The Big….. C

This is a true story about two people I know.......

Jane was quietly sobbing in the passenger seat, while Rob was driving home in stunned silence. They had just been to see the specialist about the recent scan on Rob, and had been given the devastating news that the cancer was growing back again.

Three years earlier, Rob had his right kidney removed after a cancerous growth had been found attached to it. The operation had been a great success, and Rob had undergone six monthly scans with increasing confidence that the cancer had been caught in time. Now with this recent scan the cancer was back and this time was attaching itself to the other kidney with a vengeance. It had spread rapidly and had a large area under attack. Treatments like Chemo and Radiology had been discussed but were quickly discarded. Surgery was the only option open to Rob with a reasonable, to slim chance of success, and had been set down for the following week. Reeling from the sudden turn of events that had turned their happy lives upside down, they drove home.

Rob and Jane spent the next few days shoring up their battered lives. Intermittently talking and laughing about the happy times that they had enjoyed together, and trying to put their house in order, and discussing what the future may have in store for them.

The day of the surgery arrived, Jane and their three grown children were there to give Rob loving support, joking and laughing at outrages stories. Time flew by until fully prepped; Rob was trundled into the theatre, where he remained for six hours. Finally the surgeon, Professor Shaw came to Jane and said that the operation had been a huge success, and gave Rob a very good chance of a full recovery. Jane immediately burst into tears giving the Professor a huge hug, and then phoned the family the good news.

Robs recovery was rapid and in a few days was starting to feel his old self again. Life started to resume back to normal, and Rob and Jane started to talk about the future and what they wanted to do with it. A standard follow up scan was arranged for three months time. This was dually carried out and a few days later, Rob was called in to discuss the findings of the scan with Professor Shaw. Jane was unable to go with Rob on that day as she had a full day at the Pharmacy where she worked, “Call in and see me on your way home so you can tell me the good news” she said.

As soon as Rob entered the Professors office he knew something was wrong. After the usual pleasantries were over, the professor started by saying that the news was not good and that the cancer was growing back over the entire area of the operation. All the radiologists and surgeons were unanimous that nothing further could be done. “How long have I got” Rob asked in stunned disbelief, the professor was reluctant to be drawn into giving a fixed time, instead he asked. “Have you got a burning ambition to do anything” he asked. “Yes I have always dreamt of going to Canada and Alaska” Rob replied. “Well I recommend that you do it, and do it soon” he said.  “Come on Prof, give me at least a ball park figure of the time that I have left” Rob pleaded. Reluctantly and with great compassion he told Rob that he would be lucky to have a year to live.

Driving home Rob could only think of Jane and how he was going to break the news to her, if he did not call into her place of work she would know something was wrong and start to fret, but how was he going to tell her. He couldn’t tell her the devastating news that he had Terminal cancer in front of the other girls, let alone what ever customers were in the Pharmacy at the time. Rob composed himself as best he could, and with a smile walked into the Pharmacy to be greeted by all the girls and his adoring wife. “All good” Rob lied and with a quick wave headed out of the door.

Later that day Jane arrived home with a radiant smile, one look at Rob and the smile crumbled to be replaced by great sobs and tears rolling down her cheeks. For a very long time they stood there in each others arms. They were so in tune with each other words weren’t needed. As the evening wore on they started to talk, sometimes laughing about something that had happened in their past together, some times just holding each other. Hours later found them in bed cocooned in each others arms as though to ward off the rest of the world. In the small hours, Jane had finally talked and cried herself into an exhausted sleep.

Lying there in Jane's embrace, Rob finally allowed the tears to flow. Oh, he wasn’t crying for himself or out of any self pity. He lay there and wept for his lovely wife Jane and for his family. He wept because he would not be there for his beautiful five year old grand daughter Lisa’s twenty first birthday, He wept for his three wonderful children. His son who he had spent many hours teaching to hunt and to become a man, and his two wonderful girls all grown up and making their way in life Oh how proud he was of them. But mostly he wept for his lovely wife of thirty years.

As the tears rolled down his cheeks he thought back to the day when he first met Jane. It was love at first sight for both of them and within two weeks they were already talking about the day they would marry. Jane was not quite eighteen and Rob was twenty.  Ten months later they walked down the aisle, two happier people you would never find. For thirty years they have been husband and wife, sole mates, and every part of their lives had been in accord with each other, always putting the other first. Making their home together and bringing up their children, and all the rest that goes with making a life together. But now, how was Jane going to cope, Rob put himself in Jane’s position and quickly realized that with out Jane his world would end. Oh poor, poor Jane, she was the one that was going to be left behind to pick up the pieces and endure a lonely life, parted from the one she had loved so deeply for so long.

