I don't think those vocations helped Gary much... but I think most importantly, he made some very smart decisions early in the process.

I think he took control of those things that he could and became an advocate for himself, and not just another name on the list of patients at the hospital. I think he asked questions when things were not going well, and (knowing Gary) he was ahead of the curve on what was coming down the pike, and braced for it or had necessary things ready for it. I also know he had, beside religious faith, a sense of the biology of it all, and accepted the cards that biology had dealt him. He had a science background which lived in harmony with his faith.

I don't think Gary sat back and hoped that a God would pull his sorry butt out of things. I knew these things the first time Gary communicated with me years ago. Besides, I hear he's a lousy carpenter......

As to video testimony's, I hope it included the training that the doctors that treated him had, the experiences that they had built their ideas on, the chemist/biologists who concocted everything from his treatments to his pain medication, the people that designed the amazing radiation device that killed the deadly cells, ( I could go on here, but will cut this short) and I hope it had a balance position of all those highly faithful who have been cut down by the disease and for whom no faith, or reason, could prevent their ultimate pain and demise. For every win there is a loss. There is balance to things, be you a faithful follower or not. I am not fond of those who hold up only the success to be praised, but of those who acknowledge that we all owe nature a death, and for too many it comes far too early in life. People for who no "prayer circle" or other religious wish changed one iota of the direction they were headed in.

I have been to 4 funerals in the last two weeks, and I am way burned out on religious platitudes that fail in their attempts to console, explain, or comfort. Every one of those four, a testament to quality lives, loving parenting, social consciousness, and deserving of more time. Everyone a religious being, prayed for and loved. Now gone.

If it brings you comfort go with it, but the luck of the draw appears to be as strong a reason that some live as any other cause. I am typing something in anger that I know better than to put into words in a public place. It will be a lightning rod on the board. But if I hear one more person say "God will not give you more than you can handle", I think I will throttle them on the spot. Sorry this post of mine is exactly the kind of thing that I abhor on the boards....