Therapeutic

[Percival]

Hi Everyone.

Thank you for this board.. it has been a bit therapeutic for me today. I have been battling colon cancer for three years and today I got the news that I have a malignant brain tumor. I was having trouble speaking, so I went in for an MRI this morning. Sure enough, there is a nickle sized tumor in the left hemisphere of the part of the brain responsible for motor function.

It has been a while since I can to these boards, but it has been a good distraction and harmless way to engage in confrontations.

For those of you that believe in personal God that has the power to comprehend and act on prayer, please pray for the outcome of this cancer. My name is Andy and I live in Tucson, Arizona. And for those who don't believe in God, I equally appreciate your positive thoughts and good will.

Andy

[Kiwi]

Awful news, Andy.
I've enjoyed your posts and I'm glad we could offer some distraction, such as it may be. Certainly adds an extra poignancy to some of the discussion.
All the best.

[JustJim]

I'm really sorry to hear your bad news, Andy, and I offer you all the positive thoughts I can muster. I hope you don't mind this from a non-Christian, but when I was a practicing Lutheran in my youth, I always loved it when our church choir ended Sunday services by singing this beautiful benediction:

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you
and be gracious unto you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you
and give you peace.
Amen.

Jim

[mitchellmckain]

For those of you that believe in personal God that has the power to comprehend and act on prayer, please pray for the outcome of this cancer. My name is Andy and I live in Tucson, Arizona. And for those who don't believe in God, I equally appreciate your positive thoughts and good will.

done.

I do believe in prayer - not because I have seen anything that proves to me that it works, but because I believe in the God of the Bible and I think it tells us to pray for such things. (I will not do the toaster test, but I will test prayer in this way at least) May God bless you and heal you.

[NH Baritone]

It remains a fascination to me that the internet has created what seems an entirely new way for humans to interact--one in which we appear to one another ageless & robust.

This is, of course, a myth ... one that helps us focus less on our shared humanity and more on self-expression for its own sake.

But under it all we are all frail stuff. Your announcement rips away the curtain to show us all on this forum as self-charicatures most of the time.

Since you have been engaged in this struggle for some time, I imagine you have had time to consider deeply how peronal mortality is. Nonetheless, news like this must sadden you and those who love you. It saddens me. It tears away at another myth we live with in real life--that we are individually every bit as ageless & robust as we portray ourselves online.

Along with whatever distraction you have felt from these hyperintellectualized rants, I hope a bit of our shared humanity has slipped through to comfort you as well. Serious illness can make us feel so alone, unless we are with folks who admit it is our common destination. You have arrived there before us, or at least announced your arrival. May you still find some joys and discoveries in all your days. You have reminded me to look for them in mine.

[Magenta]

Hi Percival (aka Andy),
I'm truly sorry to hear about your ill health and wish you strength and calmness of heart to deal with whatever comes your way. I'll certainly be thinking of you. Please keep in touch.
I think these boards are more than a harmless distraction, to many of us they have become a cyber lifeline. I'm particularly touched by the depth of feeling and compassion I've come across. The thoughtful answers, opinions and viewpoints are no mere platitudes handed out merely to say what we may think is the "right thing" under the circumstances. They come from the heart. This has come as quite a surprise to me after being in an organized religion that classifies the whole world as "sheep" and "goats" or "us" and "them" - and I'm thrilled to discover that there is still a lot of kindness in the world, irrespective of our differences.
NHB - your reply brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.

[Pseudonym]

Oh, dear. That's not good.

Good thoughts/prayers/whatever else helps will also be coming from me.

[Percival]

Thank you everyone for the kind words. NH, it may not seem like it, but I do always like to hear your insights. You are a very insightful person (despite my bigot comment the other day), and I am thankful for your message here.

Btw, I have to warn you guys that they have me loaded up on steroids right now and they have a way of making me very irritable. So if you encounter me in the debate forums, I will probably come across as antagonistic. I hope not offend anyone!

[Emery]

Hey Percival, best of luck to you man. Keep us posted on your progress.

[Brad]

Best wishes from me, too, Andy, and thank you for sharing this difficult part of your humanity with us.

I hope you're surrounded with love and comfort from people there in Tucson, that you're getting the best possible medical care, and that you'll receive some better news soon.

Hang in there, and know that all of us who visit this little outpost of virtual reality from our daily lives all over the world are rooting for you!

[spongebob]

Andy, I just caught the initial post on this thread. My best wishes go out to you and I wish you a complete recovery.

[bluequill]

Andy, my thoughts are with you, and those close to you! I'm sorry you're going through such a rough time... and my hope for you is that you find yourself surrounded by those who care about you, and those who can lift you up, help you smile, and help you through this! I'm wishing you new strength each day, renewed energy, recovery, and peace.... and lots of new learning and sharing here on this forum, whenever you can.

Cheering you on!

[StillSearching]

I will pray for you Andy. Stay strong.