Larry continues to battle stage four cancer in an heroic manner. The fact that he is exactly my age has me empathizing with him all the more.
He had just taken an oxycontin for persistent neck pain before I picked him up at his house. "The oxy should kick in soon and start to loosen things up," he said, as he sat slightly stooped over in the front seat beside me.
I am convinced that it's Larry's positive attitude and his eagerness to reach out to others that has carried him through his 15 month ordeal with a demon that shows no sign of letting up. During this time, we have remained in close contact and I continue to be inspired by his insights into pain and suffering.
"How do you cope so well?" I asked as we drove along.
"I've learned to treat every day like it's my first day in a new job," he said.
"How do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, it seems like every day, there's a different challenge to face. Maybe it's my right hand that can't open a jar or my weakened left foot warning me to take the stairs more carefully. With cancer, there's always something new to cope with."
When he arrived at the rehab centre in Aurora, Larry was quick to put Ed at ease about his feelings of lost privacy in his new surroundings.
"Eddie," Larry explained matter of factly, "you've got it all wrong. You have to think of yourself as a king now."
Clearly, Eddie and I were mystified by his comment.
"I mean, think of all these aides here as your servants. You are the king and the king needs help. That's the only way to cope with your feelings of lost dignity. Trust me. I have a PSW come to help me with personal care three times a week."
Ed smiled and then shared how he is eager to get back home as soon as possible.
"You'll need one of these then," Larry stated as he fished a medic alert alarm out from around his neck. "You can't risk another fall when you live alone like you do. Remember Ed, these things are your servants now. You need them."
I think was Ed was impressed by Larry's insights. I know I was.
This morning, Larry was there at pickleball. Once a star player, he now has to rely on others to make the plays around him
"Mike, for the next game, I want you on my team," he said.
I hope he realizes that I've been on Team Larry from Day 1.
"I've learned to treat every day like it's my first day in a new job," he said.
"How do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, it seems like every day, there's a different challenge to face. Maybe it's my right hand that can't open a jar or my weakened left foot warning me to take the stairs more carefully. With cancer, there's always something new to cope with."
When he arrived at the rehab centre in Aurora, Larry was quick to put Ed at ease about his feelings of lost privacy in his new surroundings.
"Eddie," Larry explained matter of factly, "you've got it all wrong. You have to think of yourself as a king now."
Clearly, Eddie and I were mystified by his comment.
"I mean, think of all these aides here as your servants. You are the king and the king needs help. That's the only way to cope with your feelings of lost dignity. Trust me. I have a PSW come to help me with personal care three times a week."
Ed smiled and then shared how he is eager to get back home as soon as possible.
"You'll need one of these then," Larry stated as he fished a medic alert alarm out from around his neck. "You can't risk another fall when you live alone like you do. Remember Ed, these things are your servants now. You need them."
I think was Ed was impressed by Larry's insights. I know I was.
This morning, Larry was there at pickleball. Once a star player, he now has to rely on others to make the plays around him
"Mike, for the next game, I want you on my team," he said.
I hope he realizes that I've been on Team Larry from Day 1.
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