My mother, in the last years of her life, battled pancreatic cancer. Because she had experience with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn., she was able to get in and have the necessary surgery within days of discovering the cancer. That added 18 months to her life instead of the 1 month that is common for pancreatic cancer victims.
Cher also had cancer. Lung cancer. When they discovered it, she was already in stage four. She lived another 4 months. Considering the advanced nature of the cancer, they were very optimistic. She was getting better and one morning she just passed.
The two women in my family died of cancers.
My dad suffered a heart attack at 59 which disabled him. He worked hard and his heart rebuilt some of the blood vessels. But, the damage was great, and he finally succumbed at 72.
Into this happy scenario walk I. When the doctors explained that a heart attack would be imminent without the surgery, I considered it a gift. I knew what would happen if I didn’t do it. So, I went in immediately and had the operation.
Only one of us has survived to tell the story, and it was only because I was lucky.