Good News

I got to know this lovely couple while at my trailer park in Florida. They're from Michigan and appeared to be a little younger than the rest of us but blended in really well. They're just darned nice people.

A few years ago (I'm thinking maybe 3) we got the terrible news that Tom had been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly form of lung cancer, and his local doctors said it was too extensive to remove surgically. He had, in essence, been handed a death sentence.

He and his wife, Mary, refused to accept that he couldn't have surgery so they searched the country until finding a surgeon in Texas who was willing to give it a try. Tom ended up having major surgery which removed the cancer and a large part of his chest area...I don't know exactly how much was involved but do know it involved more than just the lung. Everyone was kept informed by their very close friend, Carole, by e-mail but I thought he'd never survive something like this.

Following his surgery, he had many ups and downs, some when he was just inches from death, but he survived it all. That winter he and Mary made it down to Florida and it was heartbreaking to see this once hale and hearty man reduced to a sickly looking old one. But he was still alive and smiling with his life mate, Mary, by his side.

There were repeated chemo treatments and more ups and downs where he again faced death but he beat them all. When Tom and Mary visited the Florida park last winter, Tom looked wonderful. Maybe not exactly his old self but stronger and healthier than the last time.

This year he is cancer free and on his way to Washington, D.C. to speak at a conference on mesothelioma. Mary will also speak about her role as care-giver. They both have been through so much agony these last few years, both physical and mental, but they have survived it as a loving and committed couple. I'm sure that is part of the reason Tom is cancer free today. Another reason is that they took control of finding him a surgeon who would treat him and not just let him go.

I hope and pray he'll continue to recover.