Hearing about the death of ESPN’s, Stuart Scott, this Sunday morning at the young age of 49 puts my “battle” with atrial fibrillation into perspective. I like to bitch and whine a lot about my afib but when I think about Stuart Scott’s battles over the years with cancer I’m embarrassed.
Sure afib sucks and it isn’t fair, but here’s a man who battled cancer not once, not twice, but three times! I don’t know the details of those battles but from the bits and pieces I could find online it wasn’t easy.
His battles with cancer were hell but he kept a positive attitude throughout it all and he fought hard. He was determined to beat it and live his life to the fullest regardless of what happened. Those of us that have atrial fibrillation can learn a lot from this man.
You can let afib define you and take over your life or you can choose to live life to the fullest in spite of your condition. As Stuart said about cancer:
Substitute cancer with whatever health condition you suffer from and those are literally words to live by.
Yes I have afib but compared to battling cancer, big f*cking deal. I don’t realize how lucky I am. Atrial fibrillation doesn’t require multiple surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy and the hellish recovery from all of it. Most importantly, afib won’t kill me.
No matter how bad my afib gets, I’ll think of Stuart Scott and what he faced and how he chose to deal with it – live life! I’ll think of his death and the young daughters he loved more than anything in the world he left behind. At least I’m alive and will be here tomorrow with my family. I have it good.
Stuart, you will be missed. The positivity, strength, and courageousness you displayed during your multiple battles with cancer is an inspiration for all of us suffering from ANY illness. God bless you and your family.
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