Thank you so much for the reminder.
We had friend pass away this past Sunday, his funeral was today, he was only 64. His youngest son and my oldest were best friends from kindergarten on. They were roommates for 4 years, up until my son married a year ago October.
J didn't like going to the doctor, never went in for a yearly physical. Two weeks ago he didn't feel well, thought he had the flu, there were two strains going around the Houston and surrounding area so he thought nothing of it. In that time frame, he injured his back somehow to the point where he could get no relief from the pain, he finally went to the doctor. The doctor recommended an MRI. In the mean time they did blood work, x-rays, the usual stuff. He was told he had 2 weeks to live, give or take a day or two. He had cancer and it had metastized to every thing it could, his bone, his internal organs. J died four days after having the MRI, in his sleep, at home. The doctors told him at the time, his cancer was so wide spread, there wasn't anything they could do for him except make him as comfortable as possible.
J's son is my son's best friend in the world. They have been best friends since the age of 5, and now, his world had been turned upside down because he has lost his guiding light.
J was a volunteer at the Shriner Burn Institute and the Ronald McDonald House as well as a guiding force for 19 years at his church.
This man, who unselfishly helped his community and those in need for so many years, died because he didn't get regular physicals or screenings. This should be a wake up call to everyone.
We don't know yet where in him the cancer originated but, what we do know is this, had he gone in for regular screenings and physicals, they would have been able to detect it and more likely than not, it would have been treatable. |
