It can’t be fun to be at your job these days. Dealing with
cancer as part of your daily lives, like I have to deal with mine, is not a “great”
experience by itself much less with other distractions. My parents were never
married; well they were just not to each other so I can personally relate to
that sometimes imperfect origins create confusion but keep looking forward. But
let me state this to you guys, you were there when I thought my dying day was
sooner and until it comes, I’m there for you guys.
We like good stories about athletic achievement and the
Austin running community has enjoyed stories about the fact I put off brain
surgery to run a marathon and qualified for Boston, that I won Austin’s first
Brain Cancer research race, that I came back and won the cancer survivor’s
division. I am appreciate of all that and certainly the last couple of years
have made me literally grateful for every step of every day. But running is one
of my therapies and while I happen to be a guy who runs fast, I do it because
for a few times on hill repeats, on track workouts, in long runs, for a few
moments I am a little bit ahead of my problems.
But when I first called you guys, a few days after I got
diagnosed, you gave me insight into how to choose my own doctors. This all
started in the ER and, while I snuck out of the hospital to get an 8 mile run
in the day before the biopsy, not one of those doctors is still part of my team
because they wanted me to give up too much of my life. I’ve accepted some
losses of some activities but I found the kind of team that you guys are, a
team where perhaps some losses are inevitable but you fight like hell to keep
the important things and you have helped me prioritize them.
By the kindness of the universe, I got to train for a Livestrong
century and one of your staff taught me how to ride a bike. Due to the side
effects of this thing, blackouts, seizures, some cognitive issues, I am on a
driving restriction which due to some things in December is likely going to get
extended. But I’ve only ever done 2 bike rides, both your centuries and turns
out biking to medical appointments impresses your doctors and for me, it helps
cool my nervousness.
I’ve tried to pay it back however I can, raising money for
the organization and being on your video has made me get a few phone calls from
people I didn’t now. I listen as best as I can and always point them to you
because you’re much better at it. Trying to keep the “obligation of the cured”
that someone once told me and that also took a while for me to realize that it
was much better to funnel it forward. While I like the obligation phrase, I don’t
consider any of these things an obligation, I consider it my privilege.
On MLK day, I remember his quote “The ultimate measure of a man
is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he
stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
I think you guys are standing very well. There are plenty of people who think beating cancer is awesome and it is but it’s no more or less awesome than being born. What you do with is what it’s important and Livestrong has taught me and many many others how to stand better.
I think you guys are standing very well. There are plenty of people who think beating cancer is awesome and it is but it’s no more or less awesome than being born. What you do with is what it’s important and Livestrong has taught me and many many others how to stand better.
At my house sits a poster that you guys signed and in my
daughter’s room sits a little tile that was made. On my wrist still sits the
very first band I ever wore. I can’t imagine what day to day there looks like
right now but keep up the good work.
Sincerely from a guy who you helped save so many parts of my
life,
Iram J. Leon
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