James and his wife Jenny have had to overcome many obstacles after James was diagnosed with a Grade 3 Glioma. Today despite treatment that was supposed to leave him infertile and paralyzed, he participated in two LIVESTRONG Challenges, has three beautiful children, and next year will celebrate the 10 year anniversary of being cancer free. Read his story.
1. What challenges did you overcome in order to LIVESTRONG?
I've overcome many challenges in my life. In 1999 I was diagnosed with a Grade 3 Glioma. I had an awake craniotomy followed by chemo and radiation. The golf ball-sized tumor was located on my motor strip, and the surgery left me temporarily paralyzed on my left side. Although my doctor had told me that I would never run again and would be lucky to be walking again in about three months – probably with a limp – I walked before I left the hospital after one week. After a brief stint in rehab I regained ALL of my motor function! After finishing chemo I was diagnosed as being infertile (as expected). My sperm count was zero. Using the three divided sperm samples that we had saved during the one week after surgery and pre-chemo, Jenny and I tried three rounds of artificial insemination which all failed. Our first round of IVF was successful. Our beautiful son Aidan was on his way. Jenny had a healthy, uneventful pregnancy and reached her due date without any complications. At our appointment following her due date (40 weeks, five days) our son was pronounced dead. He was a beautiful 8 lbs, 8 oz, 22 inches of love and joy with my nose, Jenny's chin, and lots of dark hair. He was born on a rainy morning in January 2002. His cause of death was listed as "Unknown." Three weeks later I carried the Olympic torch in Sheridan, WY as part of the 2002 Winter Olympics. A friend/coworker of mine had written a letter and entered a contest to nominate me for the event. It was supposed to be our baby's first trip. We brought his urn full of ashes, his blanket and teddy bear with us instead. I was so proud to be carrying the torch and wanted so much to share the event with my son. I dedicated my run that day to Aidan. We attempted another round of IVF a few months later which was unsuccessful. A third try brought us Liam who was born in February 2003. And, well, sometimes you just get lucky … my sperm eventually regenerated (they told us it would not), but the number was so low that the doc said I was still technically infertile. They told us our chance to conceive on our own was roughly 1.6 percent. "Baby 1.6," our son, Quinn, was born in April 2005 followed by his sister Nadia in February 2007 (named for Aidan – spelled backwards).
2. How did Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG message influence your journey?
Lance has provided inspiration to me from early on. Ever since I watched him on TV when he was riding in the 1999 Tour and I was going through chemo he has helped to shape my mission and purpose. I feel like I can make a difference by partnering with the LIVESTRONG foundation and by sharing its message and mine with others who have been affected by cancer. Lance inspired me before the LIVESTRONG foundation even existed. In the time since, I have tried to become involved with the foundation as much as I'm able. I've biked/ran in two LIVESTRONG Challenges, attended the inaugural LIVESTRONG Summit in Austin, and was also selected to attend the LIVESTRONG Day event in Washington D.C. in May 2007.
3. Tell me about how you managed to stay positive during your experiences. What were specific things that you did to stay positive throughout your journey?
It's pretty easy to stay positive when you are given a second chance. After being diagnosed with cancer I began making lists of things I wanted to accomplish between MRIs. I focused on making moments and memories with my family and friends. I took Jenny, my mom and my brother to Maui, hiked up Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs with five great friends, ran a half-marathon in La Jolla with one of my best buddies and one of Jenny's brothers, and traveled here and there as much as I could. I focused on what I could control rather than on the cancer.
4. How has your experience influenced your future?
My future? Well, when I was going through treatment at age 27 I was just hoping that I'd make it to my 30th birthday. My experiences have taught me to live more in the moment and to worry less about the future or retirement. I'm not going to wait to enjoy all that life has to offer. I want to make a difference today while enjoying my three wonderful kids and my beautiful wife that I am so fortunate to have. Having cancer has given me the gift of perspective. When you don't know how much longer you have to live you figure out pretty quickly what's truly important in your life – you want more time to spend with the people you love the most. Like the quote says, nobody on their deathbed wishes they would have spent more time at the office.
5. What would you want to say to someone who is going through challenges like those you faced?
Cancer will change your life forever. You will have to choose to really be in control of your very existence. You will need to find the best doctors first and then figure out what course of treatment is needed. You also need to be very savvy and must educate yourself on the disease state and the most effective treatments/clinical trials available. Ask lots of questions! You have to focus on the things you can control, and you need to get as much help from all the resources at your disposal. Make lists of things you want to do that will make you feel ALIVE -- things that you've always wanted to do. Start thinking about how you want to LIVE not how you might die. "Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. One man gets only a week's value out of a year while another gets a full year's value out of a week." – Charles Richards.
6. What are your goals for the future? What goals or plans do you have to LIVESTRONG? How do you plan to use LIVESTRONG.com to accomplish those goals?
My LIVESTRONG goals for the future include participating in the LIVESTRONG Challenge in Austin this October, completing a half-marathon in San Antonio in November, and coming up with a superb way to celebrate my 10 year Cancer Free anniversary on March 11, 2009! I'd also love to take my kids to Disneyland and would love to take Jenny to Europe for the '09 Tour. I also plan to continue my support role with the Imerman Angels network which helps to connect those affected by cancer with a suitable support person. I will continue to utilize the LIVESTRONG.com site's healthy living tools and daily journal, and look forward to meeting up with other members online so that we can share our resources and support. We can keep each other accountable!
James was a finalist in our Dare to Share Your Story Content. Watch his video.
You can contact James by visiting his LIVESTRONG Member profile.
