Surviving cancer

Quietly walking up the pine needle-covered deer-trail, I pause, listen, then continue my trek. Reaching the top of the mountain, I pause, catch my breath and look. Lake Coeur d'Alene stretches southeast in my view. A valley of Western larch, ponderosa pines and granite is directly below me to the south and the north offers more mountains, no sun and the possibility of a sizable buck. I head north and, reaching the top of the next peak, settle my tired body just off the mountain ridge, nestled against a large fir stump. The view is beautiful.

I prepare myself for a three-hour stay and loosen my pack, prop my 7-millimeter Remington Magnum against a low-lying branch and make myself comfortable. As a hunter, I understand and appreciate the need to wait and think.

This Saturday I am prepared to wait as long as it takes. I have a lot of thinking to do. I first begin to think about hunting and filling my freezer with venison, then my mind quickly turns to the struggles from my week - will Cindi's surgery on her brain tumor be successful, will Cheryl's radiation beads shrink her tumor, will Candi's cancer subside?

I continue to think. How fragile is life? When might the Maker call me into his or her office and notify me of my demise? When will my life end?

Two of my favorite ribs broke eight weeks ago during an extremely aggressive round of golf, and last week my right hip failed me and decided not to support my body. Now I think; is this my demise? Is my life over? Has the nasty, nefarious cancer entered my body as it has my friends and family and is dictating my end to this beautiful world? The answer is no!

Candi, Cheryl and Cindi are not knocking on Heaven's Door; these three strong women are beating down the door of survival. These kind, beautiful, intelligent ladies have too much to offer this world to disappear. Cheryl and Cindi have taught hundreds of children the alphabet, difficult math equations, the love of learning and unforgettable life-lessons. Candi raised three beautiful children who need her love to fulfill their dreams. To leave this world at such a young age without the ability to fulfill their destiny will leave a world unfulfilled. These women have work to do.

Cancer is evil. I lost both of my parents in the past two years to cancer and I can't lose two wonderful friends and a sister to the disease this year. It is interesting how when a disease corrupts one's life, that that living person believes the disease is after them. I am fine. My broken ribs are a result of over-use and my hip requires a few weeks of physical therapy and will be fine.

My self-centered concern does not dismiss the urgency of my friend's disease. I dismiss my concern as trivial and reflect on the ordeal awaiting my friends and family. Sitting at the top of this mountain I realize; life is beautiful! Cindi, Cheryl and Candi are beautiful! Each has left an amazing trail behind them and each has a purposeful path to forge before them. Their path is not complete. For this reason; they will live.

Cheryl, Cindi and Candi will live because I question my life. They will live because they are important. They will live because I need them to.

Send comments or other suggestions to William Rutherford at [email protected] or visit pensiveparenting.com.