POST FALLS — It's been 18 years since Jim Morrison heard the words, "You have cancer."

You wouldn't know it by looking at him today.

“Adversity has not stopped me in the past and it sure is not going to this time," Morrison said during a recent visit with The Press.

Through ups, downs, crybaby days and unknown outcomes, Morrison pulled through the 2% chance of surviving Stage 4 lung cancer to make it to his daughter's wedding and be alive and well when his family expanded with several happy, healthy grandbabies.

Morrison has not sat idle nor taken his blessings for granted. He has written books and created an army of "cancer warriors" locally and across the country to give people experiencing cancer the courage and support to get through their trying times.

His cancer group, Evening of Hope, has returned to the Post Falls Library to once again provide a space for cancer warriors to meet and defeat their illness.

He tells people to remember that "this is cancer. We need to be honest with each other."

"If you’re looking for a ‘Woe me, why God why me?’ this is not your group," Morrison said. "We are not victims in this group. We are victorious, adversity warriors. If you want to march and get in the trenches that we’re in fighting the war, honey, you’re welcome. But if you want to sit over there, ‘Why me?,’ this ain’t your group. That’s not who we are."

Evening of Hope provides encouragement and fellowship for cancer warriors and their families.

Evening of Hope formed in 2016, but was out of commission during COVID-19 restrictions.

“We’re too emotional" for Zoom and online meetings," Morrison said. "We’re fighting life and death. Some people, when they’re facing death, need a hug. Or they need to throw a chair. Or they need to cuss. Or they need something. We're built for relationships; we’re built for companionship."

Marie Shockley, circulation supervisor and adult programming specialist for the Post Falls Library, is excited to see the group return.

“So many of our members are affected by cancer in some way," Shockley said. "We are really happy to provide a space for them in their journey through that difficult time."

Evening of Hope meets the second Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. The next meeting is tonight.

The Post Falls Library is at 821 N. Spokane St.