6 years ago I
was informed that there were signs that cancer had invaded my prostate … And how
are you?
I
am not sure as to why I am writing about this now; perhaps the Christmas
Season, the memories that always come around at this time of the year, the
issues that permeate our daily lives and make it sometimes easier, sometimes
harder to get through the day to day routine.
That
not-soon-to-be-forgotten announcement set my life into a spin which threatened
to change it totally. Yet, in the long run, the events and thought processes
which have come about have actually changed me as a person and as a thinking
entity. And although I have not really
taken a general survey so to speak… I think for the better.
-“I
think it’s time for you to take out some insurance” said my wife one morning.
As things stood, the old policy I had was terminated when our family’s economy
had come crashing down a few years before. “Losing the shirt off our backs”
fell short as a description of that plunge.
But,
after 35+ years in the life insurance business, I well knew that what she was
saying made sense. So the process was started with the application and the
medical exam… the fact that I was already over 60 required me to take a full
medical exam, something I had not done in a too long while… and something which
most likely, saved my life.
It
usually takes about two weeks for the life insurance company to answer after
all the docs and exams are in, so our lives went on visiting clients and
potential clients… telling them how lives can change from one moment to
another… little dreaming how much these words would come to rule my life.
As
days went by without an answer, I almost forgot about the pending life policy…
One morning I asked my wife (also an
agent at the same agency, and my
agent to boot) “Hey… what’s going on with the policy? – It has been a
while” and she answered… “I’ll make a call and find out”
I
assume the call was made… next morning, as we arrived at the office my wife was
called in to the manager’s office. Sometime later she came out and was somewhat
somber… after a few years’ marriage there are little signs that are easily
identifiable… or not? She asked me to come to the manager’s office with her,
since he had to talk to both of us.
-“Hi”
said Juan, our manager. –“Come
on in… There are some things I want to discuss with you”. He said this with also a somewhat somber look
on his face.
Hmmm… I remember asking
myself… “What’s goin’ on here?”
-“You
have been declined by the company for your insurance…”
You
have to understand I know these life company processes like the back of my
hand. Wrote the book for a couple of companies… I know a company makes money on
sales, not on declining clients. Usually, when there is a health issue, there are
as many as 25 levels of ratings which can be applied, depending on the severity
of the offending issue…
But…
an outright decline?
The
obvious question popped up… WHY???
-“Sweetheart”
said my wife to me… your exams came back and they show one of the values as
higher than normal. –“So?” answered I… I think the answer I already suspected,
for all the somberness and unusual manner in which I was being told these news,
whatever they were. At the manager’s office with my wife and a friend present
as well.
_”These
results seem to indicate the possibility of cancer in the prostate” said my
wife… as this was said, we all fell into a silent void. What came to my mind at
this point? I honestly don’t remember …
-“What
do I do now?”… I remember asking as a way to make some noise...
-“We
have to confirm the diagnosis; sometimes these tests are not right”.
-“So,
let’s do it… How do I go about it?”
We
set up an appointment with an oncologist and went to the test. This was a test
which took pieces of my prostate and the results came back to confirm the
initial diagnosis… 65% of my gland was invaded by the cancer cells…
Since
that day over five years ago, I have spoken with many folk who have undergone
or who are undergoing treatment for cancer. There seems to be a common and
underlying thought trend with all who have successfully undergone treatment: There is no room for negativism or for
depression… Yes, the physical aspects of the treatment and the reaction of the
body to these treatments are very important; but so are the psychological underpinnings.
What
next? … I had no funds and no insurance… but a lot of pure, unadulterated
faith.
Be
Well … Be Back!!!
Final Notes:
- Pray for those who are fighting an illness which
may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and
counts!!
- Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
- Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
- “La
Otra Caja de Pandora”… The
Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com”
… Bienvenidos!!!
