A Day In The Life

No teenager should have to face cancer, especially not during this pandemic.  Those of you who read this regularly, know that I make mention of cancer here often.  My mom died because of cancer.  So many of my other relative and friends have battled various cancers.  This blog though is NOT about me, so today I want to make mention of Josh Cottle, a guy who has fought and is winning.  

First, I want to say that I don't know Josh at all, and my only information about him is what he has shared publicly on social media.  He inspires me though.  We need to be inspired these days!  Cancer sucks.  I am sure we can all agree on that.  This guy though is not only fighting his own battle, he is also encouraging others and I think that's pretty remarkable.  He has a youtube channel and at the beginning of his cancer fight he recorded a video called “Day in the Life of a Teen with Cancer.” 

How many drugs do you need and what kind of food will you eat? Does all your hair fall out like in the tv shows? Does cancer always win? There are so many questions that someone might have and whether you or someone you love has cancer, knowing what to expect can help you cope with the days ahead.  Everyone's story is different of course, but Josh tells his story.  Josh shares a very personal journey and I think this kind of awareness can make a world of difference.

I'm not going to tell you the Josh Cottle story.  That isn't my place.  He does such a great job of tell the story himself and I hope you will check it out HERE.  I haven't even tried to reach out to him.  He deserves his privacy.  I'll keep watching though as he shares more and more and I will keep being grateful that a day in the life of this young man is truly making a difference.

On my soapbox

Some days this seems more like my soapbox than the blog I originally intended. There are also many days when I don't go nearly far enough. Oh and then there are days like today when I post several hours late. (I did have an excuse. I coronary incident sent me to the ED and I only got home from hospital a few minutes ago). Anyway, I try not to talk about me in this space and I also try not to spend too much time on my soapbox, but sometimes things just HAVE to be said.

Over the weekend a gay couple was subjected to homophobic and xenophobic verbal insults on over a parking space dispute in Alexandria, Virginia. In Las Vegas, a woman spewing anti-Asian remarks and punching a 6-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with a hate crime. New York City experienced more hate crimes in the first half of this year than in all of last year, according to data released last week by the New York Police Department. Hate is bigger and bigger all the time.

On top of this there is a greater division in this country than I have ever seen.  I personally witnessed some hate in the past 24 hours.  It was disgusting.  There are people who think COVID-19 is fake.  Yes, even after sixteen months and massive deaths all around the world, some people still think it isn't real.  Oh and the vaccine?  Even more say they won't get the shot and they won't wear a mask either.

Laying in bed in the Emergency Department, I had a lot of time to think.  Why does hate exist?  Why does it seem to be growing?  Why do people seem to care less about each other?  I sure wish I had some answers.  I do know we need to do something.  Good people need to stand up and say "Enough!"  The other blog I write is about kindness and I can't stop thinking that one thing we so desperately need is more kindness.  Are you with me?  Can we put the bitterness and mean attitudes aside and make this country friendlier?  What do YOU think?

A Few Notes

All of June I wrote here about LGBTQ matters, it being Pride Month.  You know what?  There is so much more I could write.  Nothing says though that we have to save it all for one month out of the year, so of course some of the things I left out will be coming up in the days ahead.

There has been a lot in the news lately and while I don't usually use this space to give opinions or commentary, I have to point out continued evidence of global warming.  It's been very hot is places that don't normally get that way.  There was also recent news of the disappearance of a massive, icy lake in East Antarctica.  Something must be done NOW.

There have been a number of heroes in the news lately too.  That always make me happy.  Our world needs more heroes.  By the way, if you know of heroic incidents, let me know about them so we can share the information with others.

In just a few days we mark the anniversary of our nation's independence.  The United States was founded on the principle of freedom for all.  Do you have that?  Sadly the answer of course is no.  There are many great people working on it, but until there is real justice for all, we will not have achieved that great American dream.  Think about it.  Please.  Make a difference.