The Storm is Not the Destination: A Warrior’s Journey Through Three Bouts of Cancer
The Unexpected Detour
In 2011, after thirty-seven years of government service, I retired at fifty-six with a dream of San Juan, Puerto Rico. But life had a different itinerary. My mother passed away, and my heart led me home to Atlanta to care for my father. Instead of tropical beaches, I found the reward of quality time-sharing wisdom with Dad and cheering for the Braves. I didn’t know then that these quiet were the “calm” I needed before my greatest test.
The Three Battles
I was already a veteran of the fight. In 2001, at forty-six, I faced testicular cancer. In 2005, during a frozen winter in Buffalo, New York, I was hit with prostate cancer. I remember sitting with a bottle of vodka that snowy afternoon, trying to drown the reality. But the next morning, I traded the headache for a plan. I got locked into action, sought the best treatment in Atlanta, and eighteen months later, I was free.
Then, in 2013, three weeks before my 59th birthday, came the “dreadful call.” Rectum cancer. I had my “pity party” for two days, and then I asked the question that changed my life: “Why not me?” I realized I was no different from anyone else breathing this air. I decided if my glass was half full, I would add as much value as possible to every drop left.
The Miracle and the Victory Lab
In 2014, I arrived for my first chemo treatment, only to be told the robotic surgery had captured it all. No chemo was needed. The tumor was gone.
Today, at seventy-one, I am a man in his prime, defined by my future rather than my history. I have traded hospital gowns for passports. My “victory lap” has taken me to the vibrant heat of Thailand. I have a new wife, Gia, and a loyal Golden Doddle named Mecca who represents the simple, daily joys of a life worth living.
The Warrior’s Handbook: Lessons for the Road
* Action is the Antidote:
Don’t let the news paralyze you. Plan your next course of action.
* The Mindset Shift:
Stop asking “Why me?” and start asking “Why not me?”
* Keep Moving:
The storm is never the destination; it is just the path to a peaceful shore.
Life is to be lived. Go live it for you-and me.
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