Even Boxing is a Team Sport

Though the good Chaplain's advice about my ensuing bout with cancer resonated, and I believed that if I were to beat cancer, it would have to be up to me, that was just the start. Waisn't it? Something this big could not have been borne by one person alone -- no matter how prepared or strong (which I wasn't, thank you very much). Even with the Chaplain's "boxer" analogy, we all know that any boxer in a boxing ring did not get there by himself. And altough he is seemingly alone in that ring, he has a team behind him. There are his trainers and sparring partners, his doctors, nutritionists, coaches, managers, agents, the person who brings him water, all working with the boxer toward one common goal -- to beat the other boxer. AND, he even has at least half the crowd (amongst whom are his loved ones) rooting him on. All of that that, including the boxer, has to do with whether he wins or loses the fight. It is not a sport of one. Though the victory or defeat of a boxer may seem to be theirs alone, it is indeed shared and carried by many. No one does it alone. Thank goodness for that!

I certainly couldn't have done it alone, no matter how high or intense my resolve was. And I will always be grateful for the team I had (and still do!). There were the health care professionals who diagnosed, planned, monitored and executed my course of treatment. Then my were my friends and family who, prayed for me, cheered me on, cooked for me, schlepped me around, showered me with presents and good cheer, held me, made me laugh and just plain loved me through it all. My phenomeal colleagues at work covered for me, asked no questions, but offered everything else, most important of all, they were fierce guards of my privacy at work. No one patronized me nor condescended to me. Everyone supported what I was going through and was always (in a drop of a pin) ready to help. All I needed to do was ask -- and sometimes, not even. This was my fuel!

What is that saying? There go I, but for the grace of [insert everyone's name here].

The next series of posts will mostly comprise the telling of those people and events that have held me up and helped me through my illness. Consider it my "Oscar speech" (in the spirit of the upcoming Oscars). Because I do feel like a winner, standing where I am. BUT, only because I have these wonderful people to thank, whom you will next meet in no order of importance.

(...and now, what gown to wear?) :-)