Year 5, 1st half - Another surgery, radiation, vacation and a job change – As I prepared for my radiation treatment my doctor uncovered another cancerous tissue during a pre-operative MRI, leading me into another surgery (EEA – Endonasal Endoscopic Approach) to biopsy the new cancerous tissue. With that we found I also had Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) on my occipital bone, something radiation would easily take care of. As I prepared for proton radiation treatment in Philadelphia, after 6 cycles of PCV in Pittsburgh, through which I worked - computer on lap and needle in vein - all along, I found out my employer would not give me the flexibility to work from Philadelphia, and we parted ways. Through that process I found out through the American Cancer Society’s website a very cruel reality of cancer. Many companies fire their employees when they are no longer healthy. This is particularly true for small businesses and big businesses with an aggressive culture. This made me realize how blessed I was and am to work for amazing companies with leaders that have a “People First” mentality. There are simply no words to express how grateful I am to work with incredible leaders, and their support gave me the peace of mind to thrive to very tumultuous times.
Year 5, 2nd half – New life – Between jobs I was
able to do a short motorcycle trip with a friend on rented bikes. That restored
my love for motorcycles, and I ended up buying one, only to travel and get face
to face with a bear, an experience of a lifetime and another survival moment!
After that I watched the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Like a friend of mine described it, “at this moment this is the happiest place on
Earth”. I not only enjoyed the games but reconnected with friends and family I had
not seen in years. Following that I started a new job, one that was offered to
me in the coolest possible way. Was riding bikes with my boss, and as we finished climbing the top of Observatory Hill in Pittsburgh he handed
me the offer as if it was a proposal. I cannot think of a better was to start a
new life. To close the year we had Christmas with the full family and I had the
experience of going to a Christian healer, something my aunt really wanted me
to do. As we are staring at the stage an older woman dressed exactly like my
grandmother used to dress to church nearly every Sunday steps on stage, as if my Nana was there telling me not to
worry, everything will be great!
Year 6 – Another amazing year, filled with the joy of
watching my oldest daughter really enjoy softball, a family reunion, a great
trip to California with my wife, lots of bike rides, including my first Century
ride, and my first long motorcycle trip, from Pittsburgh to Montreal and back through Toronto, passing through the Adirondacks and Maine, a trip of a lifetime.
Year 7 – Things only got better, we moved to a new house, I
got to coach my oldest daughter’s basketball team, finished a grueling rainy
triathlon in 44 degrees of temperature and travelled to Brazil to see my father
survive a massive heart surgery. Made me understand how he probably felt when I
was going into the surgery room.
Year 8 – Made a spectacular motorcycle trip to Nova Scotia
with a friend, filled with mishaps and fun, with the high emotion of losing my
wallet and recovering it at the quaint NY town of Poughkeepsie, with the help
of legendary BMW motorcycle rally organizer Michael Friedle. Luck doesn't describe how fortunate we were to find my wallet and meet Michael Friedle, who would unfortunately pass only a year later.
Year 9 – The Year of the Pandemic – not all was bad in 2020,
I got to spend a lot more time with my family, a great time to reconnect after
4 years working in a different town and only seeing them on Fridays and
weekends. But this was probably the year when I have lost the most friends and
acquaintances to cancer and covid-19. A sad reality of getting old, but if you think getting old is bad the alternative is a lot worse!
Year 10 – Back to normal? “God laughs at those that have
plans”. If there is anything I learned through these 10 years is that
there is no better time than now. Like I shared before, yesterday if the past, tomorrow is the future
and today is a gift, this is why it is called the present. These have been incredible 10 years, I am sure they made me appreciate life more than if I hadn't gone through this. I was told 10 years ago that I could "even live 5 to 10 years". I made it, and as science progresses I hope I will see the end of cancer, there are countless people dedicating their lives to cure, treat and support cancer patients. To all of you my most sincere words of appreciation, I could not have done it without you, and for those newly diagnosed never forget that you can live with glioma.
Thank you Patrick for encouraging all of us!
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