This has been a great week for me. Which means there is hope and good luck ahead for YOU. On Monday, I received my first shot of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Today, I am being thankful for Whippleversary six. [And yes, I created my own new word in honor of the sixth anniversary of my Whipple surgery for pancreatic cancer.]
An Amazing Journey: Being Thankful for Whippleversary Six
As many of you already know, the primary goal of this blog is aid readers and their families and friends better cope with a serious illness.
While every day is a great day for me, today is extra special. Incredibly, it is the sixth anniversary of my Whipple surgery (February 12, 2015). And despite my very good results, according to the most recent data, only 10 percent of those with pancreatic cancer survive for five years. However, this distressing statistic has improved from 6 percent a decade ago (2011).
I’ve mentioned before that when I was first diagnosed in January 2015, the odds were low that I would be around for my daughter’s wedding in October 2015. But due to tremendous support and love from family and friends, and excellent medical care from a large number of caring doctors, I will always be a proud survivor.
And I want to convey on this special day that you need to always be hopeful about your future. Positive thinking does matter. Surveys bear this out. As the late Jim Valvano said until his last breath, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
Treat yourself well. Visit the doctor regularly. Get your blood tested annually. If you think you might have an issue, act as early as possible. Acting sooner than later may save your life.
Below is what I intend to do for my Whippleversary. Plus seeing my family — fully masked and socially distant.
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