In early July 2010 I was diagnosed with Advanced Lung Cancer which spread to my left hip. Two weeks later I had a tumor surgically removed from the hip and started Chemotherapy and Radiation on the hip. Although the news was unexpected, my approach to battling is not. I have decided that this disease will not beat me and I will fight it on all fronts. I will muscle through whatever battles confront me and show everyone that I am not just a fighter, but a winner. I want my potitive attitude and energy to serve as an example to all that mental toughness is the key (besides good medicine and a little bit of luck).
My experiences of 2010 and 2011 have made me decide to chronical the influential experiences of my life. Those as a child, and those as an adult. Since my cancer diagnosis, so many friends and family have been keeping tabs on my health and welfare. I've been writing periodic e-mails to almost 150 people, sharing my life experiences. As I write this I prepare for yet another chemotherapy treatment this week.
I am so grateful for the love and support shown to me from the people in my life. I find that writing about my life is a bit cathartic and can help people understand exactly what makes me who I am. I feel like I've had so many experiences in my life that I want to share with others. That motivated me to start this blog.
The blog can either be read chronologically or by topic. Topics will be added as I write more.
Who I am in under 100 words.
I was born and raised in Old Bethpage, NY by my parents Norman and Helen. I have an older sister, Gail, older brother, Marc, and younger sister, Barbra. I have a large extended family. I went to college in Binghamton, NY. I met my wife, Meredith in 1987 and got married in 1990. Jackson (1998) and Jamie (2000) are our wonderful son and daughter. We live in Huntington, NY. I worked in corporate technology for 17 years. Since 2003, I’ve been a stay at home dad, and Mr. Fix-it. In 2011 I was elected to our local school board.
