Happy Cancerversary
This month marks my best friend’s 25th Cancerversary. When Timm was 16 he had to go through surgery and chemotherapy for cancer and I am happy to say that he beat it. Don’t get me wrong, he has had numerous other ailments to contend with, sometimes more than once. But he can stand there and be a testament that you can beat cancer.
Timm is not your normal guy
If you met him you would always remember him. It has been proven countless times in outings where he see meet someone he met years ago and still remember their name, and THEY are the ones who spot him across an interstate rest area and flag him down just to say hello (true story, and the girl who flagged him down was from MY church’s youth group).
Over the past two decades since high school I can remember times where Timm has shared his problems with me. He has often told me he is sick and tired of this-or-that. He has told me of dark dreams and rough times that I could not even begin to relate to. Once in a while he would say something like “I just want it to stop” or “I can’t see the end of the tunnel”, and another few months later we will have the conversation again. Timm has gone through more challenging things than I can even describe. Somehow we always start laughing at stupid things we used to do (or continue to repeat) and end the call on a happy note.
Timm wouldn’t be Timm if he quit
Anyone who knows his story is encouraged by it, like the disadvantaged team from the movies who wins the big game. Maybe that’s what keeps him going. Or it’s the little things he takes pleasure in that he looks forward to (see picture below to see what I mean). However, Timm has every reason to let it go and nobody would blame him if he just stopped fighting. But Timm would cease to be Timm if he quit. Quitting is not an option, not in his spirit, a word in his vocabulary that doesn’t really hold any meaning.
When he should quit
He is a winner, even during the battle. And it has taught me to continue doing things I don’t like with the promise that persistence will create victory. I’m looking forward to sharing more stories of our wins over the obstacles. Because we wouldn’t quit.
I am blessed to know him and to call him friend. Happy 25th Cancerversary Timm.
Timm says
Thank you, Steve. With ALL my heart, thank you. I am honored.