The story of George.

The thought of cancer had not been born yet in George; he was only 6 years old but today was the day the thought of cancer paid George its first visit. 

One of George’s friends wasn’t at school and the teacher explained to the class sheepishly that Brian wouldn’t be at school today as his mummy had passed away, George heard the word cancer used several times and then thought no more of it. 

The thought of cancer receded for a few more years and next paid a visit about 5 years later, this time it was George’s grandfather that had cancer, George visited his grandfather and was horrified how small and thin his grandfather was becoming. 

The thought of cancer was growing, George’s grandfather passed away mercifully and this time the thought of cancer had planted a new seed, a much stronger seed that would grow strong roots throughout George’s life. George never really got rid of the image of his once strong and proud grandfather being reduced to skin and bone right in front of his eyes, the image often revisited George in his nightmares. 

And the thought of cancer stayed with George. 

George grew terrified of cancer, every new illness sent him blindly and panicky to the Internet search engines, and of course he always finds something that married his symptoms to one form of cancer. 

George went through his life with the thought of cancer playing a big part, every new blemish on his skin every pain in his body every headache all told George he had cancer. George had learned so much about cancer he was almost becoming an expert, his Dr had repeatedly told him not to worry about cancer but the thoughts about cancer just kept invading his life. 

George was in his late 40s when the nightmare became a reality and he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer and told he only had a matter of months to live.

 George had spent a good deal of his life in fear, the fear of the sun, fear of certain foods, the thought of cancer had held him, prisoner, in his own mind and now after all of those Google searches, all of those self-help books and all of those expensive prevention treatments he had finally succumbed to the inevitable fate. 

George had never married; he was too wrapped up in his own fears to share his heart with another. He was kind of glad, in a strange way he was relieved he did not have kids or grandkids that would experience his end of life struggle. 

His latest visit to the hospital had been a shock, it was now a matter of weeks rather than months. George went home while he still could. He sat on his veranda and looked out over the fields and just watched and listened. 

George sat there for a number of hours, he saw the sunset for the first time, yes he had seen it before but this time he really saw it, it was if he was a part of it, next he saw the stars come out one at a time until he was left with a view of countless millions of shining stars, he never noticed the different colours before, some were pure silver some were orange some had tints of colours he had never seen before.

 

He was one with the stars and for the first time in an awfully long time he felt peace, real peace, he was breathing in peace, his body felt strangely free of pain and at peace with him. 

He saw a shooting star, he thought of making a wish, but instead, with tears streaming down his face he quietly whispered his gratitude for this special moment. 

George for the first time was grateful to be alive, he was grateful for the show mother nature had put on for him and he was grateful for being alive. 

George fell into a peaceful sleep in the warm night air, his dreams were new and contained nothing about cancer, but instead, he dreamt of the universe, he travelled to places he had never been before and when he woke up in the morning he felt immense gratitude washing over him that he had been given another day to experience. 

George never opened his laptop, he went out, and said hello to everyone he met, he felt years younger, he smelt the air as if it was the first time, he listened to the birds and lived in every moment. 

George continued to live his life with a new feeling of wonderment excitement and sheer joy, he thanked God for every dawn and every sunset. 

He discovered the joy of kindness and how it made him feel seeing people being happy. He no longer focused on what he could not have but instead put all of his attention to what he did have. 

Weeks turned into months; George was living out his final days as if every second were his last. 

George was due for a check-up, and his doctor was amazed at the change in George’s whole demeanour, stood before him was a transformed man, his head was held high, instead of bent over looking at the floor, he walked differently, he looked lighter, he looked like he wasn’t carrying the weight of the world and all its problems on his shoulders, his voice had changed, the doctor had always felt slightly depressed after a conversation with George, but today was different,

 George was inspiring, he was interesting and above all he made the doctor feel good about himself. 

Stood before him was a new George, one he liked very much. George sat patiently while the doctor was checking over his scans. The doctor came back into the room. 

“George the scan seems to be not working, would you mind taking another one I’m so sorry.” 

“No problem Doc” George replied. 

George went through the CT scan again. The doctor scratched his head, asked for a second opinion before returning back to George. 

I do not know what to say George, but there is absolutely no sign of cancer it is as if it was never there in the first place, I am pleased to say that your cancer has completely gone. 

It was George’s 49th birthday that day. George had been given another chance, his life began that day, he was finally free of the thought of cancer, he had a life to live and he was not going to waste any more valuable time.