In Memory of...

Good Morning Everyone,

I wanted to take some time to share some sad and disturbing news that I found out while I was in the hospital yesterday. One of the gentlemen that was in the hospital during my time there passed away on Tuesday. It is extremely sad because he was only in his 30's. He had been released from the hospital in remission but his leukemia came back. What makes it worse is they had found a bone marrow donor for him but couldn't transplant until they got him back into remission.

I think what makes it most difficult to hear this news is it brings a crashing reality to my own situation. Although we always have to remember that every person is different and the way they react to treatment is different too. The events of Tuesday still remind me that I do have a deadly disease and life is a gift. The saddest part of the whole situation was the doctors told him and his family there was nothing they could do, so he was just waiting to pass away. Yesterday I found myself wondering what was going through his head. I found myself putting myself in his shoes and asking if the roles were reversed what would I be thinking of knowing I didn't have long to live. I wondered if I would have been happy with the life I had lived to date. I couldn't imagine how hard that must have been on him and his family.

I didn't know this gentlemen all that well, I only talked with him once or twice but he had a very lasting impression on me. On my first night at the PMH I was very scared of what was going to happen to me. I was really frightened because I had no idea what to expect from the chemotherapy and even the staff. This gentleman was in the hospital when I first arrived and I will alway remember him in the hallway joking around with the nurses and having a great time. It was at that moment that I realized he was very similar to me and that I would do just fine going through the treatment process. He gave me a lot of strength to get through one my darkest hours and for that I am eternally grateful and would like to thank him.

It is hard not to think of the similarities that I share with him and get worried for my health when we hear news like this. Although it would be naive to think there isn't a chance something bad could happen to me, it isn't a way I would want you to live your life. We all need to keep our positive outlooks on things. We knew coming into journey that we were going to meet people who passed away, that is the nature of joining the cancer network and Tuesday is a shining example of this. I think instead of letting these events bog us down with fear and worrying we should let it inspire us. It is a reminder that life is short and can be taken from us at any moment. We should ask ourselves, have we lived the life we are proud of. If you answer that question and have things that you wish you had done, create your own "bucket list" and get out there and do them. Remember life is short.

I hope everyone has a great day,

Aaron