Thursday, November 15, 2018

Arlie's response to a diagnosis of terminal cancer with about 2 1/2 years to live

Four years ago, receiving a prognosis of two and a half years to live, Arlie posted this on Facebook.
What would you do differently tomorrow if you won the lottery for more money than you could ever spend? What would you do differently tomorrow if you found out you didn't have too many tomorrows left? Well today I found out that I don't have too many tomorrows left. So, I will try to treat each day as though I won the lottery. I have always said that if I won, I would still work at Costco, that working there is more fun than work. I'm constantly surrounded by so many loving coworkers and members. It's hard to explain the happiness I feel. 
Today, I went to the oncologist and found out that my kidney cancer has spread to my bones. The average person lives about two and a half years after being diagnosed. I will be doing an IV treatment, which is far better than chemo. The IV treatment will hopefully slow down the cancer.
I feel this is a gift. I have prayed on more than one occasion for God to take me quickly and not to slowly wither away to turn into a vegetable like my mother, who had Multiple Sclerosis and died a slow death. I can't tell you how deeply it hurt my grandmother and me to see her die like that. We unintentionally stopped going to see her. I do not wish for my wife to remember me like that or have that guilt that I carry. I want her to remember the me I was when I was healthy.
I believe to die is to live forever with Jesus, and that is far better than winning any lottery.  The sad part is leaving my wife behind. She is the kindest, sweetest person I have ever known.  I pray that I can spend eternity with her. One lifetime isn't enough.

-ARLIE-

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