Congratulations, Chuck, on your survival.  I don't remember the date of my diagnosis, it's been so long ago, but I try and celebrate it daily.  Especially considering that the oncologist told me two years ago that after my diagnosis, he believed that IF the chemo was effective, I would recur and die within two years.  That was thirteen plus years ago.  I told him that was not acceptable then and it wasn't in my plans now.

Tim McGraw says it all very well in a song he has out that is my anthem...it's about a man who receives a diagnosis of something that says his time is limited, and he begins to "live like he was dying."  He takes the risks to live fully, and we all need to do that.  It's too bad sometimes it takes a wake-up call like the Big C to build that fire under some of us.

We leave sometime in April for another jaunt...this time to southeastern Washington for the summer.  We'll be volunteering at a state boat launch and day use park on the Snake River outside Clarkston.  Should be fun.  Will stay the summer and then return home.

Take care and stay well, my friend.

Shalom!

Marla

 

Marla B. Pence Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming --- Wow! What a ride!!!!!

---

From: "Chuck Rossier" <survivor@...>
Reply-To: cancer_survivors_gathering_place@yahoogroups.com
To: cancer_survivors_gathering_place@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [cancer_survivors_gathering_place] Anniversary
Date: Thu, 07 Dec 2006 13:01:37 -0000

December 7 is a very important date for me.

It is the day my mother decided to get pregnant again and led to my birth.

It is the day 9 years ago that I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.

It is the day 2 years ago that I had surgery to remove my cancerous
esophagus.

It is the day today that I celebrate my survival.

Shalom,
Chuck