Losing Friends

In the past few months I’ve lost some good friends – two of them to cancer and one to a senseless accident. Even though they’re gone I haven’t quite accepted it yet. Every so often something will happen and I’ll think, “I’ve gotta share that with…” Only then do I remember he’s gone.

In each case I was shocked and surprised; even though the two guys with cancer were in the later stages of the disease. But it can’t be – denial. Then sadness and concern for their families. And finally concern for myself. If it can happen to them…

I wish I’d had more time with them. And it strengthens my resolve to do the things I want to do and not wait until the weather’s better or I can afford it or I finish painting the house.

axman

Hereditary Guilt Complex

If it's not bad enough to have an incurable disease of some sort; you can now worry about what you'll pass on to your kids - if you want to.

Shortly after I was diagnosed with prostate cancer I discovered that my sons were at increased risk for prostate cancer because I had it. My father was also diagnosed with prostate cancer.
My wife has diabetes and it is common in her family. Another genetic trait that can be passed on.

As it turns out, we can pass on all sorts of conditions, diseases, and predispositions to our kids. Does that mean we shouldn't have kids? Probably not. I have made sure that my three sons have had prostate cancer screening and one of them found he had a higher-than-usual PSA at age 38.

I hope none of my children get prostate cancer, diabetes, arthritis, or any of the other conditions they may inherit. And I hope none of the grandkids do either. I can encourage them to live healthy, get checkups, and pay attention to symptoms. The rest is up to them.

Maybe in another generation or two there will be medical breakthroughs that allow everybody to avoid genetically inherited diseases. In the meantime we all take our chances. I don't actually feel guilty but I wish my sons weren't at increased risk because of me. If I knew when I was 20 what I found out at 63 would I have even had kids? I don't know for sure but I probably would still have fathered a gaggle of kids.

Life is unpredictable, strange, and amazing.
axman