Living on Borrowed Time ...

Last night I received a call from a friend on mine in Regina. It was late and what a gift this phone call was. He is also fighting his own monster (prostate cancer) but using a different procedure. He has elected to use radiation therapy and is currently half way through his treatments.

I am not sure if I will need to go for radiation treatment as well. This will be determined by Dr. B. on June 11 and the PSA score will be a big factor in determining the next steps. A zero or low score may suggest a deferral of radiation. But if I do need radiation, I will go. This is were my friend's experience is so reassuring. It seems like radiation will be "walk in the park" compared to surgery. He is experience minimum side effects.

As we chatted, we laughed and also remembered when ... when we drank and when we sobered up. We laughed and cried a little bit. Not much, but just enough to be grateful. He then told me that he knew he was living on borrowed time and this is something I also believe in. All you have to do is ask my "A" what it was like when I was drinking ... not very nice and even through I tried to get off the sauce and stay on the wagon, I could never do it. No will power was enough to beat my problem. It was not until I was confronted at work by another friend of mine that I was in enough pain to be teachable. Thank God for that! Since my sobriety date (1990 November 09), I have tried to practise gratitude every day and also remember that I too am living on borrowed time. For if I didn't find my 12 step program and friends like the one that called my last night, I would not had an opportunity to fight off the monster! I truly am living on borrowed time. Maybe this is why I was able to go into the operating room stone cold sober and drug free? Who knows, but I glad I did.

Thanks W and members of the Fellowship Group! I owe you.