Are You Sure?
When the folks at the Oklahoman asked if I wanted to participate in this series, I had no quick, definitive answer. Before I could say yes or no, I needed to know exactly what I was getting myself (and my family) into.
But when I met with the “team” to discuss the project, it became clear that we were all embarking on something of an unknown mission here. The underlying assumption in this series is that I’m terminally ill, dying of cancer that has metastasized to my liver and lungs. And so, unless something miraculous happens, it is unlikely that I’ll be here in a year. The Oklahoman believed my journey was a story worth telling, a story that could be helpful to other people who are facing such a crisis.
But how do you do that? Death is a taboo subject in America–and not particularly holiday-friendly at that. How do you tell that story in a meaningful way? And why choose me? After all I’m certainly not the first or last to walk this lonely road.
As for the “why me,” I guess the Oklahoman felt I was uniquely situated to help tell this story. After all, I’d written a memoir in 2006 on the subject of living with cancer, entitled I Survived Cancer, but Never Won the Tour de France. Also, half of my latest poetry book, Antidotes & Home Remedies, dealt exclusively with health. Plus, I’d written for newspapers and magazines for years.
And as for the “how do you tell it” dilemma, the Oklahoman thought it best to tell the story from many angles. Senior writer Ken Raymond and photojournalist John Clanton were assigned to follow me around. Ken would write stories for the paper, and he would blog along the way. John would tell the story through videos and photographs. I would submit daily blogs, joined by my wife and kids from time to time. And my good friend Charlotte Lankard (who helped make this series possible), a therapist and Oklahoman contributor, would also submit blogs.
When I began telling my friends about the project, they all asked the same question: “Are you sure?” That is, am I sure I wanted to be this revealing, to have a reporter and camera guy following me around everywhere, to let it all hang out? And, more importantly, was my family ready?
Well, we’ve discussed that issue a lot and here’s what we’ve decided. Rather than just cut ourselves off from everyone and feel sad about what was happening, we had the chance to turn something bad into something good. Maybe, just maybe, we could tell our story and other people facing similar issues would realize that they are not alone. Maybe, just maybe, we could participate in something that is bigger than we are, something that could somehow make a difference.
With that goal, we march on.
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BE positive!!! Docors are not God!!!
life is in your hands not in theirs!!!
please IMMEDIATELY JOIN YOGA CLASSES n try out Anulom Vilom Pranayam n see the results n the miracle.there have been 1000s of terminal cancer cases whom doctors said there is no hope only little time left and they did this pranayam(breathing exercises)in yoga n they are still living without a single cancer cell in their body!!!even doctors were amazed,it really works as a miracle!!you may contact Baba Ramdev in haridwar(India).n find out details.brother don’t waste time!!!Start IMMEDIATELY!!! n You will be Living!!!Im also one of cancer patient n in its 4th stage and this pranayam is helping me.N i beleive i will be 100% percent cured n so will you be.God bless.YOu may contact me at my email address or just come to India n join one of baba ramdevs session.
or contact DR Munir Khan in Mumbai India.WWW.cancercurable.com
he also does wonders!!!
swati.
swatibhardwaj51188@yahoo.com