Surviving Cancer.

At the age of 35, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 colorectal cancer.

Ironically, I was also in the best shape of my life. Two weeks before I got the colonoscopy I ran a marathon in 3 hours and 4 minutes. I qualified for the Boston Marathon! In hindsight, I thought I was training for 26.2 miles, but it turned out I was training to go through cancer treatment.

I share my story as an advocate to encourage that one person who has been contemplating getting checked to get checked. Colorectal Cancer is the number two cause of cancer deaths in the United States - even though it's one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer if caught early. That’s from the Cleveland Clinic . So many people have told me that they have meant to get checked and don’t know how or are afraid of the results. I know I went through this for a reason and it's to help others get through it.

I share my story as a business owner to demystify these kinds of conversations in the workplace and more specifically on LinkedIn. I feel conversations like this should be encouraged. Why? Because we are human. It is easy to share about your successes and milestones, rightfully so, it is not as easy to share the hard stuff. To my surprise, it was those people I met through business or did business with who supported me the best. It?was a?time?like this?when I needed warriors in my corner, the same warriors that can rally together to build a startup, raise a fund, or meet a ridiculous deadline. Doesn’t all that translate? The time is now to bring more human to business.

I share my story as a husband and a father to show them that it was all worth it. The tears, the unknown, the pain, the fatigue, and the countless trips to the hospital were worth it. Just the thought of my kids growing up without their father brought me to my knees. It was a thought that drove me every day to make it through. My kids will know their father and I am forever grateful. Thank you Sarah for walking alongside me every single chemo treatment, while carrying our?child. You are the real MVP.

Finally, I share my story as a child of God to let the world know that faith is how I went through this with a smile. The most controversial part of this journey was?when?I told people that this cancer was a blessing. Many found this hard to believe or that I was in denial. Honestly, I realized that I was training my whole life to find this type of faith and it allowed me to find peace the moment the doctor told me I had cancer. This isn’t about religion for me, it is about having something to rely on?when?my whole world is flipped upside down. Odds are we will all have that moment at some point.

This verse got me through.

Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds,?because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2-4

You can read more about my medical journey from the lens of the Cleveland Clinic ?in this article . As much as I appreciate the support from everyone reading my story, I share this not for acknowledgment but for awareness so spread the word rather than sympathy.

Let’s continue to come together simply as humans as we use our gifts to bring peace to people’s?lives.