Jerry’s Greatest Challenge
8-12-2007 through 8-19-2007
A Great Week

Editors Note:  This is the 24th   week since Jerry was diagnosed with lung cancer.  Jerry has reported each week regarding the progress, treatment, feelings, events and thoughts as he goes through this challenge.  

From Jerry:  Good morning readers and today finds me feeling really great. In fact this has been a great week.  Of course every week is good, just different degrees of goodness. We are all blessed as we move thorough this life.  It has been 14 days since the last Chemo treatments started.  I can tell that I am getting stronger and stronger. I still have the problem with stamina, however this is expected as the chemicals are trying to do their job and kill the cancer completely.

On Monday 8-13-2007 I was a guest on the Keven Cohen’s afternoon drive show for the first hour. Keven is a dear friend and Keven wanted me to tell the story of my challenges over the past few months.  It was really enlightening for me because I had forgotten about most of the more challenging times. I like to dwell on the positive rather than the negative.  I feel all cancer patients would be much better off thinking about the positive things rather than the things that tend to bring one down.

While on the Keven Cohen Show I had a big surprise.  Joe Wilson, our Congressman was to be the next guest on Keven’s show so during the last 5 minutes of my segment Congressman Wilson stepped into the studio while I was talking and grabbed the mike and starting making a presentation to me.  I was shocked however very pleasantly surprised when the congressman started making his presentation. 

His presentation was a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for outstanding and invaluable service to our community. 

I personally do not consider my service outstanding because I am involved in the things I do from the heart and not from a profit standpoint.

We must all give of ourselves in order to make a better life for those that do not have this opportunity or are less blessed. I think the secret is to give with no expectation of receiving a thank you or payment for your service. 

That is the main reason I write these updates each week.  I feel that if just one person can read what I have to say and can benefit or one caregiver can understand that what they are going through is not unique to them the effort is worth it.  There are a lot of people just like me who want to give by sharing and helping. 

Judy and I visited my mother in North Carolina over the weekend.  If you missed the other article let me remind you that my mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is to be operated on this Wednesday in Charlotte.  I really would appreciate all the prayers you can give and any prayer list you can put her on. She will be 80 years old on the 29th of this month and she is talking this with a high degree of positive thinking and courage.  She told me she believes she will be healed and with her attitude, I have no doubt.

We all face various degrees of challenges and obstacles in our life.  It is how we handle those obstacles which develop the individuals we become.  Life is good and so is God and we all have been involved in situations where miracles have occurred.

Next week I will receive the second series of the new Chemo treatments which started on 8-7-2007.  I know I am getting better and better and fully expect to be totally free and clear of cancer shortly.
 
Don’t forget a lot of cancer patients feel sorry for themselves. This is normal. Most have had a productive life and cancer can stop them, change their entire lifestyle, make them dependent on others and generally gives them a hopeless feeling. The feeling that they are washed up and not productive anymore can be devastating, which affects their attitude.

They experience the ups and down feelings with the ups being very high and the lows being very low.  It is feeling of helplessness.  Be patience and understanding.  The feeling of confidence will return when a few good things happen.  If you are the caregiver you have a huge responsibility to your loved one.  They will depend on you for almost everything and you will be their hero.  Don’t give up on them and use words of encouragement constantly even when you are down in the dumps yourself.  

Say encouraging words, send cards, letters, emails, call and any other thing you can do to stay in touch.  This is a time you can be of such a valuable service to your friend or loved one.  They need your help and more importantly your compassionate understanding. This is their most difficult time both mentally and physically and you will make a difference in their life.

I would like to thank you for all the calls, emails, cards, letters, and books. You will never know how much this means.  Don’t forget, if you need me to talk to your friends or loved ones have them call or write. Most are reluctant to call or write, however you must remember, I am in the same situation they are so I understand.  They will never bother me.

Now let’s go out and create a terrific day.