Cancer Warriors Unite!

Cancer is a word people don’t like to talk about. It is a killer, and you would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t been affected by it. Whether it be a grandparent, parent, friend, child or even a pet, cancer is a prevalent part of our lives. Dealing with a diagnosis is different for each person, but that is something that cancer survivor Jim Morrison is looking to change.

Eleven years ago Jim, a former local HVAC company owner, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and given six months to live. That day he made it his mission to beat down the diagnosis, walk his daughter down the aisle and see the birth of his first grandchild. In eight years of remission, Jim continues to make it his mission to turn cancer sufferers into cancer warriors.

It’s Sunday evening and a group is gathering at Heart of the City Church in Coeur d’Alene. It’s a group of young and old, husbands, wives, parents and friends. This group meets once a month, and the reality of cancer is that this group might not look the same the next time they meet. Jim walks to the podium to start An Evening of Hope with somber news. “I see cancer as a war, and like any war there are going to be casualties. We’ve lost two of our warriors in the past week. But, it is in the name of our fallen warriors that we fight on.” There is no sugar coating things at An Evening of Hope. Those who come are those who want to survive, and to survive is to be honest about your battle, maintain a positive outlook and, for this group, put their faith in a higher power.

There is no right or wrong, just do the best you can.

Sue Binghampton of Northwest Oncology is tonight’s presenter, and her focus isn’t about the cancer warrior, but those around them. While those with cancer are in a battle for their lives, it’s often overlooked how much the life of a loved one changes with a diagnosis. While they once had certain tasks within the family, the loved ones are now taking on all the jobs the family member was doing and caring for their loved one. “Although you want to give everything you can to your loved one, you have to take care of yourself,” Sue explains. “You cannot push your own health and wellbeing to the back, because then you have two sick people instead of one.” Sue encourages the caregivers to accept help from friends and neighbors and to be honest on how they are feeling. She said there’s no right or wrong way to care, but that having fun, laughing and finding enjoyment in life are often the best treatments.

Danny is why we have and need this group.

Jim calls Danny to the stage. The former truck driver is cheered on by several family members who have come to support him. Danny started feeling stomach pains late last fall and was misdiagnosed as having an ulcer. A short time later, doctors told him he should probably go home and spend Christmas with his family because he likely won’t make it much longer. “I went through chemo twice and thought I was going to die both times,” Danny tells the crowd. “I thought I was going home to die over Christmas, and I was scared. When I was home, my family circled around me, placed their hands over my stomach and prayed to keep me here.” Danny didn’t die over Christmas and is already several months past what the doctors gave him. He contributes his faith and the fact that his family treats him as if nothing is wrong as keys to making him feel better every week.

People at this meeting are from all walks of life, and their treatments are varied. Some choose to skip chemo, others seek out stem cell clinics and another travels to a detox clinic in Mexico. What unites them is their will to live. Just ask 80-year-old Charles who has survived five bouts with cancer and still wants to live an active life. He can walk three laps around the KROC Center track but has a goal of making it to 13. Jim will be by his side when he does it.

Join Jim and the other cancer warriors the first Sunday of each month, from 5pm to 7pm, at Heart of the City Church, located at 521 West Emma Avenue in CDA.

This group is a safe place to seek God, ask for help and speak “cancer” with other warriors who have been to hell and came back to help you. They really care and understand. Express your fears and expect to receive the truth, love, faith and hope, to see another sunrise.

BOX: An Evening of Hope

Heart of the City Church

521 West Emma

1st Sunday of every month

More information email Jim Morrison at toseeanothersunrise@gmail.com

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