Every Wednesday for the last two years I volunteer for an organization called Lees Friend's. The motto for Lees Friend's is "Helping people live with cancer." What I do as a volunteer is drive people who would otherwise have no other way, to and from doctor appointments, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments.

In a way the drivers are like bartenders in a bar, and the Lee's car, or "Land Barge" as I lovingly refer to it is like the bar. The car is a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria, is very comfortable, and in some cases comforting.

The people we meet tell all sorts of stories, on range of topics. Most of the time though people just need someone to listen and hear them. Then for some it is nice for them to just get in the car and ride. Gives them some freedom to get out, and just enjoy.

From mid-February to late April I took a break from driving for Lees. My Mom was diagnosed with cancer on December 24,2004. She was given 3 - 6 months to live, at best. Upon returning to driving on April 27th I met an extraordinary lady. This woman said her Cancer was "a blessing". Of all the things I have heard from patients, and after having just seen my Mother pass away April 1st from cancer, I had to inquire what blessing she meant.

Susan proceeded to tell me she was initially diagnosed 1 1/2 years ago with breast cancer. At the time she was living on the street, addicted to cocaine, and prostituting to support her drug habit. Three months later Susan was still living on the street as if nothing had changed, and not seeking treatment for her cancer.

One night while on her way to a friend's house to stay, and do the cocaine she had scored earlier, the police busted Susan. She was charged with possession of a narcotic, and went to jail that night. While in jail, and in process of going to court her health condition was discovered. She was put into a mandatory drug rehab, and also set up with doctor appointments to deal with and treat her cancer.

Susan's cancer required her to have a mastectomy, followed by 6 months of chemotherapy and 6 weeks of radiation. The last two weeks of her radiation is when I met her, which meant I got to take her to her last radiation treatment, when she was declared "cancer free".

So to answer my question, Susan told me that cancer had saved her life, and was a blessing. Since her arrest on that night her whole life had turned around. She had gotten clean of drugs, stopped prostituting, gotten a job, and was living in a house that allowed her to only pay what she could afford given her health. She had made new friends that were either going through the same health issues, or getting and staying clean like her. Best of all Susan said she had found religion and been going back to church.

Susan pointed to all of these things for having part in her survival, but I could not help notice that she had left out the one thing that I saw. A remarkable woman who had a strong will to live, and overcome. This to me was the most amazing thing of all.

When you complete your round of radiation treatment at NGH there is a bell that is rung by the patient, and staff. This is to show all that this person has come through their treatment successfully. When Susan rang that bell on March 2nd it was the beginning of a whole new chapter in her life. A chapter that is clean, sober, cancer free and on her way to more happiness.

What she did not know was how she affected me. I realized that at a time when it was hard for me to see her (or anyone else), come through treatment alive and well, it was also was life renewing. Though cancer had claimed my Mom others would live on to fight, and survive this terrible disease. Susan reminded me that no matter what is going on in your life, no matter how hard it is, find the positives.

Life can be funny sometimes, can't it? Just when you question why things are the way they are something appears in front of you to kick you in the butt.

Thanks for reading

In upcoming Daily Disturbance posts from me:
* WOW! 2 inches more rocks my world! Going from a 15”inch monitor to a 17”!
* Bookmarks: What's in your browser?
* Games People Play

Good post and good read. Sorry to hear about your mom though, cancer is a tough deal.

It's nice to see that some people in this world still care enough to help others out. Even if that means just being an ear to listen. Making a person not feel so alone. The universe smiles upon those who help others.

Foe sorry to hear about your mom, its people like you that helped my sister during her treatment giving rides to and from the hospital. The donated time is valued not only with the people you are helping out but by family members that cant take time off to give a helping hand to out of state relatives that have cancer.

Thanks all for the condolences. The real heroes are those who I take to their appointments. These people face terrible ods, treatments that do unbelievable things to their bodies and still find the strength to smile. It is my pleasure to have a chance to help them out.

Two of my granparents just died of cancer. It's a terrible deal. I feel for you foe.

One of my close friends from work was diagnosed with some kind of cancer and just had a tumor removed. She will live, she has a HUGE scar on her left side. The staples are still in it. I visited her today in the hospital and helped her walk around spent some time with her. Shes a tough girl. She squeezed my hand when they gave her a shot of some kind. She's a tough girl and I know she will pull through. Every other day I have been going to visit her. It's very painful for her to walk around.

I told her, "The strength of a human is not defined by how many times you fall but how many times you get back up."

I know what it's like, sort of. When I hit that storm drain the doctor said no bikes for 2 weeks. I was back on the bike in 4 days, stitches still in my jaw. By the first week, stitches out, I was riding at night longer and farther, and by 2 weeks I was back to my normal rambuncious "I'll kick your ass on a bike" attitude. Even though my lip was still swolled up and my face looked like the Cryptkeeper at least I was back in the saddle again.

One day when I get enough balls I'll post a picture of myself fresh out of stitches.

Condolences goes towards you foe.

Unforunatly, my gradmother died from breast cancer. She had it 2 or 3 times i beleave. The 3rd time she didnt want to do chemo all over again...so its just...ate her out....and eventually got to her brain (or other vital organ)..and the rest...Shes living 3 ft under in a small contanier along with my grandfather.

Very nice quote j-dogg!

Quote: "The strength of a human is not defined by how many times you fall but how many times you get back up."

Thank you all for sharing your stories. It is sad to know how many people have been touched by cancer. Let's us know how far we have to go to cure it.

"I've read that I flew up the hills and mountains of France. But you don't fly up a hill. You struggle slowly and painfully up a hill, and maybe, if you work hard, you get to the top ahead of everybody else.
Cancer is like that, too. Good, strong people get cancer, and they do all the right things to beat it, and they still die. This is the essential truth that you learn. People die. And after you learn it, all other matters seem irrelevant. They just seem small.
But there is another truth, too. People live. It's an equal and opposing truth. People live, and in the most remarkable ways. When I was sick, I saw more beauty and truth in a single day then I ever did in a bike race-but they were human moments, not miraculous ones." Lance Armstrong


Cancer is something most of us will get in touch with, sooner or later. It might happen to ourselves, family or friends. Cancer is ugly, but as Armstrong says, it also has its moments of beauty which will be cherished by those who experience them.
In our busy, daily lives it is easy to forget how lucky most of us are to have a reasonably good health and take it as granted. We should really take time to count our blessings, because we do not know how long they will be here.
And we can buy the yellow "Livestrong" wristband to support the fight against cancer. If you want to get one, go to Livestrong

Good writing, Foe

Thank you for the compliment Sorrow.