"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)...[Photo by: http://www.singingforyoursoul.com/overcoming-adversity]

“Adversity is something that happens to others – until it happens to us." – P.M. Forni, “The Thinking Life”

“There is no education like adversity." – Benjamin Disraeli

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I believe that suffering without meaning is useless, but to find meaning in suffering in the midst of adversity can give solace and peace to one’s mind. When first diagnosed with cancer in 2013, it threw my life into a tailspin. I was overwrought with fear and anger. However, overtime I’ve learned to accept it. And once I realized that I cannot control the circumstance of having cancer, my fears began to abate. This doesn’t, however, remove my desire to live a long and happy life, especially with my love, Teresa. Moreover, this acceptance in no way relieves me from the duty of fighting this “sonofabi***” to the very end. What I am trying to write here is that this adversity is a part of life — a part of my life. Thus, it’s an opportunity to take hold of my fate and make it into a beautiful opus for others.

When I was first diagnosed with Stage III Melanoma cancer (2013), I blogged mostly about the treatment and symptoms. Then in 2016, after being diagnosed with Stage IV, I chronicled about the blessings brought about by having cancer. Now, with my recent diagnosis with advanced Stage IV Melanoma cancer, where it has metastasized to four areas in my body, I think it’s time to write about the virtuous lessons that could benefit others – to help individuals and families prepare for their own adversity, by way of documenting my own affliction with cancer.

So, there you have it. From this point on, I will write in a way that hopefully offers a profitable lesson or virtuous example for the reader, while providing a brief status of my own fight against cancer.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

ajh

[Current medical status: Together with my wife, we have decided to undergo a clinical trial treatment to not only treat my advanced melanoma cancer, but also allow investigators document research findings that will hopefully benefit other cancer patients with my type of cancer. I will be treated with a combined non-FDA drug, TAK-202, with a current treatment regimen].

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