When you join the military and surrender your rights under the United States Constitution to be replaced by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), you realize that if you enter a combat zone, people are actively trying to kill you. During my years served, I carried an M16A2 rifle and a 9mm sidearm.
When you’re diagnosed with an aggressive form of mantle cell lymphoma and about to undergo a bone marrow transplant, you’re told that the medical team will make every attempt to see you survive it, but that they want you aware of the risk before you sign the medical consent. Like Desert Storm, my cancer wants to see me dead.
I am a systems engineer by profession. I am logical man by choice and temperament. Unlike Han Solo’s oft-quoted “NEVER TELL ME THE ODDS!”, I actually PREFER to know the odds so that I can actively try to beat them, and rejoice when I do. This has served me very well in 20+ years of corporate and government contracting.
I fully intend to survive this ordeal, but at least I am walking into it with my eyes wide-open.
I know my odds.
I intend to beat them.
With love and respect,
~ Ken
Chin up, persist in the fight. May God help you to fight the fight.
I held my head low and managed to earn a MATS flight from Vietnam home many years ago and I, too, can identify with the ‘how much more?’ is required question that arises. Thank you for your service.
Seems that people who have served- especially in combat situations- have a very different mindset and reality compared to those who did not have that experience.
It took my team a while to come to grips with my mission-based experience and my resolve to be not only aware of the odds for my treatment, but to be in control of those odds at all times.
I drew heavily from Marine General Chesty Puller and his outlook in the face of adversity and still find solace in that.
You and I both carried the same piece, only in different times and places, and we both gave all we could for the higher purpose at the time and I can presume that you and I are proud of what we gave.
If anyone will beat the diagnosis, Ken, I think it will be you. Rock on.
With me, age is a huge factor but, I am, like you, proactive and working within the statistical model for my outcome.
My business is based in the District and I travel there from Philadelphia a lot. Maybe we could get together for a coffee in the area sometime in the future?
Best regards..
Thanks! …I’d definitely be interested in getting together for coffee and to swap stories sometime.
I’ll be at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore for the next few months. For this first month, I won’t be able to receive visitors since I’ll be severely immunocompromised (Neutrophils 0-500), but should be able to later in July, August, September.
I hope you’re doing well. Stay strong as well!
Be well, too!