Cancer's Silver Lining - 029

Finding some good in every experience

Before I delve into cancer's silver lining, I want to update you on my health. I've had a few rough weeks since starting treatment for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) with immune-suppressing mycotoxins in my body.

Health update

Dr. Kessler and I are using a combination of prescription medications and pharmaceutical-grade herbal blends to treat EBV, SIBO, and fungal overgrowth-associated mycotoxity.

In addition to the funguses we are treating, bacteria also produce toxins called exotoxins and endotoxins. Endotoxins are released by the bacteria when they are killed by the immune system or by antibiotics.

The body is usually efficient at handling these toxins, but if your immune system is compromised and you are already dealing with toxin overload, your body will struggle. So, I've had a couple of rough weeks with worsening fatigue, body aches, and mental fuzziness, but I am starting to feel better.

My father’s philosophy

My father was the person who taught me that there’s a silver lining in every experience you have, no matter how difficult that experience may be. He lived his life that way. I’m sure it’s one reason why he lived 92 years.

He told me a story that has stuck with me. When I was five years old, our house burned down. My parents were renovating our kitchen, and the workers had just laid a Formica countertop with a thick layer of glue.

My Dad had just come home from his office and went to the back of the house to take a quick nap before returning to work. The workers left to have lunch, and while my Dad was napping, the glue fumes came in contact with the pilot light in the stove, and the fumes ignited.

He told me he remembered waking up to the smell of smoke and slowly opening his bedroom door when the smoke started pouring in. He shut the door and headed into the bathroom, breaking the window and climbing out.

About this time, the firetruck pulled up, and the firefighters jumped off and attempted to attach the firehose to the fire hydrant. While they were struggling to do that, one of the firefighters dropped to the ground dead of a heart attack.

While his fellow firefighters attempted to revive him, one of my older brothers, who had just gotten home from high school, saw what was happening. He ran to their truck, grabbed one of their axes, ran to the house, and turned on our water hose.

He climbed on the roof, used the axe to hack a hole through the shingles and underlying boards, and sprayed water into the attic. By the time another firetruck got there and helped put out the fire, the house had burned to the ground except for the back of the house, where my brother had started spraying water.

The area he saved had all our family photos and the cedar closet containing some of my parents' clothes. Everything else was a complete loss. Thankfully, my Dad was the only person home when the fire started, and he could escape safely.

The fire’s silver lining

The generous and kind people of the small town in Louisiana I grew up in came to our rescue. A doctor who had just moved and put his house on the market lent us his house until ours was rebuilt. Thankfully, it was a large home because seven siblings and my parents lived together at the time.

Hundreds of people gave us clothes, toys, and everything we needed to live. The outpouring of donations and offers of money was so touching. It was an incredible silver lining to a terrible experience.

A twist to the story

My Dad also told me that the family of the firefighter who died held our family at fault for his death. It’s fairly normal to project anger and blame when you are hurting, especially when grieving the death of your loved one.

My Dad never judged them for that blame. He saw their grief through a lens of compassion, and he vowed to make it right one day. Several years later, my Dad arranged to meet with his family to apologize, even though he had nothing to apologize for.

He knew that apologizing to that firefighter’s family would open their hearts. And it did. He said he prayed with them, and through God’s love, there was healing and closure. My father’s act of selflessness was that family’s silver lining. They could let go of that anger they carried for so long.

This cancer's silver lining

• The outpouring of love from family, friends, and total strangers has been incredibly touching.

• I view my life now through a lens of gratitude.

• I've found strengths I didn't know I had.

• I've learned I can suffer intense physical and mental pain and still come out okay.

• I've learned to forgive sincerely - myself and others.

• I say "I love you" way more often.

• I have more compassion for people because I know that everyone suffers.

• I've learned that self-care is the ultimate act of self-love.

• I've learned that sometimes you give up hope, but that feeling disappears if you hang on a little bit longer.

• I've learned that a good long cry can be really cathartic.

• I've learned how much anger I carried and have done much work to let that go.

Most of all, I've learned that the human body doesn't read textbooks. Miraculous healings happen daily, and I will be that miracle one day.

Until the next one, take care of yourself.

And much love.

Keith