Patrick O'Brien

     I always wondered how people handled that meeting with the Doctor who informed them "you have Cancer'.  Most of our health care interactions are finished with "everything looks fine".   I haven't been to a hospital since I ruptured my Achilles Tendon 20 years ago and even then I was never admitted.   I'm 54 and take no medications and I stay very active, surely this visit would end the same as all the others.....  It started with some increasing stomach pain and an early diagnosis of Gall Bladder "its got to come out" and its easy!   Hour before being taken to the OR,  my doctor stops in and says" we are postponing surgery, saw something concerning and  want to check it out".     5 day later I'm suddenly the guy in front of an Oncology Doctor and he's saying " you tested positive for bile duct cancer"  was he talking to me?   I didn't hear much else   and my legs were shaking involuntarily.  What about my wife, my kids , my family and friends this in not good time.   A very wise friend of mine told me "hey man this is about you, so think about yourself and getting healthy'.
     When the shock passed I'm off and ready to go, my sister is making Doctors appointments and researching, my Wife is upset but working like a demon getting things in order and taking care of me, my kids are upset but quickly rally around me and  are full of support and love for each other--I'm so proud of them.    Siblings, old friends, new friends are calling me, texting me,' what can I do? they say',  my brothers and sister are offering me part of their liver?  I'm shocked and humbled,  I've  never experienced such and outpouring of Love.  I'm not sure I deserve it but I'll take it.
     I'm now in the middle of visiting Doctors and getting  opinions on courses of action.    Too many things happening at once, I'm looking forward to knowing where I'm going and getting started.  No time to feel sorry for myself, bad things happen to good people all the time.    I'm going to stay positive and fight this thing with everything I got and the team behind me will sustain me.   
   I love you all and thank you for this most amazing outpouring of love and support.   Better days ahead!