Living As A Cancer Survivor - When Family Fails Each Other - Part 3
Mark Everett Kelly
Mark Everett Kelly was diagnosed with Stage IV Rhabdomyosarcoma on December 12, 1990. He was given six months to live.
As we enter the seventh week of this COVID-19 virus, my heart, prayers, thoughts, and love is with all of you. I pray you are keeping safe, healthy, and are all looking forward to when humanity can be human again. I hope my blog continues to be something you can use to inspire, hope, and provides you with much-needed entertainment during this time. If I can do half of that, I would consider this a great success!
Please keep my family and me in prayer, as this situation is ongoing. In writing this, I do not want to promote blame, accusation, or create a side of which to agree.
My purpose is to show that everyone deals with family issues. No family is perfect, and my perspective is just that. I'm sure my sisters' opinions are different than mine. While I am hurt, my sisters and their families are beautiful, Godly people who richly deserve the blessings they've experienced. I will always love them dearly, which is why I needed to write this.
I spent early Wednesday morning (March 24), moving diseased clothing and other items from the apartment and throwing them in the trash. I managed to salvage some clothing, but not much. I exhausted myself cleaning out my room and breathing in toxic fumes for 3-4 hours.
I rested for most of the day. When my sister came home, she asked to speak to me and told me I was no longer welcome to stay. She suggested a shelter that she knew of, which had room and accepted people despite the epidemic.
I don't know why they asked me to leave and go to a shelter after the previous night discussing what plans we could implement and suggestions to help me organize my savings and other areas to help me gain security.
They were sending me out into the epicenter of a pandemic in the most affected region in the United States. I am considered high-risk due to my history of cancer, along with a compromised immune system due to Crohn's disease & Lymphedema.
I saw sending me away as throwing me out to die. Even if they think I caused the fire, the worst-case scenario of that would still make it an accident. Whatever personal feelings of anger or frustration, needed to be put on hold while keeping our family and their brother safe. What kind of person must I be if my own family sends me out?
God provided my covering a few hours later as a friend from church offered his place to stay. Sammy and I have been here since, but the wounds are still very fresh for me. If I took the time to evaluate the emotional pain I'm experiencing, I would need to be institutionalized.
I try not to make excuses for my situation, and I continue to write and do interviews on sports. I still hope to venture into public speaking eventually, but at this point, I have no idea what else is going to happen. The events of the past month have made me more determined and discouraged at the same time.
If you want to help support Mark, please click on this link or share it with someone who desires to make a difference. Being on disability since 2008, Mark relies on donations to live. All of his efforts (blog, radio show, sports articles, and book) he does not receive compensation. Please help support his efforts if you can.
WHERE TO FIND ME
I can always be reached by email (CKMagicSports@gmail or LivingAsACancerSurvivor@gmail). Please see the links below to follow me or contact me on social sites. I welcome (need) more followers and supporters. Please do not be shy about sharing your thoughts.