In the blink of an eye

Less than one year ago my uncle was diagnosed with esophagus cancer. After researching, one of the things I’ve learned was that this type of cancer creeps up in the later stages of the disease. He experienced the symptoms in vain and was afraid to be checked out by a doctor. If I were to describe cancer its like the exorcist that enters the body and if you let it destroy you, it will. A lot of times it wins and it eats you up inside.

He couldn’t eat and when he tried he vomited. It happened so quickly.

A few months ago doctors at St. Margaret hospital wanted to perform surgery because they thought they could remove a tumor in his esophagus, when they started they immediately closed him up, they said the cancer has spread to his stomach.

A couple days ago during the snow storm, my uncle called for an ambulance because of excruciating pain he was experiencing. They said unless it is a serious emergency they will not be sending ambulances because of the storm. Somehow he made to the hospital.

My uncle called my mother and he expressed his pain, how the world seemed so dark and lonely. He had a lot of anger because like with most disease striken people, the question is "why me?".

I tried to talk my uncle into getting into other treatments and see other doctors, he insisted the doctor’s word was final and he didn’t bother fighting the disease, and within a very short time the cancer spread throughout his body at a rapid pace.

My mother called the hospital last night and wanted to talk to my uncle, the nurses said he was sleeping. She kept calling, they said he was resting.

My brother’s wedding seemed to happen in a time that it did for a reason, it brought the family together and for my uncle it seemed it was time to say good-bye.

Lastnight, my uncle died in his sleep.

Throughout, I’ve learned there are two ways to live your life, to the fullest or let it pass you by. We complain about life and how we don’t have enough, some wish that all they have is their health. Life is for the living.

Never neglect your body. It is your most important asset, without it you got nothing.

Treat yourself with kindness and nurture it, diseases are your enemy. Smoke ciggerates, eat fatty foods, drink alcohol, have unprotected sex etc, go ahead it’s your body, let it go. Treat it that way, it will make you pay the consquences. Life threatening consquences.

My uncle leaves behind his 3 children and 2 grandchildren, he was 47 yrs old.

Take care of yourselves and each other.