OK .... a bit of an inspiration story here ....
Not so much a BC story ..... but for my husband, who had 3/4 of his stomach removed due to Stomach Cancer back in 2010 ..... he was an accomplished runner & triathlete, having started Triathlon late in life - in his 50s, after mainly only running previously - all distances from sprints to Marathon - he even did the Comrades Marathon (ultra distance race in South Africa) and was leading it when run off the road by a bus & injured :( ...... these days it is a closed road race!
We thought the Stomach Cancer & surgery would be the end of his sporting life ...... but he is a tough cookie! Only 25% make it to 5 years even AFTER successful surgery & chemo. Bryce Courteney, the writer was one who didn't even make it to the 5 year mark. He had identical surgery & treatment to Keith.
A bit of background .... he was born an identical twin in the UK in '36 .... with war about to break out in Europe. His mother died when they were 6 months old & their father's unmarried sister agreed to help raising them in the family home. The father left for war & was gone 6+ years. He'd sold the family home prior to leaving for the War, so the sister had to find accommodation for her & the twins where she could, all over the countryside, often doing midnight flits to avoid paying the rent as she was their full time carer - and they were a handful too of this tiny woman!
Their Dad came back from the war in '45 & didn't want a pair of 9 year olds under his feet (or their older brother - who was living with the father's parent's family during the war.) The older brother left for the USA shortly after the war ended as a teenager, being 9 years older. (Keith & his brother wouldn't see him again for 40 years.)
Keith's father (he never called him 'Dad'!) saw an advertisement for sending young folk off to Rhodesia, Canada or Australia to attend 'boarding school' and learn to be Farmers (for the boys and Domestic Servants for the girls) ...... and decided a one way ticket to Rhodesia would be the way ahead for them. So they were wrenched away from their beloved Aunt (who they had always known as 'Nan') and put on a boat for Africa with 20 other young lads & ladies, some as young as 5-6. They were the Child Migrants that everyone has been talking about in recent years - where the UK had been offloading it's waifs & strays since the 1600s on a one way ticket to another country half way around the world - to fend for themselves!
Keith and his brother actually LOVED living in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and thrived. They were both excellent runners & Keith represented South Africa in later years, before moving to NZ for 35 years, then Australia, where we are now.
SO .... being diagnosed with Stomach Cancer in 2010 was a real shock - he NEVER ate anything fatty, or too much sweet stuff, he never smoked or drank alcohol - he really considered every little thing that he put into his mouth .... and continued to compete at high level in both running and triathlon, representing both NZ and Australia over the years, breaking many records. At age 50+ he took up triathlon - and did his first Ironman on just 3 months preparation (most people take 12 months preparation!) He qualified for & competed in Ironman Hawaii World Champs twice (coming 2nd and 4th) and had been crowned World Champion Triathlete in Olympic and Aquathlon distances just months before he was diagnosed - so had actually competed whilst having cancer - just not diagnosed.
We thought that was the end of his competing days!! He had 3/4 of his stomach removed - his small intestine was re-attached to the bottom of what remained of his stomach. Slowly he regained his strength, then he started a regime of really strong chemo, which knocked him backwards again. He was only 50kg. His surgeon was adamant he not fall below 50kg or he could die. By the end of the year, instead of eating a cup of food per meal - he was back eating a plate full - as he is today and his weight stabilised at about 57kg.
So basically for all of 2010 - he was a 'write off' - a strong puff of wind would have knocked him off his feet. We flew to Perth for a holiday in Nov (he was supposed to compete in Ironman there, but we couldn't get a refund on our flights, so we stayed at a buddy's place whilst they were away.) He would hop on their bike & go for short rides. Slowly he figured "I can do this!" By the time we got home in time for Xmas - he was planning his first 'come back' triathlon. He did his first triathlon in the January of 2011 - just over 7 months after his surgery and 3 months after finishing chemo! He has only stopped competing this year!!
2 years after the surgery, he did another World Champs in NZ & won both races and again just 2 years ago in Mexico - he won 2 races and came 2nd in the other - just 2 mins behind the winner - and was the best performed Aussie in the whole Team!
SO ..... from a very ordinary start in life, with many obstacles, the biggest being the Stomach Surgery ...... and now, dementia - he has had an extraordinary life.
Even now, at 82, he is still out there running, swimming & cycling (even if he DOES forget how to get home every now & then!)
Yes, there IS a lesson in this .....
DON'T GIVE UP!! Keep doing what you LOVE TO DO BEST ..... or at the very least, the BEST THAT YOU CAN DO!
All the best for those doing it 'tough' just now ...... it WILL get better! xxx
