Me with a gift of sparkling water from the Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation on our trip to Oahu to tour Pearl Harbor and enjoy Family time. This particular Chemo therapy made my hair turn completely white (everwhere!).
My struggles with Kidney Cancer
I have been battling kidney cancer since January of 2010. I had a right radical nephrectomy (Cut my right kidney out) and have been battling the metastatic portion of the disease since 2011.
I know that the Good Lord carries me in these times and there is a poem by Mary Stevenson that captures the essence of the challenges in my life. I am reprinting it below:
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish,
sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
'You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?’
The Lord replied,
‘The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.’
-Mary Stevenson
I have been blessed with a stellar life and there is no evidence that this is going to change, even with Cancer. I have a loving wife, fantastic kids, an awesome family and there isn't anything more than I can ask for. The Good Lord has carried me through surgery, chemotherapy, Interleukin 2 treatment, more chemotherapy, radiation to my hip and jaw and a lot of pain. Through all of this, I still have a desire to give back to those that are battling this disease to help where I can.
To that end:
Please feel free to send a note to me via email if you are struggling with cancer. I have been down this path for four years now and am willing to share my experiences.
Dr Donald Abrams, UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine
Guided Imagery
GI is a tool that I use to fight the disease and restores hope when things are looking bad. Gerald White is my cancer mentor and friend who put together this this program to fight cancer. Gerald gives hours and hours to help others fight the disease. This program will help you in many ways including helping you relax and restore hope in the battle against cancer. Please visit this site and if you have cancer, you need this program.