When my brother Pat passed away two years ago, I was blown away by the number of people who reached out to me. Most wrote to say how sorry they were to hear about it, a few people shared memories, and more than a few said, “I had no idea he was sick.”
When I read that, I smiled, because it’s exactly what Pat wanted. He didn’t want people fussing over him, and he didn’t want pity. He went on living his life for nearly two years after a devastating stage 4 cancer diagnosis, and expected others to do the same. He travelled, went to Giants games, worked out, and spent as much time as possible with family and friends.
To him, it was about living life to the fullest, not focusing on when it will end.
He is — and will always be — an inspiration to me and so many others. In fact, this weekend, my sisters and I are participating in a 5K to benefit the Colon Cancer Alliance (one of my brothers is traveling for work, and the other is taking part of a disaster recovery effort). We’re doing this for a few reasons:
- It’s a great opportunity to honor my brother, who would’ve been 45 yesterday.
- It’s an event that promotes healthy living, something that was very important to Pat, who my siblings and I would jokingly call a “gym rat” (while, of course, being in awe of his dedication).
- It’s for an important cause.
Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed form of the disease, causing around 50,000 deaths every year, according to the American Cancer Society. And although significant progress has been made in terms of prevention and early detection, we still have a long way to go. As someone who lost a loved one to the disease, I want better screening policies. I had to fight to get my insurance company to cover the cost of a colonoscopy despite a strong family history and the presence of a gastrointestinal condition — simply because I was 38 at the time, and not 50. A colonoscopy at age 40 most likely would’ve saved Pat’s life, and that’s reason enough for me to take up the cause.
But most of all, the reason I’m running the 5K is because I want to inspire others to do what my brother did: take care of yourself. His workout regimen and fighting spirit enabled him to extend his life and spend more time with all of us. Watching the Red Sox win the 2013 World Series with my brother a year after his diagnosis was nothing short of miraculous. It was a night I thought about often after he passed away, and it motivated me to start eating better, exercising more, and following through with every doctor appointment. Because of Pat, I made my health a bigger priority. And while I realize that making positive changes can’t ward off terrible diseases, it can improve my ability to fight them.
And so, I implore all of you to take whatever steps you can to improve your health. Get that mammogram or colonoscopy you’ve been putting off. Check out that new spin studio. Learn how to make really good turkey burgers. Drive less and walk more.
And please don’t say there isn’t time to take care yourself. If there isn’t, you need to make time. Because taking steps to improve your health can be what gives you more time, and helps you keep living your life, no matter what comes your way.
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