In December of 2017, I lost my dear friend, mentor and colleague Bill to a near 10 year battle with cancer.  We worked so closely together that I felt very much a part of his journey over those 10 years.  He was the bravest human being I have ever witnessed and he travelled down that horrific path with grace and dignity.  However, I saw firsthand the devastation this disease caused him physically and the emotional devastation to he and his beautiful family.  Bill was the most influential person in my adult life and his passing absolutely crushed me.  

 

In September of 2018, my father Al lost his year long battle with cancer.  His battle was far different and his decline was so rapid.  However the devastation was still the same.  I had to bury the two most influential men in my life within 10 months of each other.  

 

I fight so that my boys and the children of Bill’s boys (someday!) never have to go through the devastation that we went through watching our Dads battle this horrific disease.