I saw a little clock yesterday, counting down the days, minutes and seconds until the games begin. I am excited!  I don't know why, but I really didn't pay much attention to Athens , but this one really interests me.  Obviously, being a Testicular Cancer survivor, and  watching Eric go for his dream is a big part.  It was when I read the imtial  article about his diagnoses that really caught my eye.  As someone who has been an advocate to the cause of TC dectection, early treatment  that first caught my eye enough to track him down, and write a letter to him really worried about the message and of course his physical health. I wanted to protest. I wanted him to  go and get treated. The more I learned about the story though, I really began to understand where he was coming from. I wrote a letter to his manager, and he assured me he would make sure he got it.  He understood my concern and promised  he would make sure he got it.  Evan was true to his word ( a sign of a great person these days, and a good excellent manager ! )  Eric wrote me back, and as you saw, he understood my message, and shared with me the dream. That dream, and the fact that he had done everything right as far as seeking the right medical advice, I began to think of the dream.

The years of hard work, a goal that formed early in his life. The sacrifices his family , I am sure made to support  him in the goal.  Giving his Mother and Father a chance to watch and share the dream of their son. The family members, near and far. Other people who are battling this and other cancers, showing that life, and dreams do not take over dreams. It really made me think, and want to do something to show  him support, as many others have. Just to be one voice of someone who has been there, who with the milllions of others around the world , can show the power of the strength of this new " family" .    I know how powerful  it was for me, and as Eric has expressed ,  to hear the stories of individuals from all over, who have faced this battle, in their own way, it has touched him

Cancer is an emotional disease. It is a scary word in itself.  One of the first things I did was join a support group in Atlanta, and it is to this day, one of the best things I ever did.  I thought I knew life, but being with this group of people, I learned  I knew nothing. The strength, love, understanding,  and will gave me a gift that has never left me.  I am a stronger person because of not the cancer, but the people  that touched my life during it.  I call them the Angels, and they were everywhere.  Why could I not see them before ?  I mean I had good people in my life, but in total strangers, I  became very blessed. It opened my eyes to what was really important,  and that was that I could have peace, and from that I had great strength  from these Angels.    From peace come strength. From peace comes spirituality.   I always had it but  just the challanges I had trying to get thru my cancer ( which were many, and not of the medical kind)  taught me that in even the toughest situation , there were people there to put out thier hand and pull me up.

I am not one who thinks one has to "see" spirit", it is felt, but maybe for a reason it was shown to me.  It was everywhere.  It put my whole life in persepective.  I remember  lying in an Atlanta hospital, after a major surgery that SOMETIMES goes with TC.  On the television, was the news story of these young kids in Rowanda I believe, who were walking back and forth, back and forth,  up to 200 miles, eating tree bark or whatever they could find. There was a war going on, and these little kids were walking back and forth looking for their parents. I remember, lying there, having found out that my cancer was indeed advanced, and all I could think about was these kids.  I knew instantly, I didnt have a problem at all. These kids did. Their parents were casualties of the war, and yet, they kept looking in hope of finding them.    I will never forget that.

I will never forget the strangers who would stop by my room, and just ask me how I was doing. That simple act gave me strength. I had a High school girlfriend, who I knew was a Nurse  at Emory, and I would hide.  No such luck , I ran into her, and she became  one of my rocks of support. 

I has a lady, who I would speak to once or twice a week, as again, I lost my insurance because of some fine print even a lawyer couldnt understand, and This lady Kaye, who was a LCSW who worked with men with urological  cancers, and she kept me sane thru all the problems.  I had always meant to write her and say thank you, but you know, people get busy and such.  I looked her up last week, and wrote a letter  after almost 13 years , telling her how much her time had meant to me, and she was THRILLED to hear from me.

I am sure this is rambling a bit, but the point is that this is the power that one gets from the 'family" and why I decided to even write this blogg. It was a first and probably the last, but I wanted to have a non intrusive way of  giving people a way to pass their support to Eric .  That power is something that will stay with him for many many years to come.  It only gets stronger.

So, as the games approach, and the time is short until Eric and many other of the worlds best Athletes will walk into a pretty cool looking Stadium , as a representitive of the United States of America, and their respective countries.   I think how proud his parents will feel watching this, his family, his extended family. I can only imagine what they will feel to see this dream fullfilled. Just  making the games, and walking into the Opening ceremony is a total victory, for him, and the other athletes. This young man will feel a power that will only enhance his years of hard training and sacrifice, and when it comes time for the events, This power will serve him well.

To his parents, family , I can tell you have raised a great young man, and I know you are proud of him.  I just marvel at the whole thing and I am glad you are able to attend, and be there with him physically , and in his heart as i know he is in yours.

Eric, you have millions of people around the world behind you.  Just being there, you remind them that they too can live their dreams, and the many that will come during  everyones lifetime.

Just know, everyone you know, and the many you dont know, we are all there with you. Thank you for allowing us to be.Your future is very bright, and what you have gained thru not only the Olympic experience, but the TC expereince, will only grow  stronger everyday, for the rest of your life.

I think I can take a chance and  speak for alot of people, and say, you are already a Champion to all of us. Again, thank you for allowing us to share in the experience.