pancan

November 15, 2009 &bull uncategorized

Last night Heidi and I went to a candlelight vigil sponsored by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. I had never been to a candlelight vigil before and, honestly, was a little skeptical. But, I knew Heidi really wanted to go and get more involved with the “pancan” network and I wanted to support her. So, we made our way downtown.

There was a pretty small group of people (30?) and it was really low-key. The thing that hit home for me, were the two guys there who had pancreatic cancer. One had been diagnosed for about a year and the other had been diagnosed for 8 months. They each got up in front of everyone and talked for a couple minutes, which was both very sad and yet awe-inspiring.

Here’s what totally sucks. When you meet someone and learn they have pancreatic cancer, your heart immediately sinks. You know no matter what, this person is going to die in a few years. And much of that time is going to be a nightmare for them and for everyone who knows and loves them. What makes is worse is they know this, too. But with all of that, the two guys who got up and talked last night were filled with so much hope and thanks. And you could tell they weren’t just saying that stuff. I mean, you could really tell they meant what they were saying.

I kept wondering what it must feel like, knowing you were diagnosed with such a tough cancer. Would you just give up and hate the world? How could you not turn someone so sad and bitter? Yet, these two people kept saying how lucky they were and how grateful they were for their lives and their current opportunities to help and make a difference in the world. They were taking every minute of their life and turning it into something meaningful. They really seemed to know how valuable their time was.

It then really hit home for me that for those of us who are truly fortunate to have our health, our friends, and our families, should also be living this way. It’s so easy to let life beat you up and get down on yourself. But when you meet some who has been dealt such a shitty hand and they are completely positive and energetic, you realize there’s no excuse for not making the most of everything you have.

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