He became a hero

While I was in Boston at a conference a few weeks ago, I found out that one of my long time friends "T" was battling cancer. Apparently, he has been since sometime in January. "T" is generally a very quiet, private person so it didn't really surprise me all that much that he didn't feel comfortable spreading that kind of news. It did somewhat disappoint me that others that would have known the situation didn't clue in those of us who live 3,000 miles away. In a couple of those cases, it didn't surprise me because since leaving the company 2+ years ago I fell out of favor with them, never a part of their Philly clique.

I got a chance to talk with "T" this morning for about an hour. He sounded different than I remember, a little weaker than before but upbeat. The good news is that his doctor believes that all of the cancer has been removed and did not spread to his lymph nodes. "T" is still recovering from all of the surgeries and will have to undergo one last round of chemotherapy when he is strong enough just to make sure everything was removed. He's had great support from his family and those immediately around him, and has returned to light work even though he's not supposed to be.

In typical "T" fashion, he said it's been an interesting spring/summer. That would be the understatement of the year given his current situation. But he's hopeful, upbeat, and assured me that we'll get together in September when I'm back on the east coast in Providence. I'm going to hold him to that promise, even if he won't have his formerly customary Miller Lite at his side. "T" is the third friend I've had that was diagnosed with cancer. "W" died from colorectal cancer in 1995. "S" died from an aggressive form of melanoma in 2004. "T" is one of my closer friends, someone I know I can trust, someone I can confide in, someone who shares my interests (even if he is a Yankee fan), and someone who shares my values.

I had to fight back some tears and was choked up today talking with "T." I was very emotional about him still being alive and at the same time scared that he may not be sooner than he should. I thought about both "W" and "S" and desperately do not want "T" to join them. I thought about the good times that "T" and I have had, the long conversations, the friendly Red Sox/Yankees banter, commiserating over shared difficulties and celebrating shared successes. "T" became more than a friend during that phone call, he became a hero.