2009 continues to be a year of incredible highs and lows as they related to cancer in our lives and the lives of so many people we know. Terry's annual Holiday card (click on the image to enlarge) expresses the great relief and joy we are feeling over the news that Mike is in remission and his long-term prognosis is very good. While our friend Danny Medley is still facing a lot of challenges down the road, we feel the same relief and joy for him and his wife Rebel over their news that Danny is also in remission.
But just today we got news that cancer has surfaced yet again in our lives, this time literally next door. Our next door neighbor, Rick, told Mike that he has been diagnosed with incurable liver cancer that has already spread to his esophagus. He will undergo some chemo treatments to try to slow down the cancer's progress, but the bottom line is that there is no cure for him. Until they can get a second scan to compare to his first one, the doctors can't determine how fast his cancer is growing, so he has no estimate on his time line.
Rick and his wife are two of the kindest, gentlest people we have ever met. They were both born in Cuba and immigrated to the US a long time ago. They worked very hard to achieve the American Dream they sought after leaving Cuba, and Rick retired a few years ago so they could enjoy the fruit of their labor together. They also own property in North Florida, near the Gulf, and go there every chance they get. When they are here they spend lots of time making their house and yard look very nice, and they are wonderful neighbors and friends who gave us a lot of support during Mike's treatment and recovery.
Mike never once asked "Why me?" during his entire time in treatment and recovery--considering his cancer to be a random instance of bad luck. But with Rick's diagnosis and dire prognosis, Mike is now asking "Why me?" but also "Why do I get cancer and am able to fight it off?" and "Why does Rick (and not me) get an incurable attack from the same disease?" Maybe it's just nature showing us both sides of the same terrible coin.
Even tempered with the news about Rick, this Christmas is already shaping up to be one of the most special holidays in our lives--for all the obvious reasons, and for reasons we probably have not recognized yet. We hope that all of you share that same sense of specialness this Holiday season.
Mike and Terry
But just today we got news that cancer has surfaced yet again in our lives, this time literally next door. Our next door neighbor, Rick, told Mike that he has been diagnosed with incurable liver cancer that has already spread to his esophagus. He will undergo some chemo treatments to try to slow down the cancer's progress, but the bottom line is that there is no cure for him. Until they can get a second scan to compare to his first one, the doctors can't determine how fast his cancer is growing, so he has no estimate on his time line.
Rick and his wife are two of the kindest, gentlest people we have ever met. They were both born in Cuba and immigrated to the US a long time ago. They worked very hard to achieve the American Dream they sought after leaving Cuba, and Rick retired a few years ago so they could enjoy the fruit of their labor together. They also own property in North Florida, near the Gulf, and go there every chance they get. When they are here they spend lots of time making their house and yard look very nice, and they are wonderful neighbors and friends who gave us a lot of support during Mike's treatment and recovery.
Mike never once asked "Why me?" during his entire time in treatment and recovery--considering his cancer to be a random instance of bad luck. But with Rick's diagnosis and dire prognosis, Mike is now asking "Why me?" but also "Why do I get cancer and am able to fight it off?" and "Why does Rick (and not me) get an incurable attack from the same disease?" Maybe it's just nature showing us both sides of the same terrible coin.
Even tempered with the news about Rick, this Christmas is already shaping up to be one of the most special holidays in our lives--for all the obvious reasons, and for reasons we probably have not recognized yet. We hope that all of you share that same sense of specialness this Holiday season.
Mike and Terry
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