Patric Michael means a lot to many people – authors, publishers, readers and even tough reviewers. I was devastated when I heard how ill he was as I had become quite fond of Patric when we worked on his interview here but even before then I had read and reviewed a couple of his stories (Timeless, Night Moves and more recently the Santa Mug) and greatly admired his talent. During his long and painful struggle with cancer the one thing that Patric always requested was that I treat him just the same as I had always done, so I complied, despite my heartache. Today I’m so pleased that Patric is on the road to recovery. Not only did he kick a very rare form of cancer in the teeth, he is now looking forward to a healthy life, so healthy he’s begun to enjoy the Friday Guys which I send him every week, because no gay man should be without the Friday Guys and also, I know he enjoys looking ….. 😉
Patric’s friends put together an anthology, edited by Kris Jacen, Wishing on a Blue Star, a joint undertaking between Dreamspinner and MLR Press that was going to be his memorial when he became so ill no one thought he would survive. We all agonized about his frequent trips to the hospital and wondered which one would be his last. But Patric had the last laugh and today we’re celebrating the fighter that we have all come to know and love.
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This is the introduction to Wishing on a Blue Star, an anthology of heartfelt stories written when everyone thought that Patric’s illness was terminal:
“I’ve got a secret no more.”
These words on a blog just over a year ago brought a pang of sadness to many. It seemed our friend, author Patric Michael, definitely had cancer. A rare form with a low survivability rate.
As the months passed we’ve shared Patric’s journey, through its ups-and-downs, good periods and bad, and at the end it brought us to this collection. With all of the twists and turns that we’ve taken since that simple announcement, this bend in the road is perhaps the most deeply felt. We who have connected so many times, and so often through the Internet (yahoo groups, author loops, blogs and shared publishers) came to the realization that he might not be with us forever and wanted to honor him in a way he wanted. Not just flowers or donations to a favored charity, but in a way that would, as he put it, “Hopefully touch others as deeply as they have touched me.” You see, if we have learned only one thing from Patric throughout our time together, it is this: what the person dealing with the situation wants is more important than all else, and not necessarily what we might think he wants.
So we asked him what we could do: How did he want us to remember him after he passed?
Patric shared with us an idea to collect inspiration. Stories, blogs and even poetry that had some connection with him. As Patric has participated on those groups or blogs, other authors have been inspired by their interactions with him to create stories or characters of their own, so he requested that we gather those stories (or others like them) along with his blogs and a few of his “educational” postings, all in one place. His hope was that someone could somehow benefit from it. Maybe even gather strength or inspiration of their own, whether they were going through the same thing he did, or knew someone who was.
As a result you now have this collection with stories that sparked from things like talks with Patric about photographing mushrooms or his delight from fireflies or just Patric’s heart. All of the stories are written from our hearts and thoughts, to remember Patric using something he valued highly; words and creativity.
Whether you’re with us or watching over us Patric, know you have touched all our lives. May you find your Yellow Star as we wish on our Blue Star.
I asked a few of Patric’s author friends to talk about how they became involved with this anthology and what Patric means to them. Here are the thoughts of Amy Lane, ZA Maxfield, Mary Calmes, Taylor Lochland, Brian Holliday, Catt Ford, and Kris Jacen editor of the anthology.
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Amy Lane
See, it all started because Patric and I like to play.
It’s true–we get on the Dreamspinner author list and we play–we roll about like puppies in clover, except we’re just two weird adults, rolling around in words. One week, we were online and playing, frolicking in the word-daisies, and one of us (I forget who) said “Thank you!” He told me he’d had an awful week, and I had what I’d *thought* was an awful week, and we ended up thanking each other for riffing off each other, making bad puns and snarky dirty jokes and genuinely playing with each other until the rest of the DSP list went running away, screaming (or just closed their laptops and went to bed.) I started bitching about my week, and in the way of writers (we exaggerate. It’s true!) I said his week couldn’t *possibly* have been as bad as mine, and then he gave me a link to his blog.
And that’s how I found out that my new buddy had cancer, and that chemo was turning his body into the enemy and his brain into soup.
I was devastated. Just devastated. My new friend was *sick*? Impossible! It couldn’t be! Finally, finally, I had someone who could make me laugh after facing a mob of two-hundred angry people with a chain link fence at my back. (Well, I wasn’t lying–it HAD been a shitty week!) How was I going to deal?
