Preemptive Note - This might not be the most comedy filled or uplifting post so if your already having a bad day, you might not want to digest this one right now.
You know how when you buy a car, all of the sudden you see that type of car on the road everywhere. I have recently been struck with that same phenomenon after signing up for this race. Suddenly and seemingly out of no where, I am surrounded by tons of stories of cancer and it's kinda terrifying. It's easy to forget cancer when it's not directly affecting you or your immidiate love ones, but after starting this, all of the stories and struggles that can normally go by largely unnoticed, now are right in front of my face. It seems that the six degrees of cancer, are more like one or two degrees. Most recently, a co-worker of mine lost his wife a few days ago to brain cancer. She was young, had a 10 year old child and was only diagnosed about 5 weeks ago. I can't even comprehend this. In March, she had no idea what was looming ahead. She celebrated New Year's just like the rest of us I'm sure, hoping that 2009 would be a great year. I'm not too naive, I know that life's not fair, and you never know what the future holds, etc. etc. but give me a break... five weeks. That's just cruel. I do believe that there is a plan and everything happens for a reason, but man is it hard to keep an even keel when stuff like this is going on. How unfair is this.
It's a double edged sword, on the one hand, it gives me even more of a sense of purpose for doing an event such as the LIVESTRONG challenge and raising money in support of this cause, but on the other hand, it's depressing just knowing that there is something like cancer looming out there that we have to fight against. And it's a nasty opponent. It doesn't discriminate, the people it picks on can be young or old, healthy or sick, rich or poor, it doesn't matter, but I don't have to tell you that. I'm sure anyone reading this blog has been affected in some way.
I'm going to stick with the "sense of purpose" side of the sword. I choose to believe that through enough research and innovation, there will be a time when cancer won't be looming. A time when the death rates and diagnoses rates fall. Life will never be fair, tragedies will always happen, people will have to suffer through things that no one should ever have to suffer through, but I, along with your help, will fight for a time when cancer isn't included on the list of life's ills.
My heart goes out to you Mick. You and your loved ones have my sincere condolences and will be in my prayers.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
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Hey Clay.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't already, I'd read this article from Wired on focusing on it is better to try and detect cancer early rather than try to cure it completely. Really interesting stuff. Long, but worth the read.
http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/magazine/17-01/ff_cancerOh, and suck it up and do the half marathon with me on memorial day. 7 milers are for chumps.
Hey Jamie, thanks for the heads up. Very long, but VERY good article indeed. I haven't been for a run yet this year, but since you twisted my arm, and since it's kinda my style, I'm in for the half in 18 days. As long as the wife doesn't mind doing the 7 miler by herself.
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