Things continue on as well as can be expected with this nasty cancer. We have our ups and downs with each treatment. Corey is in Houston along with his mother for treatments. His wife and son are at home in Kansas, and his father is home alone up here in Minnesota. It is tough for everyone, so we all get excited about the little things.
Carol, Corey's mother and my aunt, wrote the following for her weekly column in our local paper. Auntie Carol can get a little wordy, but please stick with it and see how even a large corporation can show that it has a heart.
The big ‘EN’
I’ve come to realize that there are certain letters in the alphabet that greatly affect our lives — those letters being d, i, s, e and n. Put the first three letters (d, i, and s) in front of the word “courage,” and you hold the power to crush another person’s hopes and dreams.
However, by adding a prefix of the letters e and n, to the same word, you empower people to soar “as if on eagles wings.”
Over the course of the past couple months, I’ve learned to a new degree the power of encouragement — whether it comes from doctors, nurses, medical personnel, shuttle bus drivers, strangers, friends or family. This has come while assisting our son, Corey, through the process of receiving treatment here at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Clinic in Houston, Texas.
With encouragement comes hope — one of the three power tools of our lives (faith, hope and love).
Upon returning from Corey’s second radiation treatment, we stopped by the receptionist’s desk and inquired about mail. When she returned with a stack of cards and letters, our feet could hardly carry us back to our little apartment quickly enough.
Ripping open each envelope, we found special messages. Words nourished our thirsty souls like raindrops falling on dry, cracked earth in the middle of a drought — filling our depleted emotional reservoirs. (A person gets lonely when you’re away from one’s home and familiar surroundings.) A whole new respect for “snail mail” was discovered by both of us. Being able to hold in our hands the thoughts, prayers and well-wishes of so many has meant the world to us.
One note in particular has held special significance. Just days prior to being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Corey had interviewed, and been offered, a position as a motorcycle designer with the Polaris Company — a dream job for him. (Polaris makes snowmobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, etc.)
However, with unknown medical challenges facing him, he had to decline their offer at the present time — discouragement and disappointment in the rawest form.
However, at a point and time in Corey’s recovery — when encouragement was paramount and needed most — a very special card accompanied by a picture arrived. It was from Greg Brew, the individual who had interviewed Corey at Polaris. A note was handwritten on Polaris stationery. The glossy, 8 x 10 photo was of the newest cycle design and soon to be released motorcycle produced by Polaris. It has been named the “Core.”
There are not words to define the importance, impact and profound blessings of Mr. Brew and the entire Polaris Corporation’s actions. They truly understood the heart of our son and knew exactly how to bring the best kind of encouragement. Call it “motorcycle magic” if you want, I call it a “miracle.” After all, isn’t that what a miracle is — the perfect answer at just the right time!
Of course, there have been the countless e-mails and phone calls. How could we ever live without cell phones? To hear familiar voices and be able to share our journey here in Houston has meant everything. Those conversations encouraging us throughout each day have been priceless.
So, in the end, the question remains: What do we do with the simple prefix, “dis” or “en?” It is really up to each and every one of us. We can cause disappointment, disgust, dismay, or discouragement. Or we can employ the big “EN” and be “ENthusiastic ENcouragers!”
A world full of the latter would be a world full of wonder!
Carol may be reached at carolh@mtlakenews.com
Red highlight added by me to direct you to the good stuff.