Real Life Heroes: Cancer Up Close and Personal

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am posting every Saturday a personal tribute to someone in my life who has had to battle with cancer.  This is a tribute to my dear ol’ Dad Ed, who one year ago had his prostrate surgically removed after being diagnosed with prostrate cancer.   His wife Jan, who I wrote about last Saturday is a breast cancer survivor of seven years.  I want to include the men who struggle with cancer issues and support the women in their lives with cancer too! 

My freshman year in college I took a ballroom dance course and there was a very low ratio of men to women enrolled in the class. I asked my teacher if my single Dad could participate.  As it turns out, my future step-mom Jan was enrolled in this dance class as a faculty member of Indiana University and within a few weeks, the two got acquainted during class time.  Jan and my Dad were engaged and married by the following semester.  As a younger man, my Dad served in the US Air Force, he also spent two years living in West Africa while serving in the Peace Corps.  Before retiring, he worked as an Electrical Contractor for 35+ years and started several small businesses that ranged from a CB radio business to a copy & typing business. 

Ed loves being in the outdoors, his vegetable garden, to write, and his family.  At the age of 72, he takes his health seriously and stays active by walking daily with his wife Jan and their dog Sandy.   He volunteers for several local community projects, as well as being a wonderful Grandfather to 16 grandchildren!

Thank you Dad for being such a fine human being and for sharing your love with us.  And thank you for your valiant fight last year to still be with us.  May you continue in good health and cancer free!

 

 

 

Do you live in the Hoosier State?  The Indiana Cancer Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the continued improvement of cancer treatment through ongoing clinical and prevention trials that offer the latest drug therapy and technology.  To learn more about this foundation you can go to their site:  IndianaCancer.com.