I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in February 2009. Before the disease was diagnosed, my wife was frantically reviewing the symptoms. Syphilis or Cancer. I've never hoped for Syphilis so much in my life. Biopsy confirmed it and a port was installed. It all felt very cyborg-like having that specialized tube running to my heart to deliver the massive amounts of ABVD Chemo drugs every other week.
During this 6 month period, I planned for my life, not my death. My wife and I agreed to take our boat from Nashville, TN to Abaco, Bahamas (Hopetown in particular) and live there for a year. We took it down the Tenn-Tom Waterway to Mobile, cruised down the west coast of Florida, to the Keys, then to Lauderdale and finally crossed the Gulf Stream to Elbow Cay where we fell in love with the people and the pace of island living.
Both of our children attended school on the island and, while our daughter (15) wasn't happy about being there, I'm pretty sure 15 year old girls aren't happy about much of anything regardless of their location. Our son attended a classroom with first and second graders in a quaint little school where parents had rolling lunch duty and kids played outside and ate lunch outside.
I learned tons about boating, fishing, lobster (dey call 'em crawfish) spearing, gathering conch to make scorch (basically a conch salad). A typical Sunday involved taking boats to a small spit of an island like parrot cay, diving for conch and fixing a scorch with ingredients supplied by everyone. Mind the bird pepper!
Rewind back to early 2009. After diagnosed, I was watching either the beginning or the end of Entourage, the HBO series. This song came on called If I Ever Feel Better by Phoenix.
It was perfect timing. Both the cadence and the words rang true. This song in some strange magical way inspired me to suggest the idea to my wife who wholeheartedly agreed to pull up our lives and run at the world. Eventually, I took the various video clips and put them into a somewhat haphazard account of our trip. Hope you enjoy the video and I really hope that if you've never heard of Phoenix, you listen to more because they just have such a nice steady chill groove to them.
Wow. After watching my grandma suffer and later succumb to Hodgkins when I was 15, it makes me so happy to see survivors living their lives. Stay strong!
Thanks for the kind words.
No problem. Very hard to keep a positive mindset
Keep up the spirit!
Awesome story mate - Godspeed!
Non-Hodgkins took my father. So glad you are living life fully. If you ever find yourself in whatever part of the world I happen to be in, let's say hi. Keep on living and loving!
Your an inspiration to us all and a true survivor. Thank you for such a touching and beautiful post. Wish you and your family all the very best. Carpe Diem!!!
You have an amazing attitude.. And your wife as well, what a great adventure you embraced as a family. Wishing you many more.
Congrats on overcoming your health challenges @billbutler! I've definitely had my faire share and they ain't fun but you learn a lot about yourself in the process.
Thanks. It's amazing what one learns while sick.
"Only the strong survive"!
Blessings around your way!
Stay strong! may God be with you!
Great story, you always hope it isn't too late when you get your wake-up call... Cheers to you and enjoy live!
Stay strong!
thanks for sharing... nice job..
Never forget; its all up to us what we make out of each situation. ;)
Your Courage to speak about this is really inspiring. Being confronted with illness and death makes one appreciate health and life even more. Thanks for sharing
Wow man what a story! live for the moment every moment, I am trying to learn that myself. My wife herself is facing a possible cancer diagnosis in the wake of having our first child, it has been a tough journey so far but we are hoping the biopsy results come back with less to fear! Much love.
I've always had a hard time with the labels of strong, brave in the context of being a cancer survivor. I've always felt that these labels required some sort of action. Throughout my treatment, I was a passive bystander. I watched people test me. I watched them put drugs in my body. I watched my progress. The strong and brave ones are the researchers, doctors and nurses who arrive every day and actively fix the problems; the family members @karen-butler who drive to the appointments, sit next to you in the chair, analyze the blood work.
you are very cool people ! and write in the future more articles !
Awesome story, God bless you and your family.
Super! You fellows that travel
Welcome to my country! We have a very friendly and kind people. Cheap food, and the most beautiful girls
TOP 10: You must see in Ukraine
https://steemit.com/blog/@delord/top-10-you-must-see-in-ukraine
Hi Bill
I love this. When confronted with such a tough challenge you get up and get on with it. Hats off to you man, keep it up :D
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