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As many of you know I have been fighting colon cancer for 7 years. My whole life changed the day the doctors told me how bad things were. That day I suddenly saw the big picture. The grass became a whole lot greener. I found myself stopping to hear my kids laugh. I took an interest in their lives much more so than before.
Parenting has been the biggest reason that I'm still here. After 5 operations and while my surgeons did everything they could, I'm now riding this deal out on just chemo therapy. The Chemo will not cure me, but will buy me more time to be with my kids.
When I talk to my 7 year old or my 11 year old, I sit and listen. No matter how silly or trivial the conversation might be, the fact is that it's important to them, so I stop whatever I'm doing and listen. I don't criticize or make suggestions, but I ask questions. Soon they begin to see what they were so concerned about and you can see the weight lift off their little shoulders. I didn't try and teach them or lead them down a path. They led down their own path, which very often is a good one.
I also think that most of us begin to realize the need to keep things in perspective, and I think it has to be about becoming more mature. When I was young all I thought about was me and how I wanted to race and would do just about anything to do it. I admit, in a lot of ways it was the best 10 years I ever had, but while this last 7 has taken me through a dark and scary path, it has also given me an appreciation for life. I now get it. I now can see before me what I need to keep things in perspective.
As I sat in the transfusion room getting my weekly dose of Chemo on Monday, I noticed that the group of patients has changed. Many of those who fought so hard are gone now. We are all here for only a very short time, so make the best of it and live each day to its fullest. I've tried very hard to wear this cancer badge and get the word out on how everyone can avoid getting colon cancer. My job is not done and probably never will be. In some ways I'm glad I got cancer. I got it early enough to fight it and early enough to appreciate everything I have.
George Wilkins
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