IN HIS WORDS

November 18th, 2014 is a date I will never forget. I was lying in a hospital bed with my parents by my side awaiting test results from a sonogram I had taken. 67 weeks not smoking.

Talk about a day that you’ll never forget! Mine was November 18th, 2014. Prior to that day, I spent most of the summer sick. I lost close to thirty pounds, started suffering from all kinds of sickness at the same time and no idea why. I also, like most men, refused to go to the doctor. As the season progressed, so did my illness. By November, I was forced to be hospitalized due to the severity of some of them.

On the day of November 18th, I was in the hospital with my parents when the doctor walked in and said “we have the results from the last test we ran, and I’m sorry Timothy, but have stage four renal cancer?” Honestly, I knew what it was on base level, but was clueless as to the details and severity. I shed my tears about it, but quickly let go of those feelings because I knew they would do me no good.

 I knew from that point on I had to be stronger that I’ve ever been. I knew from that point on my life would forever be altered. Nothing would be the same! I allowed absolutely no pity for myself because I knew God chose me for this new journey for a reason. I quickly  eliminated any and all negative energy and vibes I had in my life. It’s never been in my nature to lay down in a fight with anyone, but let me tell you this! I’ve never experienced so much pain in my life! From all the procedures, surgeries, not being able to walk, sometimes eat, swallow, think straight, chemo, radiation, etc...Mind you, I’m not telling this part of my story for pity, but more for awareness. Most young people, men mostly, have a problem with going to the hospital. If my mother had not forced me to get up and go to the doc that one day, I would be dead. With no story to tell. I was to a small degree afraid to find out what it might be, or what pain I would have to go through for a cure. Then I quickly realized how much stronger I was than that, so I gave in and put the rest in God’s hands.

We have quickly reached the last quarter of 2015, and I was diagnosed November 18th, 2014. It took me as long as it did to be public with my story because I wasn’t ready for people that I didn’t know this. At the end of the day, I was wrong! I now know being who I am, I have a social responsibility to let the rest of the world know, and anybody else that is going through this that you are not alone!!! Your struggle is my struggle, and I’m here to fight with you. To the ones with too much pride, and don’t like going to the doctor because they are too proud and can handle it all, I have high hopes that my journey and story brings you back down to earth.

I have more to tell. Please follow me... The End (for now)

(Thoughts found in Tim’s personal journal after his passing.)