My journey thru the gift called LIFE!

Hello my name is Allan F. Gagnon; I am a IoT / Robotics Architect at Amazon and wanted to try to deliver a message to you in terms that every Amazonian should be familiar with so I decided on our beloved Leadership Principles.

Ownership

Can anyone here tell me what they were doing in July 22, 2005 or April 11, 2006? You’re all asking really why could I remember that long ago? Those two days are extremely vivid still in my memory and the first days I had to really understand the true meaning of Ownership. Taking ownership of my own life and beginning the new opportunity of surviving Cancer. On the 22nd of July, 2005 I was diagnosed with Defuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. Being told I had a tumor in my lower abdomen that was growing at an alarming rate. The meaning of ownership of life is really your definition you must define on your own. I had to discover how to own and begin to think long-term on staying alive and not short-term of why me? With that being said I did have to learn that over several weeks, and with even some pharmaceutical help to get my mind correct from all the opportunities being presented to me. After receiving my first chemo I experienced “Tumor lysis syndrome” basically meaning, large amounts of tumor cells all died off (lysed) at one time, releasing their contents into my bloodstream. This is an extremely and hypothetically fatal condition. Ownership of your life is so important because “Life is a gift given to you every day and some day that gift will be taken away from you possibly without warning!” If you hear anything from this speech please hear this “Life is short, live it like it is your last day on earth!”

Learn and Be Curious

Over the next several years I discovered an extraordinarily new appreciation of the “Learn and Be Curious” opportunity presented at this time. In April of 2006, being re-diagnosed with Burkitt's Type A Lymphoma. With this new opportunity I was told by my Oncologist that I had to go get my affairs in order. As Steve Job’s mentioned in his Stanford Commencement Speech in 2005 is doctor’s code for go prepare to die. From that day on I had to understand the Learn and Be Curious process in the ways of learning how to stay alive and being curious to act and explore the ways to survive. During this time documents were drawn up that would allow for my medical power of attorney to “pull the plug” on my life if my quality of life deteriorated. Nothing in life can be a better learning tool then the one of being told “your gift of life is going to be taken from you!” Please learn and be curious about your life and your health, listen to your body and become one with your body. I was misdiagnosed several times and continued to force doctors to do their job. No one will look after your health if you don’t first do the same.

Insist on the highest standards

Misdiagnosis is not the opportunity you want to have happen before you start insisting on the highest standards. Yes, doctors are great minds and I would not be here to deliver this speech without them. However, they are still human and they are busy, always insist on the highest standards from them after all it is your gift of life they are working on. Taking your health and well-being into your own hands will someday save your life, and others such as your loved ones will be grateful for that! Please take the time to discover and remember how you feel on the great days, and the not so great days. Document or memorize how you should feel along with any changes you know are not correct. Your body is an amazing marvel that has the highest of standards to stay alive and it will insist on it some day from you. Embrace and understand your health and insist on the highest standards each and every time you are visiting any medical institution.

Earn Trust

As stated earlier I was diagnosed with Lymphoma Cancer while running my own company NetTryx LLC. and completing my degree at DeVry University. During this time, I was being frugal and had my health insurance from DeVry University. After the diagnosis my oncologist contacted my insurance company to gather information required to hospitalize me for my first round of chemo therapy. Discovering that the insurance I had from DeVry did not cover major medical. I now had a diagnosis of Lymphoma Cancer and was told I could not get treatment because I did not have the coverage to get the medical treatment. I was blessed with a customer of mine from my company that actually hired me that day so I could be covered in their insurance plan and would allow me to get the medical insurance I required to stay alive. Looking in the past I was doing a lot of major work for them and was helping that company by building new product lines that would allow them to succeed and built a lot of trust. Earning trust is sometimes not extremely evident however doing what is right and helping the customer succeed may be a huge impact in their business and maybe your life.

Your Health & Well Being

I am blessed in so many ways that I cannot begin to imagine to tell you all the opportunities and blessings. My story is one of pure dumb luck, please don’t let things happen in your life where your health is an afterthought! I have had the opportunity to have a now classified disability to maybe deliver a message to someone to help them discover that Health and Well Being is your responsibility and only yours! My classification of a disability is long and distinguished, however others have additional and powerful stories of disabilities in Amazon! I have set a goal to develop a Austin chapter of AmazonPwD, to bring awareness to and for others with any and all disabilities. Please understand these stories I have told have just made me a lucky person and the person that wants to help others be an advocate of their own health as well as the ability to raise awareness to helping others with disabilities!