Bluemoon613's Blog

Standing in the shadow of a large mountain, one can find it easier to wait for fate to decide the end and not take on the challenge of climbing it or blazing a new trail.

That’s not what James “Rhio” O’Connor did. When faced with the diagnosis of mesothelioma and the prospect of having only one year to live, he took his own road and amazed everyone by taking his one year and extending it into six. He proved that, with the right knowledge and resources, a person can contend with the largest, most ominous mountain.

Much like Rhio did, when faced with such a challenge, people should strive to make the most of their resources. When you prepare to climb a mountain, you do not just research one source, buy from one store, or take the journey alone.

The doctor’s job does not end when he or she gives the terrible news. If anything, it begins. Doctors and all medical professionals have a duty to aid their patients in any way possible when dealing with a disease. To say that the patient has no hope of recovery does a disservice to both the patient and the medical profession. When faced with the daunting challenge of a terminal illness, people need to consult their doctor for any advice possible and demand the facts and options or, if needed, find a new doctor. A life is too precious to have a pessimistic doctor take care of it. I am serious about my health and I, and everyone else, deserves a determined doctor who will maintain it as much as possible.

Though people need the help of medical experts, they need strive for more knowledge. A doctor should guide, but not patronize and direct patients to follow blindly behind. As soon as they receive a diagnosis, that patient should learn about it as soon as possible so he or she can take charge of the treatment. You do not decide to climb a mountain without knowing what difficulties you may come across, whether they are rock slides, gorges, or mountain lions. All the experts in the entire world can tell me as they know, but I do not understand it then they should not have wasted their breath. Telling about a treatment or an option does absolutely no good if I cannot actually grasp what it is they are trying to convey. And if I say yes to such a treatment without understanding it, then I might as well have had no choice at all. There are some who do not want to know all the details. They feel happy and safe letting others make the decisions. They have that choice; however, I would not be able to do that. If I am fighting for my life, then it is vital I know all I can to make the best possible choice.

Though I am making my own way, no one would ever climb a mountain alone. One person cannot tackle such a large challenge by his or herself. Even just one other person can make a tremendous difference. That one person can help support the patient emotionally, physically and mentally. Like a climbing partner, that one person can offer a different perspective on how to proceed, they can physically help the other with their actions and they can support the other by watching out for their well-being. If I were in this position, I can foresee myself wanting to believe that my treatment was working so much that I’d make myself believe it really was. I would need my family and friends to knock some sense into me and let me know that I should move on to something different. I would need their support to remind me that my efforts to stay alive matter because of the love that I have and that others have for me.

With the help of my doctors and my loved ones, I would try to take my illness on from a different angle. Like a person about to climb a mountain, I’d look at the various routes. I could take the usual trail everyone takes or I could look at the less traveled paths. Maybe the usual methods would work, but if not, what else could I try? I need to personalize my treatment to my needs and my personality. If I cannot move well along a ledge, I should not take that route, no matter how many people have done it before. With the right information, I’d have to judge which treatments would be best for my situation.

I’d also have to judge the paths based on their effectiveness and duration, their overall worth. A path that was long and hard might benefit me in the long run if it means I can enjoy my life a little longer and appreciate my blessings a little more. If I chose a mountain path that took me the long way around, it would give me the opportunity to enjoy my surroundings and my journey, even though I would have to make a much greater effort. Taking this approach, I would have to sift through a great number of pros and cons to each route to make the best decision.

Really, I would not have an easy journey. Certainly, the research, time and effort needed would make me question the point. I’d have to muster the courage and strength to go through with my plans and not take the tired, “safe” route. I’d have to tell myself every day that my efforts were not going to waste, that every choice I make is a choice to keep climbing. Safe in this case does not actually mean safe. The safe methods are not always the most effective, the ones most likely to do the most good. Safe is not the absence of pain or death, it is the absence of choice.

That choice, not matter how my fate would turn out in the long run, makes the most important difference in how I live the rest of my life. The choice to blaze my own path and take charge against my illness would define my last years for me. Even if my fate was death by my illness, maintain control over MY life would make all the difference in the world. My illness should not, would not, could not, define me. My illness would have to live by my rules, not the other way around. Even if I lose my life, it would be a life lost on my terms. That alone would make my efforts worthwhile.

Luckily for me, I have a great example. If ever I should have to face this challenge, climb that mountain, I have someone to inspire me. I can look at the mountain’s peak and see Rhio’s flag. He may not have been the first to climb or succeed, but he forged a new path for others to pull strength from. If ever I feel afraid, I can look to his story and gain hope. If ever I feel not strong enough, I can look to his story and feel renewed. If ever I lose faith, I can look to his story and remember what can be done.

Seeing his success makes me inspired. It makes me want to spread the word of humanity’s strength in the face of adversity to anyone dealing with any problem in life. This strength gives untold possibilities, not only in mesothelioma, not only in disease, but in any hardship life throws at mankind. Recognizing his struggle and triumph will not only inspire me, but everyone I encounter. Remembering him in my own efforts can create a chain that may make the difference in someone else’s struggle. That knowledge of someone’s life can make all the difference in another.

Standing in the shadow of the large mountain can seem daunting at first glance, but the rewards of taking it on in your own way are too sweet and empowering to ignore.