As it turned out, all Patric wanted me to do was what we had been doing. If he was in the mood, if he was up for it, Patric wanted me to play. Well, that was easy to do. I was good at playing when I felt like shit–slightly hysterical laughter is my favorite kind, and our online friendship continued.
One day, I asked him how he was doing, and I don’t think he wanted to tell me how crappy he felt. I tried to make him laugh–hey, at least he had the good drugs, right? He could dream of better days!
“Yeah, but these drugs don’t give me any good dreams.”That was it, right there. That was the inception, conception, and birth of Dreams of Terrible Brightness. The story took forever to write. I had it all formed in my mind from Patric’s one sentence. But it hurt. Every word hurt. Every word admitted there would be a world in which not just my new friend, but other friends, gone but not forgotten, or still battling to this day, would not ever be.
I’m so glad that Patric’s better. Just knowing that my word-buddy is healing makes the world a better place in which to draw breath. But the story will always be there. People will be living that story until death ceases to be and we just skip the pain and the grief and evolve into beings of light. (So, you know, for mostly ever.) I just tried for an ending that gives us enough hope to make that okay.
Brian Holliday
I don’t know what it is about Patric. Maybe it’s his sense of humor, maybe its his insightful intelligence. Maybe it was the essay he wrote on the worth of the prostate, the one that had me laughing out loud. Whatever it is, I was immediately attracted to the man behind the words. When I was asked to submit a story for this special anthology, I knew it had to be as good as I could make it.
What is it about Patric? I can only guess. But I’m certain of one thing: that he inspires those who are privileged to know him to do their very best.
Mary Calmes
When I was first thought of writing something for Patric Michael I recalled all of our online chatting, the warmth of his writing, (Timeless, The Santa Mug), and how I was “dear heart” right from the start. Initially, I was going to somehow put all my feelings into words, quote from his emails and explain what he means to me. And every time I started it got mushy and maudlin and worst of all, rambling. It was a disaster so I went another way.
My story, Linchpin, came about when I thought about not only my interactions with him but everyone else’s as well. Whenever Patric is online in our chat group, people come out of the woodwork to banter with him. Authors who are never around are suddenly there in droves. My belief is that he brings people together with his humor and warmth. I wanted to convey that feeling with Linchpin. He told me he liked it, I could not be happier.
ZA Maxfield
The most important thing I can say about Wishing On A Blue Star is that whatever Patric asks of me, I’m here to do. I wrote the story When Angels Fall for Patric a while ago, as a gift. Maybe it was my own wish for him. Maybe it was a way to wrap him up in loving words when I had nothing more comforting to give. Whatever was in my heart when I sat down to write, I left it all there in the story.
I know Patric’s decision to share his journey with others wasn’t an easy one. He’s such a private man it had to be tremendously important to him. The results have far surpassed my expectations. The endeavor has been a joy, particularly knowing Patric is with us to enjoy its publication. I am so proud to be a part of this anthology and will always be grateful to be counted among his friends.
Taylor Lochland
Patric was one of the first people who talked to me when I entered the writing world. Just a few months after we became friends, he received his diagnosis. While following him along his journey, I learned a lot — not only about blood cancers and what they put patients through, but also about myself. I learned I’d been taking many wonderful things for granted. Simple things like being able to get out of bed, driving myself to work and around town, being relatively healthy… and fireflies. Yep, fireflies. One mid-June evening, while chatting with Patric online, I mentioned I was sitting on my patio watching the fireflies. It was then I discovered Patric’s fascination with the insects, and that he’d only seen them once in his life (I had no idea they didn’t have fireflies on the western side of the country). I’d seen the bugs every summer of my life, and while I liked them, I never paid them much mind after the first week or so after they’d shown up. After that talk with Patric, I found myself looking out the window around sunset almost every evening, waiting for the fireflies to come out.
Once firefly season was over, I started looking around for other critters and plants, and a whole new universe of life opened up to me. I have a much deeper appreciation of nature than I had before — and I feel more connected with the world as a whole — all thanks to that chat about fireflies. Of course, when I heard about the Wishing on a Blue Star project, I had to contribute, and I had to work fireflies into my story. I hope that in doing so, I can pass along a little bit of what Patric has given to me.
