It is no coincidence that I am celebrating the 10th anniversary of my second transplant on Thanksgiving weekend. It has been the most amazing 10 years; to say I am thankful for them is a gigantic understatement.
Here are a few people I’d like to thank for helping me achieve this milestone:
10. My docs and other health advisors: You have provided information and guidance. You provided hope, and when you didn’t provide hope, you provided motivation for me to beat the odds. Thank you.
9. Mentors and colleagues: Your gift of time, wisdom, energy, commitment, and friendship has changed my life and helped enhance YACC’s efforts to change the lives of others. Thank you.
8. Survivor buddies: The courage you display in the face of such massive adversity is inspiring; your honesty and willingness to help others is a gift to me and all those in YACC’s survivor family. Thank you.
7. Friends: “If you have one true friend, you have more than your share.” – Thomas Fuller. I have several true friends from before, through, and beyond my cancer challenges. You make the valleys more bearable and the peaks more enjoyable. Thank you.
6. Family: One of the keys to my survival. I would not be here without your love and support–literally. Thank you.
5. Dad: Most dads give their children the gift of life once, my dad has done it three times. Dad, your stem cells have enabled me to live the most incredible 10 years. Here’s to many more decades of amazing. Thank you.
4. Kane: Your smile and laugh light me up. Your naps on my chest are one of my favourite things. You have brought out such love from your sisters and given Mommy and me a renewed appreciation for the blessings in our life, especially the three major ones. You are the happiest most easy-going baby ever and I love you forever and for always. Thank you.
3. Mira: Your sensitivity and thoughtfulness provides an important example for me every day. I love that you love dancing with me, cuddling with me first thing in the morning, and taking turns feeding each other at meal times. You are the sweetest thing in my life and I love you forever and for always. Thank you.
2. Adia: Your birth was the second miracle (of four) in my life. You pushed my boundary of hope. You are precocious, girly, and a great big sister and I love you for it. I love that you love dancing with me, climbing all over me, and making art for my office. You are the sweetest thing in my life and I love you forever and for always. Thank you.
1. Karen: Before I fell in love with you, I was living with a two-year deadline, expecting my cancer to come back for the third and final time. You opened my heart when it was closed; you pushed me to live more in my heart and less in my head; and you are an amazing wife, mom, and friend. You are more beautiful inside than out, and you know how hot I think you are! I love you forever and for always. Thank you.
I’ve always loved the tune “Lucky Man” from The Verve, long before I had any idea just how lucky I am.
A decade into this remission, the best decade of my life, here’s to many more decades.
Always…
Live life. Love life.
Geoff
