Jerry’s Greatest Challenge
2-10-2008 through 2-17-2008
My Voice is almost Normal
 

Editors Note:  This is week number 50 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.  This trip has been a roller coaster of events.  If you have similar challenges why not give Jerry a call or email Jerry.  Sometimes just talking to someone going through the same or similar situations will make a difference.

To reach Jerry, email him at Jerry@JerryFowler.com.   If you miss the weekly newspaper articles in the New Irmo News, The Lake Murray News, the Cayce/West Columbia News or the Northeast News you can catch up or go back to week one or anywhere in between by going to Jerry’s web site at www.JerryFowler.com , look on the left side menu and click on Jerry’s Medical Updates.

From Jerry:   Almost back to normal regarding my voice, my throat and my eating.  WOW, how we can appreciate our health when we lose it.  We all go through life taking for granted the gifts we have, our health, our friends, our family.  Why does it take times of tragedy to gain our appreciation once again?  I am not sure anyone has that answer.  At least in a sickness you have the ability to rebuild your relationships and remove those walls.  When some loved one is killed in an accident there was not time to rebuild.  Thank God he has given me the ability to appreciate my life to the fullest.

I wanted to talk this week about the cost of cancer.  Although there are many different degrees of cost,  cancer is all very expensive.  Thank God there are programs for those even without insurance that will enable everyone to receive treatments. 

We are a blessed family in that we have insurance.  My wife Judy shared with me this week the cost of my treatments so far, which include medicine, test and visits to the doctors and specialist.  Can you believe that just this one person has had over $300,000, three hundred thousand dollars of cost to kill this cancer?  How can anyone without insurance survive?  Can you imagine the pressure of not having insurance added to the pressure of having cancer, and the feeling of helplessness that most cancer victim experience?

Why are the treatments and medicine so expensive?  Why are Chemo treatments and shots so expensive?  Do the companies that make the drugs and machines to treat cancer really want to see a cure?  Just some things to ponder.
If you have a friend or loved one who is going through cancer or any medical problem please go to them and extend a hand.  Offer to spend the day with them, take them somewhere, be with them and show them you appreciate their friendship.  Make them feel good, regardless of any differences you may have or had with them in the past.  Life if short and they need your help in this difficult time of their life. Spending time with them is so much more important than just sending a card.

Take them books, send them cards, call them and email them.  Make your friend feel special because they really need you and your love at this difficult time in their life.  Do not send a card and never send another.  The constant contact is what gives them hope.  If you do this for your friend they will do this for others when they get well.  Then you will be a part of a great principal called “Paying it Forward”.

Remember if you would like me to speak at your club, civic group or neighborhood meeting be sure to call Deloris Anderson, my team member.  I feel it is an honor to share my story with you and your loved ones and hopefully I will say something that will help someone in a crisis situation. If you have a loved one that needs to talk just have them call. 

My office number is 803-798-0555 or you can email me at Jerry@JerryFowler.com.  I promise either me or one of my associate will return your call or email you in a very timely fashion.  

Now let’s go out and create a terrific week for ourselves and everyone around us.  Just remember, this is the first day of the rest of your life. Make it count.  God bless you all.

Jerry Fowler

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