Kris Jacen
How do you handle being told one of your friends isn’t going to be around much any longer? How do you remember them in this digital age? How can someone you’ve never met face to face have such an impact on so many? These were just a few of the questions that we faced just a few short months ago. We had all been playing ostrich, burying our heads in the sand, ignoring that elephant in the corner…however you want to phrase it, none of us wanted to cope with the reality that Patric wasn’t going to be with us much longer. Several of us emailed back and forth with Patric and each other and this anthology was born. A fabulous collection of stories, memories and anecdotes written from our hearts and thoughts, to remember Patric using something he valued highly; words and creativity.
We all rejoiced as we were finishing up the collection to hear that the original purpose of the anthology was moot. Patric had beaten the cancer and had entered remission so a memorial wasn’t needed. Instead the collection stands as a tribute to the inspiration that creative minds can find in, and the positive energy that can be generated from, the strength of the human spirit.
Catt Ford
Patric Michael — Let me count the ways.
When Elizabeth asked if I would like to design the cover for Wishing on a Blue Star and told me that Patric had asked for me specifically, I was very honoured to be able to do so. I had designed the cover for his very first story for Dreamspinner. I liked that story very much and emailed him to tell him and he was so excited, because he had first author jitters like everyone. He got over THAT though. And you gotta love a guy who asks for a clothed model rather than the oily naked chest. (Not that I have anything against oily naked chests — when used for the right reasons.) I just don’t know how you can’t love a man who has such a deliciously dirty mind, and is so generous in sharing it, and yet he’s a man who believes in love. He’s funny, spirited and energetic, very supportive to other authors, and generous in his praise. I haven’t received the anthology yet, but I’m eagerly looking forward to my copy! And he’s a damn fine writer, but then, you already knew that
Patric Michael – I used to be a hermit.
I started the blog contained in Wishing on an Blue Star as a place to rant and rail against the unfairness of being diagnosed terminal, rather than ‘take it out” on the people around me. It was also a place where interested folk could follow my progress rather than my trying to answer so many individual email messages. By that point it was all but impossible to keep up with the volume.
As people began commenting on the various posts, I discovered some folk gained a better understanding of their friends and relatives in similar situations so I ran with it, trying to illustrate my thoughts, feelings, and discoveries. Granted, many of the revelations were delivered in a rant, but at least I was true to my nature. 🙂
Folks talked about my courage, strength, being an inspiration, etc. and I confess I couldn’t see it. Didn’t these people realize it was they who were my strength, and my inspiration? Without their encouragement, understanding, and support, I would have been far less interested in fighting the effects of chemo, and the cancer itself when the chemo failed.
People like Z.A. Maxfield, who tore away the rock I had hidden under for most of my life, encouraged me to interact with her author’s group, and became my best friend. Taylor Lochland who rode the roller coaster of my mood swings with a patience I absolutely did not deserve. People like Brian, who distracted me from pain countless times with stories of his life and hobbies, or Jaime, Susie, Tame, and others who convinced me that my blog posts helped them overcome obstacles in their own lives. And my editors and publishers, including Kris and Elizabeth from MLR and Dreamspinner, respectively. All were willing to wait and work patiently with me while I struggled to write, despite the brain damage caused by chemo. All refused to discard me when it eventually became evident that I could not.
How do you say “thank you” to a hundred people and more who encouraged me to stand up and fight when the words themselves cannot possibly encompass the depth of my appreciation?
By opening my life to the world so others might benefit, by trusting those who took my words and wrapped them around the brilliant, funny, touching, sad, and hopeful stories my friends gave to the readers of this book so that they too might laugh, think, and find hope.
By doing my level best to make something meaningful of the final gift I was given called remission, for as long as I can. I hope it is enough.
I love you all,
Patric
Dreamspinner Press is distributing the e-book version of Wishing on a Blue Star free of charge from their website in the hope of reaching as many people as possible. The print version is also available, at cost only, when purchased directly from the publisher.
Contributing Authors
Jaime Samms
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
ZA Maxfield
C. Zampa
Lex Valentine
Patric Michael
Karenna Colcroft
Tame Adams
Victor J. Banis
Brian Holliday
Jambrea Jo Jones
Mary Calmes
Jan Irving
Jean Lorrah
Chrissy Munder
Moira McCain
Clare London
D.W. Marchwell
Taylor Lochland
Amy Lane
Of all the posts that I have written this is one of the most memorable, because one man inspired so many others. Thank you Patric for being a part of all our lives.
