An Amazing 48 Hours

Hey Everybody,
After seven unexpected days in Durham including two in the hospital and five days of whole brain radiation Helen and I were overjoyed to be heading back to Todd Friday night.  Dorothy sure hit the nail on the head when she said "there's no place like home" - so true.  Helen's daughter Elise not only had managed the Mercantile while we were gone but also managed to straighten out the cabin which was in disorder from our sudden departure.  Bless you Elise.

The Ever Helpful Elise

I knew the next day was going to be a very busy one as our friends in Todd had been planning a fundraiser for us.  The expense of dealing with Cancer in the US is truly breathtaking especially if you do not have insurance.  Through my generous employers and through my own efforts when self employed, I had always maintained a healthcare policy until one of the many catch 22's in the system finally caught up with me.  I was diagnosed with prostate cancer while under a COBRA plan.  I had it treated (gland successfully removed - nothing to do with Melanoma) but when my COBRA ran out I was officially un-insurable because of a preexisting condition.  Thus after paying something like 35 years worth of premiums I was out of luck.  Health care today is a political football as the nation tries to address the daunting task of making sense of a very complicated system but I believe people on both sides of the issue are glad that this particular loop hole has now been closed.  Unfortunately it was about seven months too late for me.

Understanding the financial challenge that Helen and I faced, a group of truly remarkable folks in a truly remarkable little Appalachian community in North Carolina determined to come to our assistance and help us out by planning a Silent Auction, Concert and Fund Raiser.

 
I have tried to be self sufficient all of my life so it is not easy to have to admit that help would be appreciated.  My wonderful friends understood this and said not to worry, that they would handle everything - and that is just what they did.

Some of the Many Volunteers

Whole brain radiation has a way of putting energy in once side of you and pulling out a whole lot of energy out of the other side leaving you very fatigued.  I knew that Saturday evening was going to be a long one so I spent a lot of time resting at home while being kept company by my daughter Sarah and our wonderful little dog Cody.

We arrived at the Mercantile to find it magically transformed into a concert hall, food smorgasbord and an amazing Silent Auction.

Arriving at the Event

The rest of the evening was like a blur to me as I met and chatted with many friends and neighbors some of whom had traveled HOURS in ugly, sleety winter weather to be there.  The musicians were incredible, the food was wonderful, and the beautiful donated auction items were filling Christmas wish lists.  The evening was a total success.  The generosity of so many has eased a significant burden and will allow Helen and I to stay focused on treatment.

If you have never been to Todd, or even if you have, take a minute and enter it into Google Maps and have a look at the satellite photo.  You will see a couple of churches, a post office, an old train depot, a general store, a mercantile and the South Fork of the New River.  What you wont see is an incredible group of people who all have in common a generous caring spirit, a will to work together to help when and if they can, a true sense of community and an deep love for a little cross road in the mountains of North Carolina.

Saying thank you seems so inadequate a way to express the deep emotional thoughts that occupy a big part of my day when I think about the love and good will that has been shown to me.  I can only say that I am a happy, blessed man and that any trials that face me pale, pale in comparison to the joy and happiness that you all have placed in my heart.

J