This morning at WGTD, I met a tall, strapping guy- the absolute picture of strength and health, with one of the strongest handshakes I’ve felt in a long time. (Because of his grip, I was not at all surprised when I overheard him say to one of the other guests before we went on the air that back in college he had been the quarterback of the football team and had his own weekly radio program in which people would call in to talk about the team’s most recent game. He mentioned it because he was excited to be behind a mike again.) He was there to appear on today’s morning show as a representative of the American Cancer Society, in anticipation of Kenosha’s Relay for Life, which is this weekend.
A few minutes later, after the interview was underway, I asked Brad to explain why he first got involved with the American Cancer Society (he has worked in their local office since this past October.) I thought he would say something about wanting to help out with an important cause- and perhaps stir in mention of a loved one who had struggled with cancer at some point in the past.
“I’m a cancer survivor.”
I was absolutely flabbergasted. Never in a million years did I expect to hear those words from this young man (appearing to be in his mid to late twenties, and again the absolute picture of perfect health.) It provided me with a couple of great lessons. . .
First, Cancer does not care who you are; anyone and everyone is a potential target. At the time of his diagnosis, Brad was actually coming off of an intense training regimen in preparation for a tryout with a couple of NFL teams, so he was in the very best shape of his young life when this anvil came crashing down from the sky. If this young man, ten times stronger and healthier than most of us could get cancer, then anyone can.
The second lesson is maybe even more important: It is possible to completely recover from Cancer- to essentially leave it behind you without a single trace. That is obviously (and sadly) not how the story plays out for all cancer patients, but for Brad it did. An aggressive gauntlet of treatment took its toll in the short term but the good news is that he has been cancer free for the past five years. And just to look at him, you would never guess that cancer had been so much as a tiny footnote in his personal history. The lesson is that incredible things are possible, even in the wake of receiving the worst possible news.
Such stories give Hope, and for anyone who is staring down the throat of this frightening beast, Hope matters a lot. I’m not sure what Hope has to do with whether or not one recovers from this disease. I’m sure it plays some sort of role. But I should think that Hope would have everything to do with how you manage to live whatever life remains for you to live.
So today, I’m thinking about Jacqui and Sue and Sharon and Carol and Karen . . . and anyone else who finds themselves sharing their lives with this most unwelcome guest . What I wish above all else is that their stories could all end like Brad’s seems to have ended – in triumph over a frightening foe. But short of that happiest of endings, I wish for them strength and courage and comfort and anything else that might make this difficult road a bit easier to travel. . . fully mindful of the very real possibility that someday this could be my road as well.
pictured above: Brad Nelson, with the local office of the American Cancer Society, during our morning show conversation today. Kenosha’s Relay for Life is this Friday night (extending into Saturday morning) on the football field of Bullen Middle School on 39th Avenue. There is so much to see and hear and experience at this event.