoulder to take me to the hospital because it hurt so much to walk. I had to walk with a walker for a good while, too,” says Weringa, who now still walks slowly, but without help.

According to Weringa, his doctors told him that his legs swelled and were so painful because the bone marrow in his legs were producing and over producing cancer cells. Now, his body is rebuilding itself.

Though he is a mere 125 pounds and has a bald head, Weringa finds humor and happiness in his current situation.

“I haven’t had to shave my head in two weeks, it’s kind of nice,” he laughs.

Weringa, an avid Dr. Phil, Tim McGraw, Vikings and Fleetwood Mac fan, says there are two ways to looking at his situation.

“I can be mad and upset and think, ‘poor me,’ or I can put my chin up, stick my chest out, and face things head on. This is the best my life has ever been. When you are told you have cancer, it wakes you up, and you begin to prioritize things,” he says.

Weringa also has two children, who are of his top priority. Both children, Briannon, 22, and Stendsay, 14, were named in honor of his favorite band, Fleetwood Mac. He says both of his kids have, in their own way, shared their concern with their dad.

“Briannon is just Rhiannon with a B, and she outright told me her concerns. And Stendsay, his name is a combination of Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham, is a 14 year old boy. He didn’t say much, but his mother says he’s been listening to a lot of Fleetwood, so he’s aware,” shares Weringa. “They are my main focus. Things change quick and I want to make the most of my time with them and the rest of my family.”

He says he wants his children to see him happy. He wants them to see he gets up and keeps going.

“I don’t want them to worry about me. I don’t want any of my friends or family to worry about me, so I do my best to post something positive on Facebook everyday,” says Weringa. “If I can make one person smile every day I’m here, it will all be worth it.”

He is also a big Dr. Phil fan, and says one of the television doctor’s quotes sticks with him often. “You live your entire life, and you only die one day,” says Weringa. “I have spent 43 years living, and I am not taking another minute waiting for that one day. I am genuinely happy, it is time to make the most of things.”

Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow, Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here. It’ll be here better than before, yesterday’s gone. Yesterday’s gone.

What once was daily excruciating pain in his legs, David Weringa says it is nice to just live day by day not in tears from pain and now, he only uses pain pills if needed, which he has not taken for almost two weeks.

Weringa is focused on surviving. He is working on building back his muscle mass, his health and his ability to walk, which he pretty much has back to full capacity. But he knows there is more to come not only of his life, but his battle with Leukemia.

“You’ve got it whether you want it or not,” he says. “Have the people around you who love you. Accept it. Let the bad days be less than the good days and remember those bad days could be much worse. Stay positive. Be happy.”

Ooh, don’t you look back.