The future is a funny thing, sometimes we know what's coming our way, but despite our minds natural inclination to call us to attention and realize what's going on, we still dont do everything in our power to prevent it from happening. Maybe its to test ourselves, maybe its to let nature take its natural course, but what we all have to realize is that what we do now will ultimately effect the future and the rest of our lives. Sometimes our vision into the future is short-sighted, with a short term goal in-sight, with cancer - it is always long term, you are forced to draw up short term goals and milestones that will help you in achieving your long term goal.
It has been a while since I have written in this blog, not for want of getting back to my writing, but because I wanted to get on with my life. I wanted to acknowledge that cancer happened, but along with my getting the all clear, I wanted to put this blog behind me.
Sometimes, things get bigger than you anticipated and people lean on the things you did in the past in such a way that you can no longer ignore the power that something holds. I learned that about this blog. In the past 6 months, I have come across countless stories of people's fights with cancer, and how some managed to come out the other side, and unfortunately how some didn't.
People keep asking me why I havent written, and truth be told, I hadnt found a reason to write until now. I'm fortunate that for now, my battle with cancer is on hold, but there are people out there who are battling with this terrible disease. Wesley Ingle, Jessica Nicholson and Caleb Keegan are three people that I have had the distinct privilege of meeting due to cancer, and it makes you realize cancer can effect anyone, at any stage, at any time... and good people do get cancer.
Wes Ingle, a friend from Durban was diagnosed in 2012 with Stage 3, non-semical metastatic germ cell cancer. He has undergone a biopsy, surgery and lengthy periods of chemotherapy. I mentioned Wes in one of my last blogs, and he has fought an unbelievable fight. The guts, determination and outright stubbornness that this guy has shown has inspired everyone. We met for a coffee a few months back, and despite him having chemo sweats, he was still in unbelievably high spirits and determined to fight on. Wes, as I've told you countless times, keep fighting my man. Team W(h)ess and his F&@$ cancer team can all be proud of what they have achieved. I told Wes a few months ago that once all of this has passed and he is given the all clear, we are going for a beer and will look back on a battle well fought.
That brings me from a friend who has nearly finished his fight, to a friend who is just starting hers. Jessica Nicholson, a friend of a an unbelievable couple I know in Durban, has recently been diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma in her left frontal lobe. She suffered a seizure last Saturday, 9th February, which inadvertently saved her life. After CT scans, MRI's and a biopsy, she was officially diagnosed with cancer. She had a resection of the tumor, and due to the doctor suspecting it was an aggressive cancer, he himself was aggressive in removing as much of the tumor as possible. After the biopsy was analyzed they determined it to be a Grade 4 Glioblastoma. Since then, Jess and her husband, Simon, and 2 kids have had the two most emotionally harrowing weeks of their life. They have experienced first hand the most crushing news you can ever experience. I am a firm believer in every negative there is a positive, and the positive side of this has been the incredible amount of support everyone has shown them. Simon has started a fund that will serve as a transparent means of funding Jess and her treatments. Simon has also written a blog so please find it on http://www.gofundme.com/jessgetwellsoon . I have been in touch with my doctors in Stanford (USA), the LOC (London) and my personal team of Dr Stuart Kidgell and Dr Stephan Joubert (Stephan is riding in The Cape Argus to raise funds for a global cancer research initiative called "Cycling Against Sarcoma", and that also needs all the help it can get in finding a way to rid the human race of this terrible disease. I ask that you all have a look at Jess's page, and see the incredible spirit that this girl is exhibiting. In cancer, all bets are off, all future decisions are put on hold. It holds you to a moment, where ultimately, you are fighting for your life. Jess and Simon are keenly aware of this, and they have an unbelievable life to hold onto, filled with loving family and friends, I believe that they can get through this. Simon and Jess, I have told you before... I will walk this whole road with you, even though I am half a world away... I will do everything in my power to make sure that you two make it out of this. You have my word.
And lastly, the power of word lead me to the last person I have met. His name is Caleb Keegan, a Durban boy, who I have never actually met in person. Only through the power of social media and friends, have we come across one another. Caleb has spent the last 7 years of his life battling Hodgkins Lymphoma. He has undergone too many bouts of chemotherapy, radiation and autologous bone marrow transplants. It is safe to say, that it is more than any of us have ever gone through, and hopefully never will. He too has started a fund called www.facebook.com/calebscancertrust, and it is a means to afford the ridiculously expensive treatment that this poor guy has had to endure.
This blog isnt about cancer anymore, it is about helping people and fortunately having the platform to reach out to people who dont know where to start. It is scary, it is life-threatening, and you will never know how scary and life-consuming this disease is, until it happens to someone you know or love. Since I have become aware of cancer, I am realizing that it is everywhere... and unless we take a concerted effort to cure this disease, it will unfortunately be around for a very long time to come.
I can't read the future, nor do I claim to have all the answers. All I know is that there are a lot of people out there battling this disease, and unless they are given hope, whether it be through treatment, a helping hand, a hug or some cancer blog... these people feel very alone and scared. I remain positive in my mind even though I am still fully aware that there is this little cancerous tumor in my brain, because I know that as long as there are people out there like the people who have shown me as well as those affected by this disease, the love that they have, then there is still hope. You are the people I wake up for in the morning.
We all look into the future, and while it is uncertain, some of our futures are alot more uncertain than others.
Cancer isn't about me anymore, its about helping those in need.
