Jerry’s Greatest Challenge
3-9-2008 through 3-16-2008
Brighter Outlook
 

Editors Note:  This is week number 54 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 in your life.

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:   It has been 54 weeks since I began writing these updates.  Although I have seen many ups and downs the positive things outweigh the negative things.  I have met some of the most caring and generous people over the past year than any period of my life. 

This weekend I was at the home show where we had a booth and display.  Although this was a draining experience and one I could have never done without my wife and staff it was an experience I cherish. Never have I been so honored as much as this weekend.  I had many people come by just to meet me.  These fine outstanding people were readers of this column and past cancer survivors who told me how much these articles meant to them and their loved ones.  Those words put a big smile on my face. 

I started writing these columns after Rod Shealy called and told me he wanted to document a miracle.  What do you mean, I asked Rod?  Well, explained Rod, if anyone can beat cancer, you can. 

One thing I have always believed in is prayer and positive thinking.  We are bombarded with such an array of negative thoughts from many people.  Even people that claim to be our friends seem to dwell on the negative.   I am a strong believer in the law of attraction.  This law states that whatever you dwell on becomes reality.  If we dwell on the negative, self limiting thoughts we become negative self limiting people.  If we dwell on positive uplifting thoughts we spend our life enjoying good positive things happening in our life. 

Now I can hear readers saying, I have tried the positive thinking trip and it does not work.  Believe me it takes practice.  Don’t get discouraged when something happens that does not fit your description of positive.  My thoughts are this.  For everything that happens there is always a ray of positive or opportunity in that event, regardless of how bad you think that event is. 

Many times one does not realize how positive something can be until months later.  Just think about the company that downsized resulting in you losing your position with the company you have been with for years.  Then later because your position was ended you became involved with a much better situation making more money with a happier result. This happens in every life situation. 

There are so many positive things association with anything negative.  For example what positive things are associated as the result of my diagnosis of cancer?  Well the most positive thing is I have never met so many great people.  Is this a ministry?  Yes I think so.  Never could I help as many people deal with their adversity as I have this past year.  I am thankful that I have experienced such an outpouring of generosity, kindness, love and closeness with so many people.   Would I suggest that everyone go through what I have?  Certainly not but this is the positive side of something that is normally devastating.

I just thank God that I have been able to deal with something of this magnitude with such positive outcomes.

As a result of my life over the past year we will be starting a “Success Talk Radio” show sometime next month. This show will air on WVOC AM on Saturday morning and will deal with nothing but positive thinking and how to overcome adversity.  What a gift from God. This is just another huge way to help thousands of listeners deal with life’s everyday problems.

I will be getting a PET scan on the 24th of this month with a doctor’s appointment on the 26th to see the results. This is the modern way to look inside your body to see what is happening.  Please join me in prayer as I pray that this scan will be clear and positive. Your prayers have been so much appreciated and because of your prayers I am on the way to beat one of the worst of cancers.

Don’t forget if you need a speaker that will share his experiences over the last year give me a call.  We need to get the word out to everyone that there is hope no matter what the situation.
 
My office number is 803-798-0555 and my extension is 108 or you can email me at Jerry@JerryFowler.com.
 
Now let’s go out and create a terrific week for ourselves and everyone around us.  Remember you have been blessed, Pass it on or as the movie says, pay it forward which enables you to enrich your life forever.

Have a great week

Jerry Fowler

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