Pheidippides Me by kevin roy mcgraw

Author:kevin roy mcgraw
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-06-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3

Our path hit a stop sign and took a sharp turn: I never expected to get cancer. It was 2005. So when a doctor in Monterey, California got me immediately into Monterey Community Hospital, I was shocked. The hospital diagnosed me with a Medula Blastoma brain tumor.

And so, in July 2005, mine and Jen’s new life journey had begun.

Two years later, after my brain tumor had been successfully removed, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the blood. Jen thinks my second tumor was from excessive radiation. That is, indeed, one of the side effects of radiation.

* * *

I titled this book “PHEIDIPPIDES & ME”. Pheidippides, the soldier, ran from the battle grounds of Marathon to Athens, Greece, in 490 BC, to announce “Victory!” over the Persians, in his warrior armor. When he reached Athens, he announced “Joy to you, we’ve won” and then dropped dead, presumably of exhaustion.

I’ve heard many stories, who knows what is true. But it’s a good story, nonetheless.

I’ve run 21 marathons and walked one at Big Sur, California. The one I walked at Big Sur was 2 years after my brain operation.

It takes endurance and the will to complete what you have committed yourself to doing.

I think that’s a good parallel for life.

* * *

That 2005 tumor was successfully removed from my brain. First, an 8-hour operation, then a second 8-hour operation to remove more of the tumor, and then, a third 5-hour operation to put a permanent shunt in my head, for drainage.

My friend, and client at the time, Scott W., once said to me that I was good at “making the bad man go away”. I guess I now need to “make the bad man go away” for myself!

When I was in recovery from these operations, I was totally out of it. I was not physically able to do anything, and in fact, I had an alarm attached to me, to keep me from getting out of the hospital bed. I did attempt to do that once and so they strapped me to the bed. I guess that I was then in jail hospital!

I was given a shower once a week: I was positioned in the corner of the bathroom, on the floor, and was hosed down. No view, no Ritz Carlton amenities!

* * *

My family, and my friends, have all kept me engaged in life. That’s been critical to me, and I love all of them so much.

My wish: It is to live at least long enough to fully enjoy the loves of my life, while my mind is still intact. I don’t just mean my family, although they are my greatest loves, but close friends too. All while playing rockin’ good music and seeing good movies!

Part of my wish: I also wouldn’t mind sharing the occasional bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, chilled “Cabo-cold”. That’s when the bottle is chilled in a tall bucket filled with ice and water to the brim, so that even the cork is fully

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