What
I quickly learned after my diagnosis is that the world of a cancer
patient has many parts and a good deal of uncertainty.
- Tom Brokaw
Today
is Day 30 of my adventure. I left from my West Virginia base and
drove the 70-mile trek to Winchester, Virginia for my 10:15 AM
radiation treatment. It was raining when I left at approximately 8 AM
and the drive was uneventful, except for passing two accidents along
the way, and I arrived about a half-hour early for my appointment.
Cancer
doesn't discriminate is my theme for today. As you can see from
today's quotation, it victimizes people of celebrity status. And, as
it was reinforced today, it doesn't have any problem with taking
prominent, wealthy business people and making them cancer patients
either.
Today,
while I was sitting in the waiting area, a beautiful, tranquil lobby
outside the radiation and chemotherapy practices, a gentleman and his
wife sat in the chairs next to where I was sitting. We passed
pleasantries and began a conversation. He was there to begin
radiation treatments. He had prostate cancer that had been dealt with
and appeared to be “cured” as was mine. However, unlike me, his
prostate cancer had spread to his spine before they found and treated
the prostate cancer.
So,
cancer does not discriminate. This gentleman was a prominent business
owner in Winchester. I had never met him before, but I knew his
company very well. He was in the construction business and had
branched into the ownership of a sizable apartment complex and a
mini-mall as well as some office complexes. He appeared to be a bit
younger than me. But, while he was quite well off financially, that
didn't stop or impede cancer from changing his life.
As
we chatted he noted that the cancer had helped him change some of his
outlook on his own life and he was selling off sizable parts, at
least 50%, of his business. He found that he wanted to spend more
time focusing on living and enjoying whatever life he had left (he
did not have a death sentence) and not spend as much time dealing
with the significant amount of stress his business presented to him
on a daily basis. He didn't want to retire, like most entrepreneurial
people, he enjoys the challenge of business. He just didn't want to
work as hard any longer. I, of course, related my own story and how I
came to that conclusion 11 years earlier. I went in for my radiation
treatment on time, and as I told him, I was out 15 minutes later. It was, like clockwork.
He
and his wife were still there waiting to be called in. We chatted for
a while longer. Then he was called in. I bid adieu to the various
administrative ladies working at the reception desks and told them
I'd see them tomorrow.
I
then hopped in my van, drove to a nearby fast-food restaurant, had a
bit of breakfast, then to Walmart to make a purchase and then to the
gas station where the gas was still (now almost) the lowest price in
the region to top off the van tank. From there I headed to my friend
Judy's house. Judy was heading out to an appointment when I arrived.
So, I brought in my stuff. It was probably about 12:30 PM.
Even
at that early hour, I had to use all my strength to carry my few bags
in and get them upstairs to my room in her house. I sat down on the
bed and, went out like a light. Believe me when I say this process
takes the wind out of your sails. Later Judy and I shared a pizza at
a local eatery, then came back and chatted a while. Carolyn called to
check in on me. Now, I'm finishing up today's post and then it's
lights out to prepare for a busy morning tomorrow.
Live
free and be happy. EH
No comments:
Post a Comment