Paul & Lisa Moore
Gardendale, AL
Although I suffered for many years from Crohn’s disease, I do not have it now. Yes, I have rectal cancer, Stage three, but it does not have me. I have survived five surgeries, months in the hospital, a year and a half of radiation and Chemo, many setbacks, several bouts with depression, and personal set backs with family and friends, but this disease has taught me more about life in the last 18 months than I learned in my 55 years.
I am more fortunate than most of the people I have met with the same disease. I have been fortunate enough to finally receive good scans and a break from scans for the next three months! I have learned that my wife is the strongest person I know! Lisa has taken care of me through everything, and she has seen more than any wife should have to see, and she has endured more pain and suffering than any wife should have to endure.
I have learned that Lisa is a beautiful person inside and out and has a gift for supporting and sharing with others about this devastating cancer.
I have many mixed blessings from this cancer, and for that I am thankful. I have more time to spend with my aging parents and my wife and friends and family and I have learned to appreciate ALL the smaller things in life that are larger than life to me now!
Rectal cancer is a painful disease. It is not the easiest cancer to talk about. I no longer am modest about my rectal cancer because of all the people I have met through the process.
I feel very fortunate to have fallen in the hands of the doctors at UAB hopsital. I was a patient at a neighboring hospital and that hospital was shut down right before I fell ill, and I just fell in their lap. I could not have asked for better doctors, nurses and caretakers than those at UAB. My care at Kirklin Clinic and my oncologist and radiation oncologist were more than I could have ever hoped for.
I am a lucky man! I am going to beat this thing! I have many people to thank. Most importantly, I thank God for sparing my life and allowing me to be where I am right now.
Paul L Moore
Hi Paul:. Your insight with this situation is truly remarkable. You are able to see a silver lining even in the darkest of situations and I am thankful I was able to share this perspective through your story. You are a lucky man to have such great support from family and friends. I wish you the best of luck and that you recover and regain your health once more.