The Cycle of Life

Everyone:

When I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in mid May my primary concern was what impact it would have on my daughter-in-law, who was pregnant with our first grandchild.  She lost her father to lung cancer at an early age and that loss remains with her.  I did not want to increase that pain by being yet another father figure who is afflicted with cancer, especially during her pregnancy.  So I waited a few weeks to share the news; waiting for the right time.

After my diagnosis and all of the tests, we developed a treatment plan.  Throughout that planning stage I was trying to engineer everything so I would not be the old, sick-looking person in the foreground at the maternity ward when our grandchild was born.  I did not want to distract or subtract from the wonderful event.

Our precious granddaughter was born yesterday afternoon.  That beautiful 6 pounds and 10 ounces of a miracle made this old airborne ranger cry.  What a feeling - to hold an innocent, new-born child!  My head is still spinning with all of the thoughts of possibilities and the future as a grandfather. 

There is no elixir as powerful as birth.  It is the physical manifestation of hope; the cycle of life. The feel, smell, sound and sight of a new born is so special.  Caroline Elizabeth does not know that she has been and will continue to be my motivator to persevere through the challenges of cancer.  Our family was blessed yesterday, but for me doubly so. 

Jim