Wishing on a Blue Star will be released on January 25 from Dreamspinner.
I am starting my day with tears rolling down my cheeks. There are no words to explain what I’m feeling right now, so I’ll make the best attempt I can without four betas and an editor. Every day on the news we see stories of evil and harm, people doing horrible things. Then something like this comes along, a man fights a battle against incredible odds, and wins, and people that he may not have even met face to face rallying around him. Thank God for good people. Patric, I am so dang happy that you defeated that ugly monster, and for all you there for him, bravo. I’m going to curl up and enjoy my happy cry, feeling better knowing that there are people like you in the world.
This is going to the top of my TBR, and I’m stocking up on tissues.
Eden
You can imagine how tough it was for me to write part of this post and read the anthology. Patric is so brave and his courage is what I took away from his posts throughout the anthology.
Wow! Just, wow. It’s taken me the better part of an hour to read this post. What an inspiration. Both Patric and the people that were there to support him. I know how my own brush with cancer affected me, and I never felt in serious jeopardy of losing my life. Best wishes to Patric and to his support system. Live long and prosper!
Hi Marilyn
As a cancer survivor yourself I’m sure you can appreciate Patric’s fight with this disease.
When you read the anthology you will realize how courageouos Patric really is. His blog posts are scattered throughout the anthology and they are heartrending.
The book will be released January 25th from Dreamspinner.
I am crying here too, and going to buy the anthology today. Have a long and happy life Patric, thank you for bein an inspiration and thank you to many people who supported you.
Sirius
The anthology is not available until January 25. The ebook is free and the print book, if you buy it from Dreamspinner, is only $7.
Will definitely buy it from Dreamspinner then. Thanks Wave.
Well said everyone, and *BIG HUGS* to you Patric. It’s been a treasure and an honour to be included in this project. It’s given me an opportunity to use a rather selfish talent i.e. sitting indoors writing stories on my own! to send love to Patric and to communicate with plenty of other people out there who read the book. It’s also fun to play with all the other authors and contributors – and a sneaky chance to write another story set in England *lol*.
Not much more to say except more *hugs*. I’m not often serious here in public but he knows what a sap I *can* be ^_~.
Hi Clare
I know that Patric wants to thank all the authors involved in this anthology who donated their books. He’s probably still asleep because I found out that he’s not a morning person. 🙂
I’m still reading the anthology and the stories are really moving.
Thank you for coming by.
The power of words can not be ignored. I think it’s speaking that Patric has gotten people together, most unseen with his humor and love of writing. I started reading his blog last year, and many times I laughed, cried and understood. Survivors need to be celebrated. Patric, I wish you the very best.
Hi hannah
Since you read Patric’s posts on his blog you have an idea of what he went through and is still going through. He was very careful to tell me that he was in remission since one is never cured of cancer.
I think you will love the anthology.
The anthology is so telling of how Patric has touched many, many lives. I’m so very happy that he is doing well and am looking forward to reading these stories. Thanks for this touching post Wave.
Hello Tj
It’s funny how someone you have never met becomes so important to you. I think that Patric touched us all because he’s such a genuinely terrific person, and it’s great that he will be able to read the anthology rather than it being his memorial.
“It’s funny how someone you have never met becomes so important to you.”
I know what you mean. I’ve learned this as I’ve made online friends and it surprised me how I came to care about them even though we’ve never met. All part of the human experience and our capacity to love.
It was especially difficult for me to read this since I lost a family member to cancer. It was difficult, but also heartwarming. Patric and people who stood by him make me feel a lot better about the world we live in. There are no words to describe how much luck I wish you, Patric. And… thank you.
Hi Lady M
I’m very sorry to hear baout your loss. It must have been very difficult to read this post.
As Patric told me, being in remission is a gift he never thought he would have so he’s even more grateful.
What a lovely, generous, and poignant tribute to a deserving soul! It’s so wonderful to see this sort of kindness and love…
Love you, little sweetie.
Still next to the rock, my lovely, always.
*snuggles to Patric* I was really proud of being a part of this–both the anthology and the post–thanks for asking me to share:-)
I am very pleased about Patric’s recovery. But it wasn’t the hospital that did it, it was chocolate milkshakes! I know, I saw the treatment in progress!
