God Bless,and i'll be praying for you as well!!
And thank you for your service!!

 

Very touching post. Well said. Good luck to you with whatever burdens are placed upon you.

 

Very eloquent - I couldn’t have said it better.

I will remember this post, and your message, for a long, long time. Thank you for that. OP, stay strong and God Bless You.

 

Until We all meet on the other side.

 

I'm an old guy, too. Started riding in 1968, 50 years ago. Let me tell you my story, maybe it applies to your situation, maybe not. In 2005 I was riding a Harley Road King Classic (2004 model) and desperately wanted the all-new BMW R1200GS that had just come out. Not to replace my Harley, but to supplement it. I test rode it, had to have it, an put $ 1,000 down as deposit on one as there was a waiting list for them of about 6 months. Not but five days later I was diagnosed with cancer after my doctor ordered some tests. CANCER!!! October 30, 2005. The tests became biopsies and the biopsies became bad news. I was told I was terminal, nothing could be done for me, get my affairs in order and they will make me as comfortable as they could. My wife was devastated, heck - I was devastated. I have two young children. This is a disaster.

I went back to the BMW Dealership and half in shock, asked for my deposit back and explained why. They readily refunded it - my wife would need the money and certainly no GS for me. What next? Wait to die? Sell off my stuff, close my business, go pick out a coffin? I asked other doctors, they all said I was pretty much screwed.

Time to step it up a notch, not prepared to die. I spent hours and hours, days - researching my particular cancer. I came up with a very short list of surgical oncologists who were at the research level of my disease. One of them was at Johns Hopkins and I was able to get in with him to discuss. He explained to me it was a long shot, the surgery I would have to endure was going to be very difficult with a tough recovery, did I want to go through that? Yes I did. In an 8 hour surgery, this doctor saved my life, and my buddies took up a collection on that GS and went back and put that $ 1,000 back down on that bike at that dealer.

The recovery was long, it was hard. But recover I did and swung a leg over that brand new GS and rode it home in May, 2006 (it was a big deal at the dealership, they all applauded). I barely made it home, I was exhausted from the 30 minute ride. I got stronger and stronger over time and now twelve years later am cancer-free. In fact, I am told I am One of One, the only person they have ever known to not have a raging recurrence from this cancer - its like winning the Powerball Lottery.

My point is this - Don't give up. Maybe you can't beat your cancer - but maybe you can. There is a survivor for every type of cancer out there, every single one. I am proof of that. You might have to get out of your comfort zone to go find THE GUY who is cutting edge on your particular cancer. That may mean getting on a plane and flying to Hopkins, or Sloan Kettering, or Mayo or MD Anderson. There are a lot of good doctors out there, well intentioned but not necessarily possessing the skill set to save your life. Sometimes you need the absolute best and they may not be in your city or in your health plan, but when you are declared terminal you may have one last chance to get it right.

My inspiration when going through my cancer experience was a quote by Winston Churchill who said "When you're going through Hell .... Keep Going".

 

.... thanks for serving our country, raising your family & payin' it forward.
...... peace be with you, OP

 

I too am an old rider, was getting ready for Daytona last year and went to have a place removed from arm. Melanoma cancer, had surgery then it spread to under arm and shoulder thought my time was up went into new treatment, Keytruda which is immuno therpy after treatments since July Han CT day before thanksgiving and Cancer is gone. Still taking treatments but still riding. Don't give up that's why we ride, we are a special breed and always fight. Remember you are not alone there are a lot of us brothers pulling for you. Ride to live, live to ride. Our prayers are with you.

 

God bless you for your benevolence.
But if you decide to kick some ***, we've got your back.
Come back anytime.

 

Very sorry about your cancer and also from another old, but still lucky, guy don't go quietly into the night. We can't win the war but we can relish the small victories along the way. Good luck.

 

All the best to you.