HammerOnCancer

    I wrote back in November 2018 about my battle slogan, "HammerOn."  I was actually in the process of repairing my fence in Arlington in late summer of 2018 when I was diagnosed with cancer.  Working on the fence helped me take my mind off the diagnosis, combined with my childhood memories of rebuilding fences with my Dad, really got the idea into my head from  beyond board and nails to a work ethic instilled in me to keep getting up and hammering on.  The symbolism of the HammerOn logo was cemented when o ne month into chemotherapy my cousin Andrew brought me two hammers, a  ball peen hammer belonging to our grandfather and a framing hammer belonging to his dad which were used to hammer on metal and wood.  I instantly felt connected to the hammers, through the spirt of my Dad and Andrew's Dad whom both died of cancer.  My backyard fence at time of diagnosis - Aug/Sep 2018       My cancer experience while positive was emotionally difficult, in fact I didn't thi

    Radiation for me hasn't been so bad, bad meaning, I've been through worse, or perhaps my mind has gotten used to pain, used to the flows of this entire experience.  I mean if you think about it, I'm laying down in a machine in a concrete vault and having radiation beamed through my body... yeah that sounds really scary, but what does freaking out get me, nowhere.  That's a big cancer lesson that I have learned, all this freaking out, losing your shit, it doesn't get you anywhere.  In fact the mindful meditation classes I've been attending at the Sibley Hospital has gone a tremendous way.  Now when I lay down for Radiation I focus on my breathing, letting thoughts come in, pass by and back to my breathing focusing on myself and the moment at hand.  Below is a picture of what it looks like on the other side of the concrete wall, yes, I'm getting radiation at the moment, my wife snapped this picture. on the other side of the concrete wall     I last w