November 18, 2015…This date will forever be etched in the mind of me and my family. Three years ago, I was given my death sentence.
Life continues to go on. It has been quite a ride, so far. Ups, downs and everything in between. Thankfully, I have had mostly ups. I suppose that much of it comes down to what you make of it. I know that my path could be a whole lot different.
Life loves to throw curves at us. The hard part is, how do we react? A long time ago, someone once told me ,” You never really know how you are going to act in a situation until you are in it. ” I have found that to be very true in so many instances. All we can really hope is that our experiences in life have prepared us for those moments.
I think that I have been coping with this adversity well. I have definitely had my moments over the three years. Times when everything seems so overwhelming. Times when I have felt like it would be so much easier to throw in the towel. But all I can think is what that will say about me as a person? What kind of example would I be to my wife and children? When all is said and done, I want them to be able to say, “Dad fought tooth and nail. He fought with grace and tact. And he showed us how to face life. “
I often think, when I am sharing my blog or responding to folks on various platforms, people don’t believe my demeanor. My wife and I discuss it all of the time. Do people think we are full of shit because we portray ourselves as always being positive? The truth is, everything in our life is not always hunky dory. We are not trying to pretend it is. Over the three years, though, we have accepted the path that has been laid out before us. I have chosen to live out the rest of my days seeing the good that surrounds me. So, what you see is me!
I know that I have been very blessed in my life. Especially, over the last three years. I am not blind to the fact that others are facing this disease with far less. That is a huge factor in why I feel the way I do. I take nothing in my life for granted. I will continue to face my life with a smile in my heart and continue to try to be a small beacon of light for others.
Thank you again Gil for this awesome post! You and Edgma are an amazing couple to look up to. In times of adversity, you guys hold on to each other. You’re soo strong and keep on fighting!!
Thank you,Jaime! I am glad you find value in my story.
Thanks for sharing! Your positivity will be passed into my Dad who was diagnosed with ALS this past July. Continue to write, your words have power behind them and help to keep others going.
It is my pleasure to provide some encouragement when we are facing this dire diagnosis. I am sorry that you all are thrust into this. Be strong and know that you are not alone in your fight.