On December 4, 2009 I was told 3 words you never want to hear

"YOU HAVE CANCER"

And to top it off they added 4 more words that just might even be worse

"AND IT HAS SPREAD"

Now that cancer showed up without an invitation I say "LET THE BATTLE BEGIN" Don't know just where this path will take me. I don't know if it will be short or long. I don't know what twists and turns will jump out at me. But I WILL FIGHT.

Jim ManWILL FIGHT

And I will bring my SECRET WEAPON. A SENSE OF HUMOR

You are invited to join me as some of MY FAVORITE CHEERLEADERS

Cancer is a dangerous, powerful, scary thing

I can't help but notice that cancer has attacked and killed so many people's sense of humor. But let me assure you that cancer can't attack & kill MY sense of humor. It may have found a secret way into my body, but it will NEVER FIND my Sense of Humor.

Here is the beginnings to this path I am now traveling.

Let me give you a quick overview of the last 13 days. The Monday before Thanksgiving I woke up to a mixed feeling. Either I was real hungry, or I was sick to my stomach. I just couldn’t tell which. It continued the entire day. As the day progressed, I felt weak.

The next day it repeated itself. That night I had a weird thought enter my mind that I would soon hear a doctor tell me YOU HAVE STOMACH CANCER. AND IT HAS SPREAD. I decided to call a trusted friend and doctor the next morning to talk to him.
Wednesday morning came and Thanksgiving was almost upon us and the trusted friend and doctor I wanted to speak with was out of town until Monday. The rest of the week I was left with an empty feeling and my mind was consumed, not by my choice, of words of death. Things I needed to accomplish before I died. There wasn’t a waking hour that thoughts of dying weren’t in my mind.

Last Sunday at church we sang a beautiful Hymn and I thought, Should I have that sung at my funeral.

At times during that week, I kept reflecting on the story of two frogs that fell into a large can of milk. They both tried to jump out, but the walls were so tall. The one frog thought there is no way out. I might as well just give up now. So he sunk to the bottom of the milk-filled can.

The other frog thought, I don’t know if I can get out of this can, but I will fight to the end. So he jumped and jumped. He continued and just kept trying. He was getting weak. Suddenly he sensed something was changing. Something firm under his tired legs. He then realized that all his kicking was starting to churn the milk into butter. He continued with an increased inner strength, and sure enough that milk was finally firm enough that he could jump out. He BEAT IT.

As I pondered over the two frogs, I was afraid. Would I be like the first frog and just give up?

I was afraid I would.

On Monday afternoon I showed up, without an appointment at the office of my doctor friend. After a wait, he came and met with me. I began to explain what I had been feeling for the last week in my stomach. He asked a few questions and did a quick check and said it might be that I have a bleeding ulcer.
I thought,

I’d prefer a bleeding ulcer over stomach cancer.

He told me to go see one of two doctors that he often referred patients to that could place a scope into my stomach and check it out. He told me that if these doctors couldn’t see me for more than a week, to let him know & he would be happy to call them personally and see if he could get it moved up.

Unfortunately by the time I left his office, these doctors receptionists had left for the day.

When I got home, I felt a strong need for receiving a blessing. After a couple of attempts for a blessing, I suddenly realized whom I wanted to have come give me a blessing. John Ward. Doctor John Ward. I called and he was able to come right over. He asked about what was going on and whom the doctor had referred me to. Surprisingly he said the same thing to me. If these doctors couldn’t see me for more than a week, to please let him know & he would be happy to make a call on my behalf. I felt the sweet spirit with that most comforting blessing.

The next morning I called to set up a time to see one of these doctors from the office I had been referred to. I was told that I could be seen in 2 weeks. That wasn’t acceptable. I mentioned that I had been referred by 2 doctors and they both wanted me to be seen sooner. I was told that I could be seen sooner by another doctor in their office. She checked and said I could be seen next Tuesday. Still a week away. I repeated that both of these doctors wanted me to be seen sooner. She said it just wasn’t possible. I then suggested Why don’t we make it THIS Tuesday instead. She stuttered a bit and said THAT’S TODAY! I said, YES, and I don’t Mind! She said that was impossible and I repeated that these two referring doctors had expressed a willingness to personally call the doctor to assist in getting me in sooner. She explained that it was not possible as the appointments were not conducted at the office, but at the hospital. And it took effort and coordination to get that scheduled. After more persuasion from me, she then put me on hold… for nearly 10 minutes. Finally she returned and said be at IHC Hospital at 1:15 today. I was AMAZED.

Thanks Doctor Ward and Doctor Hughes.

At the hospital they conducted the exam and woke me up after to tell me that they found what appears to be a cancerous tumor in my stomach.

DANG I wanted my bleeding ulcer back.

They did a bioscopy and drew blood for lab tests. And they scheduled me for a Cat Scan for Thursday. I came home and shared the news with my family.

In the middle of the night one night, I just couldn’t sleep. I found my Patriarchal Blessing and began to read it. I have a most beautiful blessing. But as I read it, I realized that there were things mentioned that had not been fulfilled. I decided it could be 1 of 3 things.

1. They would no longer be fulfilled because I had not lived up to the expectations of the Lord

2. They could still be fulfilled but not in this life.

3. They still would or could be fulfilled in THIS life.

As I continued to ponder my blessing, for the first time in more than a week, I felt a change of hope. I felt the touch of the Comforter. I thought Maybe I CAN be that
2nd frog.

After the Cat scan on Thursday, Friday I got a call from the doctor stating he did not have the results of the biopsy back yet, and even though he had not actually seen the results of the Cat Scan, the Radiologist had phoned him to say that the cancer had spread to my liver.

There it was – a doctor telling me just what I had entered my mind the week before.

Some times it just isn’t fun being right.

I asked the doctor to please contact doctor John Ward and tell him everything he had told me. In a short time, I received a call from John Ward. We talked and he said he knew some of the best of the best doctors that this is their speciality and that he would refer me to one. He said that he wanted to stay in the loop and be my friend and advisor that I could turn to whenever I needed. I also got a call from my doctor friend. I now have two of the most impressive, compassionate friends that also happen to be doctors that are a close resource for me.

Tomorrow we meet with a doctor to review what is back from the lab. Hopefully early this week we will meet with a specialist or two and see what the prognosis is and what options are available for me.


After more than 15 years of doing real estate, I just recently left the franchise real estate companies and I started my own company. I have a few good Realtor friends that expressed a desire to come to my company.

Along with this new real estate company, I also started a new venture business. I started a Carpet Cleaning business. I contracted out to have a person with over 5 years of carpet cleaning experience to do the cleaning for me. Both of these businesses are just getting going. Like a small little flame.

I only mention these two businesses because I want to let you know that if you know someone with a buying or selling real estate need, or a need to have their carpets and couches cleaned, NOW more that EVER I could use the support and referrals of others. And even though I may not physically be able to go show houses, or clean the carpets, I do have good reliable people that are so willing to help me fill the gaps. So please don’t count me out of any real estate or carpet cleaning needs. I promise they will be serviced in the most high & professional manner.

I want to thank you that have joined in fasting and prayer for all those in our ward that have needs of this time. I pray that the Lord will be mindful of each of our needs. I want to especially thank you for fasting and praying for Fred Ball and for myself. It means so much to me. He is one of my HEROS.

I will update this blog as news (good or bad) becomes available.

I appreciate the love and support from so many people. THANKS
Jim the Fighter