“I
am utterly and unequivocally grateful for the cancer that is currently trying
it's hardest to end my life. Seems
ironic, but without this cancer I would not be the person I am today. Being diagnosed led me onto this road, a road
that is exceptionally frustrating, difficult, sad, depressing, joyous and
miraculous. It has introduced me to some
of the most amazing, inspiring and beautiful people I have ever met in my life.”
That’s
a quote from Ryan of http://ryansepicbattle.blogspot.com/
This
“grateful for cancer ” business all started from a conversation he was having
with a friend (ironically at a café called “Gratitude”) who suggested that he “…
wake up every morning and think of 5 things you are grateful for and if you
can't think of 5, think of 4 or 3 or 2 or 1...
It could be anything from the bed you sleep in to the love you share
with your family of friends.”
At some level this advice seems shallow, insipid and recklessly insensitive. This is a millennial struck down in the prime of his life with a relentless disease that almost always wins in the most depressing manner. Grateful? Are you smokin' dope?* You've got to be kidding!
Yet in his most recent blog posting Ryan says “…what I am most grateful for is Grade IV Astrocytoma aka Glioblastoma
Multiforme.” (!)
Crazy,
inspiring, focused, fearless - these are all words that come flooding into my
crowded head when I read his blog. You should read it too.
John
*Yes, he might actually be smokin' medically-prescribed dope, but that's fodder for another day.
Image
credit: <a
href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_12704536_thank-you-or-thanks-concept-with-hand-word-and-paper-isolated-on-white-background.html'>ashumskiy
/ 123RF Stock Photo</a>
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