This goes out to Stuart Scotts family and anyone else that is battling cancer, was diagnosed and survived treatment, or has a family member that has gone through it. Chemotherapy is one of the most, if not worst, most awful, damaging things you can have put into your system. Purely put, its POISON, meant to KILL your cells. The unfortunate part is it kills your good cells as well as bad. I remember the chemo killing the saliva in my throat and not being able to swallow for 10 days because of the sores. Chemotherapy permanently alters your organs, like your liver, kidney and heart. Some chemos do more damage than others and some are very organ specific as far as which ones they will permanently damage. Besides the inner damage that chemotherapy does to your organs, it also can make you very sick with constant vomiting. My second round of chemo was especially rough for me because not only did I have chemo going through my body, but I came down with a flu virus two days into my five-day treatment. I was so sick that I threw up almost every five-ten minutes for those 2-3 days. That was also before they came out with anti-nausea meds that actually allowed me to eat during my last few rounds of chemo, but at the beginning, they were still in trial. I was so weak I couldnt stand and had fevers of 103-104. I almost died that week, and just five weeks into my diagnosis and treatment I realized that I could die - and thats a feeling you dont want to wish on anyone. Chemotherapy can also make you lose your hair. Combine that with the weight loss you get from the nausea and not eating and I, to take a line from Bruce Springsteens song Philadelphia - was unrecognizable to myself, having lost 30-40 pounds and all my hair. Radiation is another way the doctors try to treat your cancer. The damage that radiation did still affects me today. I deal with stomach issues and pain and other embarrassing side effects that definitely keep me humble and sometimes up all night. I also had a bone marrow transplant to prevent the disease from coming back. The side effects and nightmare of those 3 months in transplant will never leave me - 11 bladder operations from my bladder wall ripping and losing more blood per day that they could keep in me, sores up and down my throat and in my mouth, a collapsed lung that was so painful and doctors thought was my cancer coming back - all happening when I had no blood counts to fight anything. The doctors told my parents and family I would die. That was July 1991 and 24 - almost 25 years later, Im still here. I had to retire from my job at ESPN in 2009 because I couldnt physically work everyday because of the side effects of the radiation and other effects of surgeries they did to remove Lymph nodes (I currently suffer from Lymphedema, Crohns disease and Hemochromotosis) but God has been faithful and has keep me around for a reason. Despite the issues my stomach gives me - which also causes occasional stomach obstructions where I cant eat or drink for days until it clears - and dealing with the Lymphedema in my leg, I still try to lead a normal life, but sometimes look at the career I had to give up and the great people I got to meet everyday, including the incredible bosses I had at ESPN, like Mark Gross or Norby Williamson or Ed Macedo, Jeff Bennett and Craig Wachs who often would call when I was having a bad time of it and offer their assistance as well. Hearing the news about Stuart today really made me very sad - and also afraid. I get very afraid every doctor visit I go for (about once a month). I get very afraid for every blood test I have to take (Im due for one in the next week or so) and every ache I have or bump I find my mind goes towards the worst. Nothing is worse that sitting in the doctors office and waiting for results, or knowing you have to have certain tests done. God has blessed my life with a wonderful wife, great family, an incredible mother and loving father and a church that goes beyond whatever I could imagine being the best. I have a service animal that I love more than anything and God continues to provide and bless me certainly more than I deserve. Its because of those things that I fear the worst that one day the cancer will return. What hearing about Stuart today has reminded me of is that I want to enjoy the rest of my life. I dont want to spend any more time than I have to visiting doctors or worrying about the side effects of this or that. Stuarts battle has reminded me of the fact that God continues to give me life and that I need to make the most of it. So...I ask everyone that is out there to give to someone who is fighting this disease. Whether it is your time, your money (which people like me who can no longer work because of the side effects of the treatment need), your own story or just a hug and recognition that there is a world where kids walk with chemo bags on a pole and without any hair and ALL THEY KNOW is pain and suffering, So next time you get angry about your sports team losing (which I often do) or that your job stinks or your spouse left the cap of the toothpaste - think of what life is really about and the people like Stuart and his family or the many others who are suffering and fighting a battle and THANK GOD for what you have. Then go out and donate your time, money or whatever to help make a difference in the lives of someone who needs your help. Finally, I want to thank the V Foundation and a few of the people who Im convinced are angels - Dick Vitale and his wife Lorraine, along with Howie Schwab - who give so much of their time and effort to fight this disease. Remember that everyone can do more and dont let the everyday minutia drive you down.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 04:27:15 +0000
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