January 16th 2017
I watched as a young friend was buried this weekend, he was 36 with a rare type of cancer called EHE. I believe he had been diagnosed about 10 months ago, although his fight was heroic, it was short like his life.
Before his diagnosis he had been the poster boy of health. Nicknamed Duck, Justin had been a star athlete, cross fit instructor and employed as a Fireman/paramedic and ski patrolman for a living. I had only seen him once over the past year after hearing of his diagnosis and the impact of his physical appearance was dramatic. I ran into him over at the 4th of July parade; when our eyes crossed I could immediately feel we how we both knew our friendship was now unfairly different. We were both relatively young fathers battling a disease, we now related to each other in a way others just couldn’t.
I watched over as 400 strong of our small community filled Gods house to celebrate the blessing of his life and impact on theirs. Justin swas doing everything right; and the sheer numbers at his service was a powerful well deserved tribute to that. Duck wrote something so very powerful and profound while in his final moments on this earth. “Wake up being thankful you woke up. Just live this life like it’s the only one you have because it is. It can all change in a moment, I only say that because I know. ” I am so very relieved Justin found the Lord. He is no longer in pain leaving this world in peace.
Today I am blessed to be able to continue my own fight, I am proud at 50 to be in the best physical shape of my life. I am on a personal journey to live as healthy and purely as possible in my own fight with a unforgiving disease. Parkinson’s is a demon that does nothing but take, but I have somebody stronger in my corner as and I trust his plan as he continues to work in my life. I have some taking to do of my own!
#fightparkinsons #purifybodymindandsoul #findyourmoments #tryanddoitbetter #idahofamily #prayforacure #JehovaRophe #staypositive