As the early morning light started to intrude into their bedroom, Rob wiped the tears away and forced himself to start thinking ahead. Getting out of bed he went to make a cup of tea for them both. They talked and planned and talked some more while sipping their tea. The Canadian trip was definitely going to happen, and as soon as possible. It would give them time to be together and enjoy the remaining quality time they had.

In the ensuing days plans were made to travel to Canada departing in 5 weeks time. It was during this time several strange things happened. Robs son’s, current partner approached Rob and told him that her mother was a clairvoyant, and that she had told her to tell Rob that he was not going to die from cancer. Rob has always been a down to earth sort of a chap and clairvoyants did not rate high in his beliefs and just laughed it off. Undeterred she also told him that he had to go and see Glenn, “Who is Glenn”? Bob asked. He is a faith healer and he is waiting to see you. A faith healer and a clairvoyant what next!! When Jane arrived home that evening she told Rob that her boss had made, and paid for, an appointment for him to go see a Naturopath. This was weird; it seemed that there was a conspiracy going on. After some thought Rob realized that he had nothing to lose, so a few days later went to see Gary the Naturopath.

Although Rob had not told Gary anything about his recent history, an hour later he came out of Gary’s rooms with his head reeling. Gary had told Rob everything about his cancer and how he was going to try and treat it, unbelievable!

Later that evening Rob went to see Glenn the faith heeler. Uncertain of what to expect he was astonished when Glenn opened his door. He was a powerfully built no nonsense type and was dressed in rough work cloths.  Rob, later found out that Glenn was a millionaire building tycoon. Rob told Glenn straight up that he thought that all this was nonsense and had absolutely no faith in him. Undaunted Glenn worked on him for an hour and never once touched him. Later that evening Rob told Jane that the whole lot was a load of rubbish but would see it through until they went to Canada. 

Canada was a great experience, for 5 months they toured through British Columbia and on through Alaska in their RV. They did the Inside passage stopping for a few days in Juneau, then up through Whitehorse, Dawson City, Kenai peninsular and back down through the great Alaskan highway to Vancouver . They had some wonderful quality time together with awesome memories. But during the whole time, as much as they enjoyed themselves, they were always conscious of a black cloud hanging over them. Always on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary, any little ache or pain was analyzed with care. They were ever ready to drop every thing and head home to the bosom of their family should things start to go wrong. Five wonderful months later they decided that it was time to return home and give their family the last remaining time with their dad.

That was seventeen years ago, and I am happy to say that I “did” get to see my lovely Grand daughter Lisa celebrate her twenty first birthday. In fact two years ago she presented us with our great grandson Cruz, and now has another on the way, I had the wonderful experience of giving my oldest Daughter Michele away at her marriage to Ross three years ago. Tania is living in Brisbane, Australia and doing very well. Our son Bruce married seven years ago and after a very difficult time his wife, Amber produced our first grandson Daniel, who is now 4 years old. Three weeks ago I had the ultimate experience of taking Daniel out on the Dream Rider to catch his first fish, what a great time we had, he caught twelve and didn’t want to stop, a priceless experience.  Jan and I still enjoy a wonderful life together, with a love that is as deep and enduring as the very air that we breathe. 

Yes I have been lucky enough to see all this. The cancer never reappeared and ten years ago I built the 48ft Dream Rider from the ground up on my own. I still go to see Gary the Naturopath once or twice a year. Glenn the faith healer, moved on out of my life after I had been treated by him for over 4 years. 

Why I was one of the lucky ones to survive terminal cancer I will never know. Perhaps it was a combination of the help I received from Gary and Glenn. Or maybe it was because of the undying love and unselfish support, I received from an incredibly lovely lady that I was lucky enough to marry 46yrears ago. If I have learnd anything since those traumatic days it is to live every day to the full, never look back with regrets and never fail to tell those that are near and dear that I loved them. I look around me and think life is wonderful.

* Yes this true story is about Jan and me. I chose to tell it in the third person as I did not want to be using the “me” and “I” all the way through.I also found that by referring to Rob and Jane It helped me to detach myself from the strong emotions that kept threatening to scuttle the story.  This is the first time I have ever written about those emotional dark days.

Written by Ray Scott (Dream Rider)