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James OConnell hasn't added a story.
My name is Norman. Jim has been my friend and co-worker for a few
years. Everyone who knows Jim, they know he would give you the shirt
of his back. He has been diagnosed with Stage IV, advanced cancer,
which unfortunately it's incurable. It's in his bones and bone marrow,
which means it could go anywhere in his body. I'm amazed of how
positive and upbeat he's. As he always says with a smile “I got
cancer, but cancer doesn't have me” or he will say “It could be
worse.” It can't be any worse than what it is. He brings an air of
optimism to anyone he meets. He has been an inspiration to everyone
around him Personally, I don't know how he does it. I would have
probably given up a long time ago, but not Jim.
Jim has been going through some hard times lately. He hasn't
been to work now for three months and now in September he's going to
have surgery. To make matters worse his wife, Janet, his caregiver
recently broke her elbow and coccyx. He's struggling financially big
time. He needs to pay rent, utilities, put food on the table and gas
in his car to go for treatment in Philadelphia. He has used all the
resources available to him. The last thing any of us want to see is
him homeless, living in his car with his wife and pets. Please he is
in desperate need of financial help. Cancer is a heck of a disease and
it can break anyone's spirit and it’s unpredictable to say the least.
Jim is a very unselfish, cheerful, upbeat, always willing to
help anyone in need type of guy. His faith, hope and fight keeps him
going. This is not fair for someone like him. I know many of us have
helped before and I like I mentioned again, if anyone could help with
any donations I know him and his wife would be eternally grateful.
Thank you for taking the time to read what I wrote and I wish
him the best of luck with his battle with cancer.
Kind regards,
Norman
Thank you Norman for your kind words you wrote in the comment
section of my page. I posted it as you asked on my page. Thank you
again. Things are tough right now, but I know that with faith things
will change for the best. My surgery has been moved to October. I
was hospitalized for two weeks due to a massive pneumonia I got due to
a pain pump they tried to put on me. It depressed my respiratory
system.
Below is a letter a wrote cancer a while back…
Hey Cancer Buddy,
There are a few things I’d like to say to today. Cancer you
have occupied a part in my fortress; my life. You are and always have
been an unwelcome guest in my home. You came unnoticed and got in like
a thief in the night. I have fought to not hate you as you took
unwelcome residence in my body.
You keep staying. I am beginning to believe you will never
leave. I am not sure this is the right attitude to have towards you. I
want to scream one moment, and I want to live bigger than I have ever
lived the next. Before you, I lived comfortable, I never had any major
issues and when I did not feel good, I would not do anything. Now with
you, I am learning my feelings have little to do with living or not living.
My doctor's and have told me I must be in a lot of pain and I
am, plus I will need to have surgery in the future and that your
cancer is incurable I did not know how to answer, you have been such a
foe for the past year and half, I forget what it feels like to not
have you clinging to me. I want to hate you, throw you out and forget
we ever knew each other. Trust me, I am so done dealing with you, but
I guess I am so welcoming and friendly, you keep on staying.
So here we are. The truth is you are in my bones, my bone
marrow, my blood making place. I did not want you there. I asked for
you not to go there. But you did it anyway. Where are your manners?
Here is what you will never do you unhappy scoundrel. You will
never keep me from a moment of living next to my wife, family, friends
and pets. I know you think you are the one killing me with all your
fast growing cell business, but you are not the boss here. The day I
breathe my last breath is exactly, exactly numbered. You don’t get a
say in that and when that day comes, and it will come, it will be in
my own terms not yours.
I do not want to give you credit with the lessons and gifts I
have received from you, cancer. You have taught me to see the little
moments as giant moments in life. You have taught me the beauty and
freedom of sharing tears. You have taught me the importance and the
beauty of friends and family. You have taught me to lean on one
another when the heartbreaking news comes. You have taught me to run
away, every chance I have, to find adventure and to live life and love
as much as we have the strength to love, but most of all cancer, you
have taught me never take anything for granted and to never give up!
Soon I may be awaiting an impossible conversation with my
doctor. A conversation where will argue over the degree and quality of
life I will have. We will wrestle over the right treatment to deal
with you, my unwelcome guest and managing the pain you bring. It is an
ugly dance, but it is not without it is joys.
There are people that think talking about you gives you power.
Nonsense, you have none. I know that to be true. The news on the from
my doctor’s broke my heart, but it will not break my spirit.
I am done dealing with you, you had me in my death bed three
times and I am tired of you. You will not beat me down; you will not
take me down. I will fight you with all my might and I will fight to
win. I have a wonderful wife, pets and friends on my side and you got
nothing, but yourself. It is time for you to give up and step aside. I
have faith, hope and I will keep the fight and remain focus on
defeating you. I'm not giving up!
Later,
Jim
Whoever knows Jim, knows that he will go out of his way to help
anyone. Since his job loss back in 2010, things started to go downhill
financially. Three years later, things seemed to be looking up, but
that is when he was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer.
Because it spread so quickly to his bones, he's been in tremendous pain. The doctor ordered him to have surgery in his femur several months ago, so now he walks with a walker, but this is also due to other tumors. The pain in his back is overwhelming because of having tumors down his spine, as well as in his clavicle, hip, ribs and sternum. Due to this, he's had to miss a lot off work and has gone without a paycheck. At the moment, April 2015 he has been in ICU due to repeated fevers for months and having over a liter of fluid and blood clots in his lungs, which were all allegedly caused by chemo treatments. He is on oxygen. (Update: WAS ON oxygen. No more!)
He's being treated in another state other than his residence, and it's likely he will not be able to go back to "normal" activity for a while. If he goes on disability, he will lose his insurance which covers his treatment at this particular cancer center, so rather than do this, he wants to recover and return to work as soon as possible, but meanwhile he needs help with his bills, as he is not able to cover monthly costs, such as rent, food electricity, etc. and this is why we ask for help, something he would do -- and has done for others. Until he gets back on a regular, or at least semi-regular schedule, his paycheck will not be enough to cover bare necessities, and he has already not gotten one at all. Any help, no matter how small, is very much appreciated!
(This campaign has been set up by Jim wife's, Janet, but it is linked to his accounts. The goal amount is loosely based on current debt and/or any immediate future debt due to missed work days. Cancer is unpredictable and pretty much takes control over your life and schedule. We set it so that we potentially would not have to open another fundraiser, but with hopes of being able to close it before we even hit the goal. This would mean that he was able to go back to normalcy even sooner! Any amount you donate is greatly appreciated from the bottom of our hearts
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