Perspective

Today, I went to visit Sue's husband in the hospital. On Wednesday, he had a below the knee amputation after stage three cancer was diagnosed in his right foot. He's known the diagnosis for almost six months now, and decided pretty quickly amputation was the way to go. The type of cancer, synovial sarcoma, is rare and the prognosis with chemo and radiation in his case wasn't very good. Amputation was the best case scenario to squash it and prevent any spreading. He'd been on a waiting list for surgery, on standby, and got about a week's notice that it was time. It's been a rollercoaster for him and for Sue, these past few months.

When I walked into his hospital room at Mt. Sinai, he was alert, smiling, chatting away, and surrounded by friends and family. He was up on his crutches, doing things for himself, studying the exercises he's gotta do, lining up his rehab and physio options, and ready to take on the world. Whatta guy. I can't see him sitting around, wallowing, watching the world go by. Not him.

Watching him, I felt strangely proud. I was inspired by his positivity and motivation. And especially by the outpouring of support around him. I was reminded of what really matters in this life, of all the simple stuff we take for granted everyday.

Xrays and tests confirmed no spreading of the cancer - which he'll have to monitor regularly for the next few years, but things look very good for him. And once he gets fit for prosthesis, through his therapy, and adjusted, I know that he'll be unstoppable. What a journey that awaits him. Go Rahim!