Thank God We Don't Have Cancer

On Sunday at our son Kyle's invitation, Anne and I attended a fund raising dinner for the Cancer Support Community (CSC). http://www.cancersupportcommunitybenjamincenter.org/ During that dinner, we listened to cancer survivors and their families sometimes tearfully discuss the invaluable services they have received from CSC, all of which are free to the recipients, thanks to dinners and events such as these.

Sitting next to me was 11 year old Keoni, Kyle and Diane's son, and next to him was Kyle and next to him, Diane. 10 1/2 years ago Diane fought for her life from horrific breast cancer, while still doing her best to care for baby Keoni. Kyle and Diane found CSC and it was a godsend to them in this terrible time in their lives, and in the lives of the rest of us who love Diane. As a result, they have remained involved with the Redondo Beach, CA chapter of CSC and Kyle is vice chairman of the board.

On Sunday, Diane looked better and healthier than I have ever seen her, and it has been nearly 10 years she has been cancer free. But as I listened to one man speak, I easily recalled how horrible it is to have cancer. He described a disease that ravages the body and a cure that ravages it nearly as much and expressed a hope we would soon have something far better than chemotherapy and other poisoness approaches.

This man explained that having cancer is so horrible, that a person hospitalized with it would pay anything not to have it or even to feel better for a week. He said that person would pay anything to trade places with everyone in that dining room, even those with physical limitations, just to be able to walk out of the hospital and choose what they would like to do and do it. He felt we were all fortunate to be able to make those choices and should be thankful.

As with most families, ours too has been hit hard by cancer and we all know people who have suffered from it, as in many cases it also took their lives in a fiery blast of Hell. After listening to the speakers, I was even more thankful we are cancer free, and hopeful for Diane and the rest of us, that we will remain cancer free, for cancer can strike anyone at anytime. I was also thankful to make a donation on behalf of those who are suffering now, as in my heart, I offer them my love and caring. From the medical professionals who are compassionate and from groups such as CSC, they and their families are truly not alone.

Dick
CSC Redondo Beach http://www.cancersupportredondobeach.org/contact