Friends are one of life’s most precious gifts, and friends
who change your life are a rare treasure. I was lucky enough to have, not one,
but two of those in my life, during my cancer journey.
In 2011, just three months after I learned my breast cancer had
returned for the second time, my husband was diagnosed with metastatic
melanoma, and passed away five months later. Still reeling from the shock of
his death, and feeling completely lost about the direction of my future, God
sent someone to my rescue.
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| Police Chief Randall Aragon |
For two years, I had been writing a newsletter for my
neighborhood, which included articles about the police and fire departments, as
well as other city services. After my husband passed away, the Chief of Police
in our town, Randall Aragon, called to ask if I would write a newsletter for
all the Community Watch Groups in the city. Naturally, I was a bit apprehensive
about this proposition. Writing a newsletter for the entire city? I’d never
attempted such an important project. But I knew the Chief, from previous
interviews for articles in the neighborhood newsletter, and considered him to
be a wise man. If he had enough confidence in my abilities to get the job done,
then it must be true, even though I didn’t feel it myself.
Little did I know at the time, this decision would change my
life. He gave me a sense of purpose when I desperately needed one. Interviewing
the watch group volunteers and police officers forced me out of the house and
into the surrounding community, where I met many amazing people. Chief Aragon
was extremely proud of our newsletter and never missed an opportunity to
compliment me on my work. He encouraged my creativity—never once saying no to
my sometimes farfetched ideas for articles.
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| Bo Hunter |
Each interview revealed new stories to research and more
people to see—which led me to the second friend who offered life-changing
inspiration. His name is Bo Hunter, the Chairman of his Watch Group area, and
community volunteer extraordinaire! Not
only is he a private airplane pilot who volunteers his services to fly patients
to hospitals for treatment, he has also worked for the Salvation Army, Red Cross, six different school districts, the local
Council on Drugs and Alcohol, plus personally mentored high school students to
help them find work.
His story about the
sacrifices he made before finally achieving his dream of becoming a pilot
inspired me to write an article titled, “Lifetime Passion Helps Patients in
Need”, which was published in the Pilots for Patients Newsletter. Click on
the link above to read it on my Author Website.
After Bo shared the photo at right of his first skydiving jump, I added
the caption, “Spread Your Wings and Fly!”, and hung it on the wall in my office
as a daily reminder to be brave, be persistent and follow my passion—just like
Bo Hunter!
When he learned recently that my breast cancer had metastasized to my bones and I was given a prognosis of about two years, he made it his mission to keep my spirits up, sending me e-mails almost weekly with funny or inspirational messages and photos.
When he learned recently that my breast cancer had metastasized to my bones and I was given a prognosis of about two years, he made it his mission to keep my spirits up, sending me e-mails almost weekly with funny or inspirational messages and photos.
I can’t thank these
men enough for their guidance,
confidence, encouragement, inspiration and friendship. Together, they taught me
how to spread my wings and fly!
