Post by doc on Aug 11, 2020 13:55:45 GMT
I was pretty bummed all day yesterday when I heard there most likely won't be a college football season. I've had many sports passions in my life but college football has always been #1 and really is the only remaining one that I absolutely have to watch. I can miss Reds games, Bengals games, college basketball, I never watch the NBA and now that my kids are grown and on their own I don't pay much attention to high school sports. But college football? I live for Saturdays in the fall - I know what I'm doing every Saturday from late August thru early December - I'm watching college football. I'm going to Columbus and attending Buckeye games. I'm walking across campus and reminiscing about my days as a student at Ohio State University. It's something I'll never grow tired of. So hearing we may not have it this year really had me in a funk all day.
Then last night we got an e-mail from my wife's sister. Her husband has been fighting melanoma for over 10 years. He went into remission following his first round of treatments and was pretty good for well over 5 years. About 2.5 years ago it came back - with a vengeance; it was all over his body including his brain. They've tried all types of treatments, he's been in clinical trials, I'm amazed he's made it this far and he's done it with such grace. Recently it's gotten to the point where the tumors are so large they've affected his nerves; he can't open one of his eyes, he has no balance and is now in a wheelchair, he talks in a whisper. He was an avid golfer and the melanoma started on top of his head - he's very fair skinned and bald on top. So there's little doubt that his greatest passion led to the horrible situation he's in now. Well last night's e-mail delivered the news that we've all been dreading; he's out of options. There is nothing more that doctors can do for him. His lungs are filling up with fluid and it's reached the point where the next step is Hospice. This put it all in perspective. He may not make it to football season; I can't imagine what he must be thinking. I do know he has tremendous faith, he's not afraid of dying. And i'm sure he's known for awhile that this would be the end result. It's just difficult to watch someone who was so active and full of life end his life the way his is going to end. He's only 63 years old.
Live every day to the fullest guys, you never know what tomorrow brings. Football will be back but life is precious. More importantly, there will always be challenges but as long as you have your health, you have people in your life who will get you through the rough spots. What our brother-in-law is experiencing is simply the most helpless situation you can imagine and no one should have to go through what has happened to him.
Then last night we got an e-mail from my wife's sister. Her husband has been fighting melanoma for over 10 years. He went into remission following his first round of treatments and was pretty good for well over 5 years. About 2.5 years ago it came back - with a vengeance; it was all over his body including his brain. They've tried all types of treatments, he's been in clinical trials, I'm amazed he's made it this far and he's done it with such grace. Recently it's gotten to the point where the tumors are so large they've affected his nerves; he can't open one of his eyes, he has no balance and is now in a wheelchair, he talks in a whisper. He was an avid golfer and the melanoma started on top of his head - he's very fair skinned and bald on top. So there's little doubt that his greatest passion led to the horrible situation he's in now. Well last night's e-mail delivered the news that we've all been dreading; he's out of options. There is nothing more that doctors can do for him. His lungs are filling up with fluid and it's reached the point where the next step is Hospice. This put it all in perspective. He may not make it to football season; I can't imagine what he must be thinking. I do know he has tremendous faith, he's not afraid of dying. And i'm sure he's known for awhile that this would be the end result. It's just difficult to watch someone who was so active and full of life end his life the way his is going to end. He's only 63 years old.
Live every day to the fullest guys, you never know what tomorrow brings. Football will be back but life is precious. More importantly, there will always be challenges but as long as you have your health, you have people in your life who will get you through the rough spots. What our brother-in-law is experiencing is simply the most helpless situation you can imagine and no one should have to go through what has happened to him.
