| | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP  Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | I shared this on my Facebook page this morning. I hope this helps whoever's reading this cope with what you are going through right now.
Like you...I've been there. I've heard those words "It's cancer and it doesn't look good." I hope that someday you will feel like I do right now.
" I can't tell you the feeling I have inside of me right now. There are no words that can describe the vibrant energy that swells in my heart and is filling me, over flowing my being with a sense of optimism, enthusiam and joy. I feel amazingly invincible and I can say that right now with a power that will not only make anyone that hears it believe it...but feel it as well.
Have you ever felt that feeling? Can you remember any point and time in your life when you felt that nothing was beyond your reach? I remember that feeling...and I feel it amplified even more within me right at this very moment. Life is amazing. To be alive, to breath in and out. To feel the love from your spouse, your devoted. To see the love and life in the eyes of your children...it's a feeling that nothing can compare to. I am free in this feeling right now...free to be myself and to revel in the beauty of life and the gifts bestowed upon me.
This feeling has given me wings that take me above anything that life throws at me. I am flying above economic hardships, devastating personal losses, medical travesties...I am surrounded by the memories of all that is good and sweet in my life.
I look at myself and think...it's all going to be OK, no matter what happens because my life has been filled with good. The bad times have only make me cherish the good times even more.
I want to change my world and make it better for everyone I meet...and I'm starting with this note. If you are reading this get inspired. Feel the greatness of life...
Merry Christmas and I love you all."
Eric M. Statler
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 88 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 88 | Awesome Eric! God bless you and your family and Merry Christmas to you also!
Bonnie
CG to daughter Brandy age 31 initial dx 10/06
SCC T4N0M0 with bone invasion upper maxillary
Surgery 10/06
CT's clear for 2 years
2nd recurrence - Laser surgery 1/09 dx
Tumor board - No surgery to invasive for QOL
35 IMRT 3/30/09 Completed 5/15/09
8 tx Erbitux 3/24/09 Completed 5/6/09
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 531 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 531 | LOVELY! Merry Christmas to you also!
CG to Ron
Out of Pain 4/3/13
4/12-lung and under chin growth no treatment
1/13/12 lung biopsy
6/11 recur 6/30 resection #2 Clear margins
Clear 12/10
Surg 5/13/10 neck dis/nodes part gloss/flap R thigh all teeth out
RAD 30 8/10
DX 4/2/10 "Oral Cavity" T3NOMO
12/28/07 Non Hodg Lymph remission 7/08
passed away 4.3.15, RIP Ron, you are greatly missed
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 | What a wonderful and inspiring message Eric! It was exactly what I needed to read today. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
Thank you!
Shelley
Caregiver to husband Ron. Throat Cancer. Finished 35 radiation treatments on 11/21/04. 8/2/11 small lesion on lower gum, laser Procedure to remove. 3/6/12 Doc. removed another lesion on outside of his neck. Did a skin graft from his chest to replace the skin on his neck. Went to Heaven on 6/24/12.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 | Eric,
I love your post! Everyone, no matter what their circumstance is, can be inspired by this. You really have a gift for writing! Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family!
Anita
Anita (68)
CG to husband, Clark, 79,
DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08,
HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft.
Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear,
PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture
Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14
Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22
PEG 7/21
Botox injections
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Eric
Between three and four in the morning, those are heady thoughts
Very glad to read your post and see that you are doing well.
Usually I was listening to Steve Miller's the Joker, singing along with the words, especially Midnight Toker, when I was feeling that way. Or doing my Zonker imitation out of Doonesbury with a early "start" on the day.
I also get that feeling at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, with the incense and candles evoking childhood memories. So thanks brother for posting a truly wonderful celebration of life.
Charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 |
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 |
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Good thinking Eric, I have been had those feelings for 3 1/2 yrs and at times I even dance if the right music hits the airwaves. Kind of hard to jitterbug right now tho. LOL The day I woke uo from tht short coma, me and one pretty nurse were dancing down the hallways at that place. They all thought we were a little nutty.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | I love your optimism Eric. It couldnt be happening to a better person. You sure went thru heck and back. Enjoy the holidays with your family 
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | |
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