In an effort for you to better understand my motivation behind Chill Life, I thought I would share a brief story about myself and an unexpected turn in my life's journey. When your PSA level comes back from the lab at a whopping 104 doctors scramble. I was immediately scheduled for a full body Nuclear Bone Scan. The scan showed no cancer in my bones yet, but it was just the beginning of a journey that would forever change my life.
I used to sometimes say that I lived a charmed life. With the exception of a few knee surgeries from barefoot waterski injuries while in my 20's, doctor visits were scarce. I was just a healthy person who rarely even caught a cold. I professionally water skied until my early 30's. I was also owner/operator of a media production company. I lived a very active and healthy lifestyle. Fast forward to age 53. While on a video shoot I was standing at a urinal making jokes with a friend of mine about how the hydraulics "weren't what they used to be". Tim looked over at me and said in a serious voice, "That's nothing to joke about. I have a friend who is battling advanced prostate cancer right now and that was his first symptom. You might want to get that checked". Well, that scared me enough to schedule a doctor visit a couple months later for a routine prostate examination. From that examination a series of biopsies, scans and lab work revealed that I had Stage 4 Prostate Cancer and my prognosis was not good. The cancer had got off of the prostate in into lymph-nodes and bones. I was told that this stage and type of cancer had a survival rate of only 3-4 years.
I may detail specifics about my treatments at another time, but it's enough to know for this blog that I've undergone a radical prostatectomy, hormone treatments, bone density treatments, Provenge treatments, I've had 60 rounds of radiation for bone lesions and lymph-nodes, and recently 6 rounds of chemotherapy and all while taking 4 years of oral chemo drugs. To say that I am beyond grateful to be writing this blog today is an understatement. You may already be seeing where I'm going with this blog site.
There's a profound quote from Moses in Psalm 90:12 that reads, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." This quote became extremely real for me as I navigated this new terrain. To truly grasp the brevity of life has been the impetus for a change in my attitude and a desire to reevaluate my priorities. The result has been a recalibrated aim toward healthy relationships, gratitude, grace and love. Chill Life is a result of attitudes renewed and the desire to share wisdom, experiences, people and places; to live with passion and to celebrate this short life with others.
There's another component to this story that brings even more depth and insight to this idea of learning to "number our days" and to live and love more deeply, and it's my beautiful bride, Sherrie. You see, Sherrie had also been through a long battle with breast cancer over 15 years ago. My partner in life is also my partner in this business and we share this common vision in hopes to make a positive impact in someone else's life. Let me leave you with a challenge to take inventory of your priorities, of your relationships and your values. It shouldn't take a serious health threat for us to learn to "number our days". No one knows what tomorrow will bring so we encourage you to live each day to the fullest and with love, humility and grace.
I'm excited to share that my recent full body PET scan revealed no current cancer activity. I'm told it's hiding in there and that I can't let down my guard. I will stay on top of monitoring it and I will also live as if there is no tomorrow.
Until next time...