Conversations with Tony

This morning I had to go to a training seminar for Starbucks at Goldengate Shopping Center. It was about a 6 hour training session. I had heard that Tony Wood, a family friend worked their however I didn't know I would actually get to see him.

Tony is a family friend whose house we met at on Friday nights for small group church meetings back in the mid 80's. I grew up with his kids and both my sisters are good friends with his daughters. About 3 years ago he was diagnosed with cancer. All those years he was struggling with the nasty disease I would keep up on his health report via my sister Angela. They both attend the same church. When I started talking to him I didn't want to remind him of the hell he went through for the last two to three years. However as the conversation went on he talked a little about how horrible it was going through radiation treatments. As we talked I was just amazed at how much he embraced what happened to him and had accepted he may get to meet his maker sooner than anticipated. He shared how his kids were just horrified about their father being gone. Last March 2004 he was told by his doctor's he was cancer free. He still goes back for checkups every three months. He said that would continue for the next couple of years.


On the way home the one thing that stuck out to me was the bracelet he had on. You know the yellow LiveStrong bracelet for the cancer foundation Lance Armstrong started. His organization helps fund research to find cures for cancer. I wear one myself that is a yellow bracelet. Not for looks, not because it is the in thing, because it means something more. Last year I lost my grand father to cancer. My wife lost her sister to cancer. My father in law bought the bracelets because he knew it was a great cause. Not only did he loss his daughter years ago, he also lost a good friend not to long after my grand father died. We all have a common bond. Either we lost someone close to us from cancer, or in Tony's case battled with it in his own body. So if you are concerned about cancer, be aware of the risk and get involved. And the next time you see someone with a yellow bracelet, find out what it means to them. Take care.