Well, damn. For someone who’s not a cryer…pfft. Who am I really kidding anymore? My seven yr old just wandered by and gave me a hug and said ‘It’s okay, Mom.” *grin* And it is.
I’m very honoured to have been a part of this project. While I am and have always been a firm believer in happy endings, Patric was the one who reminded me to appreciate the joy of right now So tears and appreciation of my little boy’s hugs and stories about all the possibilities are what I’ve gained from knowing Patric. There’s no way to really repay that.
I am honored to be part of this anthology for my friend that I adore. 🙂
I first met Patric when I asked Dreamspinner to please consider allowing me to record audiobooks for them. He has worked with me ever since, always encouraging and complimentary even when I could tell he wasn’t able to function nearly as well as he wanted to. From the very first, I felt as though we were good friends. Even knowing about his hospital stays and how the chemo affected him, I didn’t know how serious his cancer really was – he always downplayed it. When he emailed that his scans came back clear and he wouldn’t have chemo anymore, I cheered and cried. I look forward to working with him for a long time to come.
Patric is a wonderful man, and I am so glad we get to keep him with us!
Patric, I love your work, especially The Santa Mug. I’m very glad that you’ll be around to write more wonderful stories.
Love to Patric!
I’m scared to get this book. I’ve already read Amy Lane’s story and bawled like a baby – ugly, red nosed, hiccupy crying. And I am not a crier. Mostly.
I’ve followed Patric’s blog from the before-time, and I couldn’t be happier that he got “a few more quarters” in his meter. What was amazing and edifying to me was that as private as he was, he still shared with everyone the good, the bad and the ugly of living with cancer. I’m a shy person and his eloquence and openness was, and is, inspiring.
I can’t wait (even though I fear for my tear ducts) for this book – what a wonderful testament of friendship and love.
Patric, I have to agree with Amy here — the world is a better, brighter place with you in it <3 I'm so, so happy you're in remission and we get to hang on to you! So much love for you, hon!
**hugs**
I will definitely be picking up the antho when it comes out. Thanks for letting us know about it, Wave, and thank you for this post!
To paraphrase a bit…Friendship sometimes means giving people what they want and not what you think they want. To all of Patric’s friends that wrote stories to honor or remember him, thinking that they would be memorializing him had to have been so difficult, I just want to say that I can only HOPE to earn friendship such as yours with Patric in my lifetime.
And to Patric, I am so, so grateful that we can celebrate with you and know that the world still has in it such an amazing, inspirational, talented, and funny person. Thank you for sharing your pain and triumph with me, a complete stranger. I feel as if I know you and would be proud to call you friend.
I truly am grateful to have “met” you and hope to know you for a long, long time.
Sometimes tears can be a good thing, as I know mine are tears of relief and belief right now 🙂
It was truly an honor to be a part of this book, and what a thrill it was to learn that Patric is in remission. Never underestimate the power of love.
Wow. I’m reminded of Anne Murray’s song A Little Good News, every bit as true now as when it was released in 1984. This is more than a “little” good news.
As someone who has also lived with terrible illness (and not yet fully beaten it), I already feel inspired and suspect that will only increase as I read more. I read this post with tears in my eyes, and plan to have a full box of tissues (and writing supplies) on hand when I read the anthology.
Thank you, Patric and everyone who participated in this, for all the light you shine into a world that so desperately needs it.
This is so much better than fiction. A happy ending and the sharing of love among friends who are still around to experience the joy of it.
I have a feeling this will be an important book for me to read. Cosmic timing is so mysterious and so spot on, isn’t it? 🙂
My best to all who participated in this and especially to Patric. Blessed be.
Wave was right. I am SO not a morning person, and I’m on the west coast. Y’all got a head start on me. 🙂
Being involved with this book has been a truly remarkable experience. They way people *pounced* on the idea and raced to participate is, well, astounding.
It shows me unequivocally that there are yet folks who push against the tide of selfish, commercial, dispassionate tendencies the world too often exhibits.
It is these people, and to gauge by the comments I’ve read thus, many, many more who are the real inspiration. All are proof that despite the unpleasantness we so often see, this ol’ rock ain’t such a bad place after all.
Thank you ALL for your comments, participation, and caring. You make me damn happy to hang around yet a while.
