Sunday, October 26, 2008

Tribute to Leroy

Hello and welcome to my blog! I have looked at less than 5 blogs, ever. Like my cancer, I'm in uncharted territory. Please bear with me as I figure out this cyberscene. Several people have told me that I need to get my story out somehow, so here we go. I was inspired to start a blog by the late Leroy Sievers, a well-known news correspondent and former executive producer for Nightline. Leroy was diagnosed with colon cancer, which later spread and claimed his life in August of this year. He spent the last two years of his life sharing his story and personal thoughts via NPR weekly podcasts, his blog My Cancer, and the Ted Koppel Discovery Channel special, Living With Cancer, where Leroy was featured, along with Elizabeth Edwards and Lance Armstrong.

I watched the Discovery special in May 2007, and were it not for a procedure that Leroy underwent on camera, my cancer status would be very bleak, to say the least. I re-watched Leroy's memorial service yesterday, (see the September 17th blog post). Not only was it a beautiful tribute, it reminded me of the value, and I would say the necessity, of sharing our journeys. We never know the impact we may make on someone, or who might pass our experiences on to others who may benefit in some way. Connecting with each other is the essence of the human condition. It is with this in mind, and my enormous gratitude to Leroy Sievers, that I begin this blog.

Kathy

CANcer + HEALth = CAN HEAL