Life to the Fullest

It’s hard not to think about life and death when you have friends that are going through some serious struggles. I am constantly reminded that life is short, and that I should make the most of every second I have. Below are a couple videos that are great reminders that life should be lived, and lived to the fullest.

Jim Valvano at the 1993 ESPY Awards

Dr. Randy Pausch

Living life to the fullest includes laughter. Lots of laughter. I’ll leave you with a comedy sketch by Mike Birbiglia that made me laugh out loud recently.

Filed under: Cancer, Dr. Randy Pausch, Inspirational, Jim Valvano, Kyle Lake, Life, Mike Birbiglia

Life Is Fragile

Are you making the most of your time here on this earth? My friend Stef just wrote the following on his blog. Sure helps put things in perspective. At least for me.

A dark place…

This is where I was over the weekend. It was lonely there and I didn’t like it at all. After getting the CT results, the mental battle began. It is hard to continually get news that you don’t want to hear. The battle raged all weekend long. There were thoughts of death, arguments with God, sleepless nights. It was hard and too real to deal with. What is going to happen with me? What is going to happen with my family? Cancer sucks and life is not fair at all.

We met with my oncologist yesterday for my next round of chemo. He said the CT results were not as bad as the report read. Ye said, yes, there was a “little” more growth, but the chemo is keeping the cancer at bay and causing it not to spread out of control. He noted that the bladder was probably ok and I am getting an MRI on Friday to rule out any bladder issues. The visit was going well until I asked a question I have been wanting to ask, but have been afraid to get the answer to.

The question was whether or not my original two year prognosis has changed at all. To my surprise, the answer was no, my prognosis has not changed. This gives me 15 months left, speaking humanly and statistically. I was crushed and emotional to say the least. What if God chooses to take me? What will happen to my wife, my kids? They need a husband and father. It is not fair for my kids to loose a father at such young ages. Not fair at all. So, I find myself in another dark place, praying, wondering, crying…

Yes, cancer sucks and life is not fair.

Filed under: Cancer, Death, Life, Perspective

Refuse To Lose

Last week I received a most cherished gift—a freshly minted I Refuse To Lose t-shirt from my friend Stef Tarapchak.

Last July Stef received news that he has stage 4 colon cancer. He and his family chose not to let this news own him, but to let Him own it. As a result I Refuse To Lose has become the theme for his journey in battling colon cancer.

Sandi and I are not running. We are facing this head on. We are usually people that do things ourselves and handle things on our own. Not this time. We will need to reach out and ask for help. Here is what you can do for us, PRAY!! Pray for patience, strength (mental and physical), wisdom of physicians, and COMPLETE HEALING!!!

Today is significant because he underwent a CT scan which will help decide future treatment and/or surgery. Please join me in praying for Stef and his family.

I Refuse To Lose!

Filed under: Cancer, Faith

Prayer Request

Praying for others is a great way to take your mind off your own problems. I’m offering you a chance today to focus on someone else. For the next 24 hours will you commit to praying specifically and often for Stef and his family?

Stef is a friend of the blog, and fellow contributor to AC180.com. Just a few months ago he found out that he has Stage 4 Colon Cancer. Tomorrow he will be going in for his first surgery where the doctor will look around inside and do a little exploring to see where the cancer really is. He is going to take the primary tumor out of the colon and as much of his colon as he deems necessary. He is also going to take out the omentum. And if he sees cancer anywhere else, he is going to remove that as well. After he is done with all of that, he is going to bathe the remaining organs in direct chemo. This will help fight any remaining cancer that he cannot remove.

Sound like fun? Yeah, not to me either. So please keep Stef and family lifted up during this time. Thanks.

**UPDATE**
Progress Report #1
Progress Report #2

Filed under: Cancer, Faith, Perspective, Prayer

Don’t Ever Give Up

Today on ESPN Radio they are doing their third annual Don’t Give Up ESPYs V Foundation Auction. The speech Jimmy V made at the first annual ESPY Awards conitues to be one of the most inspirational speeches I’ve ever heard.

Listen, watch, or read the speech on this post I did in 2005.

Filed under: Cancer, Inspirational, Jim Valvano, Jimmy V Foundation