Dr. Death Update

[DoubleDown]

Just saw Channel 4 will have an interview with Dr. Death Steve Williams tonight at 10.

[william_brasky]

Anyone see the interview?

How's Steve doing?

[stonecoldsoonerfan]

Dr. Death, a survivor's story

May 25, 2006 04:53 PM
Dr. Death, a survivors story
(Photo: KFOR-TV-DT)
(Photo: KFOR-TV-DT)

KEVIN OGLE REPORTING

SHREVEPORT, LA -- NewsChannel 4's Kevin Ogle tells the story of a former standout football player and wrestler at OU. He went on to gain even greater fame as a professional wrestler, but the man known as "Doctor Death" had to stare down real death recently.

Kevin Ogle traveled to Shreveport to visit with him. He can't talk without a special device in his throat, but it will show you the courage and faith that drives this one of a kind Sooner to beat the odds.

"I played with Billy Simms, Kenny king, the greats," Steve Williams says.

His days with Barry Switzer and Sooner magic have left Steve Williams with gratitude and wonderful memories.

"Going to Oklahoma; it's like having a family. It's like being in a family," Williams says. "God really blessed me, he really did."

And then for almost a quarter century after his crimson and cream days, Steve Williams traded in his helmet for the pro wrestling circuit and a new name; Dr. Death. He worked hard and played hard.

He was a star all over the world, but three years ago the hulking figure of Dr. Death started to feel a little puny.

"In August of 2003 I started getting a cold. A really bad cold," Williams recounts.

After a trip to Japan, the cold couldn't be ignored anymore.

"I when I came back [to the U.S.] and I went to a throat specialist. They did a biopsy and life changed right then," Williams recalls. "The tumor was as big as a golf ball on the side of my neck."

To save him surgeons suggested drastic surgery.

"They wanted to cut off my head. Literally cut off my head take my vocal cord thyroid and a nerve and I said I can't do that," Steve Williams says.

Steve eventually resigned himself to the operation. I went on the table for nine hours. They literally cut me from ear to ear and got it all," Williams explains.

During his post-op recovery and therapy his weight dropped from 290 to 206, but the real test was still ahead. It happened on the night he was released from the hospital; sleeping in his own bed.

"At four o'clock in the morning I woke up and there was blood everywhere. I thought that was it. I thought I was going to die right there in my bed. I got on my hands and knees and I started praying to God. I said ‘God I'm not ready. I fought this long and this hard and I don't want to go. My son needs me my daughter needs me,'" Williams recalls.

Relying on the strength that made him a standout at OU. Dr. Death, Steve Williams, wrapped a towel around his neck, got in his truck, and drove four hours to his cancer hospital in Houston. When the doctors saw him, the news wasn't good. Another surgery was needed.

"Again, I went ‘oh my gosh,' Again, they were going to have to cut off my head. They took two and half feet of muscle out of my thigh and they mended the hole.

His brush with death has brought Doctor Death to a renewed faith in Christ.

"I get up every morning at five o'clock to talk to him. I read the bible and that brings me closer to him," Williams says.

Williams was a pro wrestler for 24 years.

"I'm a fighter and I remember very well at Oklahoma, when you come out of the locker room there is a sign above the door that says ‘Play like a champion,'" Williams remembers.

Steve Williams, aka Dr. Death is also giving inspirational talks around the country as he continues to reclaim his career in the ring.

----------------------------------------------------
http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=4950248&nav=menu99_2_15

[Sooner_Bob]

Dr. Death, a survivor's story

May 25, 2006 04:53 PM
Dr. Death, a survivors story
(Photo: KFOR-TV-DT)
(Photo: KFOR-TV-DT)

KEVIN OGLE REPORTING

SHREVEPORT, LA -- NewsChannel 4's Kevin Ogle tells the story of a former standout football player and wrestler at OU. He went on to gain even greater fame as a professional wrestler, but the man known as "Doctor Death" had to stare down real death recently.

Kevin Ogle traveled to Shreveport to visit with him. He can't talk without a special device in his throat, but it will show you the courage and faith that drives this one of a kind Sooner to beat the odds.

"I played with Billy Simms, Kenny king, the greats," Steve Williams says.

His days with Barry Switzer and Sooner magic have left Steve Williams with gratitude and wonderful memories.

"Going to Oklahoma; it's like having a family. It's like being in a family," Williams says. "God really blessed me, he really did."

And then for almost a quarter century after his crimson and cream days, Steve Williams traded in his helmet for the pro wrestling circuit and a new name; Dr. Death. He worked hard and played hard.

He was a star all over the world, but three years ago the hulking figure of Dr. Death started to feel a little puny.

"In August of 2003 I started getting a cold. A really bad cold," Williams recounts.

After a trip to Japan, the cold couldn't be ignored anymore.

"I when I came back [to the U.S.] and I went to a throat specialist. They did a biopsy and life changed right then," Williams recalls. "The tumor was as big as a golf ball on the side of my neck."

To save him surgeons suggested drastic surgery.

"They wanted to cut off my head. Literally cut off my head take my vocal cord thyroid and a nerve and I said I can't do that," Steve Williams says.

Steve eventually resigned himself to the operation. I went on the table for nine hours. They literally cut me from ear to ear and got it all," Williams explains.

During his post-op recovery and therapy his weight dropped from 290 to 206, but the real test was still ahead. It happened on the night he was released from the hospital; sleeping in his own bed.

"At four o'clock in the morning I woke up and there was blood everywhere. I thought that was it. I thought I was going to die right there in my bed. I got on my hands and knees and I started praying to God. I said ‘God I'm not ready. I fought this long and this hard and I don't want to go. My son needs me my daughter needs me,'" Williams recalls.

Relying on the strength that made him a standout at OU. Dr. Death, Steve Williams, wrapped a towel around his neck, got in his truck, and drove four hours to his cancer hospital in Houston. When the doctors saw him, the news wasn't good. Another surgery was needed.

"Again, I went ‘oh my gosh,' Again, they were going to have to cut off my head. They took two and half feet of muscle out of my thigh and they mended the hole.

His brush with death has brought Doctor Death to a renewed faith in Christ.

"I get up every morning at five o'clock to talk to him. I read the bible and that brings me closer to him," Williams says.

Williams was a pro wrestler for 24 years.

"I'm a fighter and I remember very well at Oklahoma, when you come out of the locker room there is a sign above the door that says ‘Play like a champion,'" Williams remembers.

Steve Williams, aka Dr. Death is also giving inspirational talks around the country as he continues to reclaim his career in the ring.

----------------------------------------------------
http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=4950248&nav=menu99_2_15



Thanks.

Keep up the hard work Doc . . .

[Sooner24]

I saw Dr. Death beat the Big Boss Man to win the UWF Championship. I was always a huge Dr. Death fan.

[tbl]

That was a great story... seriously.

[SoonerMachine]

As a kid, Dr. Death was the first autograph I ever sought out. I'll never forget standing just oustide of Owen field trying to draw up enough courage to ask him for it!