Ahhh… this brings back so many memories. Memories of my Mom’s own battle with cancer when they believed she would not make it. She did survive her cancer with her wit, refusal to give up and being a genuinely loving person. We fought this together because I refused to believe that anyone could make such a determination of someone else’s fate. She lived over 7 years after they told her she wouldn’t. She’s gone now but not from that cancer they said was terminal.
I’ve read Patric’s journey and there were many moments that made me cry and cheer. I didn’t comment due to my being shy but I was there looking on at the moments up and down. Due to all the support and his core of strength Patric survived and is here to prove that only you and determine your path. The spirit will overcome the frailties of the body if you believe it and this is what he did. Kudos to you Patric.
Now I’m off to have me a little cry as I remember my Mom.
This made me cry. I had no idea Patric was sick. I met him through twitter, in fact he was one of the first who mde me welcome there. I liked him very much and I was saddened when he stopped posting. I had assumed that like many he had moved away from the community when life got too busy. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to be there to support him in any way that I could but I am glad to hear he is healing.
It was an honor to be able to help put this together for my friend. That he gets to be around to see the effects of it is a wonder for me.
I hope that it does touch each person that reads it; that it helps each understand what can be brought about by caring and love.
And Kel? You’ll need some tissues (I think most will).
The human spirit indeed – love to see examples such as this that prove it does exist. Big hugs to Patric, and to everyone who contributed to strengthening him with their support and friendship.
Patric is truly is one of the sweetest, and funniest, authors in the DSP stable. Now, I don’t know if that makes him a stud or a stableboy, but damned if he doesn’t liven things up at the authors loop. I’m happy he’ll be around for a good long while. (Keep on keepin’ on, baby!)
Sad to say, I hadn’t even heard of the antho until now. It sounds wonderful, a true labor of love. Great job, everybody!
Patric,
I’m glad to hear we will get to enjoy more of your potty mouth over at the Dreamspinner Author group. I’ll look out for it and try to provoke you a little more 😉
*big hugs always*
As the others who were involved in the antho have said, it was an honor to be a part of it. 🙂
Patric, I think I can speak for everybody when I say we’re all pretty damn happy you’re still hanging around, too.
*hugs to all*
I’m glad to hear Patric is doing better. I’ve really enjoyed his books and his humor. I have a feeling I’ll need to wait and read this till I have a long weekend. I’m definitely a crier and will probably need time to recover from dehydration.
I just want to say thank you, Patric, for being brave enough to share your life with everyone else. Also, thank you to those people who stood beside you during the battle. No one can fight that fight alone, and it can be very, very hard for the caretakers and loved ones.
Tonight, I think I’ll have a glass of champagne and think of you all.
As insignificant as it is, my thoughts and hopes for your full recovery are sent your way.I love your work!!!!!!!!
Glad you fought this thing back, Patric. Keep kicking its ass!
Add my name to those honored to have been a part of this anthology. The day I “met” Patric I was struck by what a warm personality he is, and I’m glad I’ve been given the chance to know him.
I have been delighted every time I saw a post by Patric in our author’s group, a post from a generous man always willing to answer questions…ANY questions. I am so completely thrilled to hear this news. *HUGS* to Patric.
I stumbled across Patric’s blog around the time of his diagnosis. I was enchanted by his warmth, humor, lovely prose and the resilient strength with which he faces life.
I’m looking forward to reading the anthology – I have a big box of tissues just waiting.
And, Patric – now that you are better, PLEASE get back to writing!
Celeste
I think that every fan of Patric’s writing is hoping that he will soon be well enough to do just tht. 🙂
I didn’t know who Patric was until this moment, and now as I’m sitting here weeping, I’m so thankful that one day I might *get* to know him.
Ryan
We all started out not knowing Patric and then were sucked into loving him because he’s such a wonderful, caring person. Knowing a little bit about his life I can say unequivocally that he is one of the best.
You should get Wishing on a Blue Star from Dreamspinner on Tuesday – the ebook is free.
Thank you so much for this entry. Tears are streaming down my face. Got an Facebook email from this wonderful writer awhile back and I cherish it. And until tonight, I knew nothing about all this. I worked for cancer doctors for five years. I am so thrilled Patric beat this!!
Hi Ben
We are all pleased about Patric’s progress. As he said, no one really beats cancer. All survivors live from day to day in hopes that the disease does not return somewhere else. Hopefully technology and medicine will continue to improve so that the chances of living a long life with the disease are greater.