James "Rhio" O'Connor Memorial Scholarship /Cancer Education

Monica Creel

December 8, 2009

James “Rhio” O’Connor Memorial Scholarship Essay Contest

There is something about life that can give us great strength or knock us on our knees disabling us with a weakness that almost no human can discern. There are different points in our lives where we display traits of strength or weakness .We never stop and think that we have a choice. Mr. James O’Connor’s story informs us that it is our choice to stand with strength or succumb to weakness. Any diagnosis of cancer can place us in a vulnerable state. However, do we bathe in our own vulnerabilities or do we fight cancer with education and the will to live.

In searching for college scholarships I discovered the James “Rhio “O’Connor Memorial scholarship. I was immediately interested when I saw that he had one of several types of cancer. I do not know much about mesothelioma http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com/. However, my husband is a survivor of colon cancer. Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world. In researching mesothelioma I have learned that it is a rare form of cancer of the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most internal organs. The only known cause is exposure to asbestos www.survivingmesothelioma.com .

Mr. O’Connor’s story has inspired me. I admire his courage to advocate for his health and well being. He demonstrated an act that did not allow someone else to determine his future. I am encouraged by his drive to educate himself on alternative treatment when he was told by medical professionals that there was no hope. When my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer in May of 2008 he had the option to have surgery and chemotherapy; these treatments were not optional for Mr. O’Connor, so I am not sure what we would have done if the doctors had told my husband to basically give up and just die. I now know that if I am faced with cancer that I will utilize all available resources such as researchers, libraries, and the internet. I would involve friends and family who are willing to advocate for me. I would make life changes in diet, exercise and investigate herbal medicines and treatment. I would learn about holistic health. I would implement constant prayer and meditation.

After reading Mr. O’Connor’s story, I realize that if I am faced with a terminal diagnosis of cancer that I don’t have to lay and wait for the inevitable. The experience of being the caretaker of a cancer patient gave me the strength to advocate and never give up hope. Mr. O’Connor has added to this concept because I am informed about the facts that there are other alternative treatments if surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are not available.

The greatest gifts that Mr. O’Connor has given are spirit and promise built on pure positivity. In Mr. O’Connor’s quest to treat his cancer and cleanse the soul he wakes up my thirst for knowledge.

I am impressed with Mr. O’Connor’s willingness to educate himself in every way necessary to make an informed decision for himself. In his biography it states that along with his intellectual effort Mr. O’Connor had an optimistic spirit. This means so much to me because I am a former pessimist who began to think positive a few years ago. Mr. O’Connor has confirmed what I already knew that there is an entity greater than us. Mr. O’Connor has inspired me to have faith. Mr. O’Connor was definitely a man who chose to live and did not accept that death was the only answer. I know that if I am ever faced with incurable cancer that it’s not necessarily over in six weeks or six months that I could live six years or longer like Mr. O’Connor. I have been inspired by Mr. O’Connor ‘s story , and I have a renewed faith that I can accomplish anything with a positive spirit, an opened mind , and the willingness to empower myself with knowledge; upon these ideals I shall live life , for one diagnosis does not secure anyone’s fate.

Mr. O’Connor’s story can assist in transforming me into an individual who takes charge in making health decisions, one who realizes the importance of education, and one who appreciates and values life.

Monica Creel

December 8, 2009

James “Rhio” O’Connor Memorial Scholarship Essay Contest

There is something about life that can give us great strength or knock us on our knees disabling us with a weakness that almost no human can discern. There are different points in our lives where we display traits of strength or weakness .We never stop and think that we have a choice. Mr. James O’Connor’s story informs us that it is our choice to stand with strength or succumb to weakness. Any diagnosis of cancer can place us in a vulnerable state. However, do we bathe in our own vulnerabilities or do we fight cancer with education and the will to live.

In searching for college scholarships I discovered the James “Rhio “O’Connor Memorial scholarship. I was immediately interested when I saw that he had one of several types of cancer. I do not know much about mesothelioma www.survivingmesothelioma.com . However, my husband is a survivor of colon cancer. Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world. In researching mesothelioma I have learned that it is a rare form of cancer of the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most internal organs. The only known cause is exposure to asbestos www.survivingmesothelioma.com .

Mr. O’Connor’s story has inspired me. I admire his courage to advocate for his health and well being. He demonstrated an act that did not allow someone else to determine his future. I am encouraged by his drive to educate himself on alternative treatment when he was told by medical professionals that there was no hope. When my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer in May of 2008 he had the option to have surgery and chemotherapy; these treatments were not optional for Mr. O’Connor, so I am not sure what we would have done if the doctors had told my husband to basically give up and just die. I now know that if I am faced with cancer that I will utilize all available resources such as researchers, libraries, and the internet. I would involve friends and family who are willing to advocate for me. I would make life changes in diet, exercise and investigate herbal medicines and treatment. I would learn about holistic health. I would implement constant prayer and meditation.

After reading Mr. O’Connor’s story, I realize that if I am faced with a terminal diagnosis of cancer that I don’t have to lay and wait for the inevitable. The experience of being the caretaker of a cancer patient gave me the strength to advocate and never give up hope. Mr. O’Connor has added to this concept because I am informed about the facts that there are other alternative treatments if surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are not available.

The greatest gifts that Mr. O’Connor has given are spirit and promise built on pure positivity. In Mr. O’Connor’s quest to treat his cancer and cleanse the soul he wakes up my thirst for knowledge.

I am impressed with Mr. O’Connor’s willingness to educate himself in every way necessary to make an informed decision for himself. In his biography it states that along with his intellectual effort Mr. O’Connor had an optimistic spirit. This means so much to me because I am a former pessimist who began to think positive a few years ago. Mr. O’Connor has confirmed what I already knew that there is an entity greater than us. Mr. O’Connor has inspired me to have faith. Mr. O’Connor was definitely a man who chose to live and did not accept that death was the only answer. I know that if I am ever faced with incurable cancer that it’s not necessarily over in six weeks or six months that I could live six years or longer like Mr. O’Connor. I have been inspired by Mr. O’Connor ‘s story , and I have a renewed faith that I can accomplish anything with a positive spirit, an opened mind , and the willingness to empower myself with knowledge; upon these ideals I shall live life , for one diagnosis does not secure anyone’s fate.

Mr. O’Connor’s story can assist in transforming me into an individual who takes charge in making health decisions, one who realizes the importance of education, and one who appreciates and values life.

Monica Creel

December 8, 2009

James “Rhio” O’Connor Memorial Scholarship Essay Contest

There is something about life that can give us great strength or knock us on our knees disabling us with a weakness that almost no human can discern. There are different points in our lives where we display traits of strength or weakness .We never stop and think that we have a choice. Mr. James O’Connor’s story informs us that it is our choice to stand with strength or succumb to weakness. Any diagnosis of cancer can place us in a vulnerable state. However, do we bathe in our own vulnerabilities or do we fight cancer with education and the will to live.

In searching for college scholarships I discovered the James “Rhio “O’Connor Memorial scholarship. I was immediately interested when I saw that he had one of several types of cancer. I do not know much about mesothelioma www.survivingmesothelioma.com . However, my husband is a survivor of colon cancer. Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world. In researching mesothelioma I have learned that it is a rare form of cancer of the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most internal organs. The only known cause is exposure to asbestos www.survivingmesothelioma.com .

Mr. O’Connor’s story has inspired me. I admire his courage to advocate for his health and well being. He demonstrated an act that did not allow someone else to determine his future. I am encouraged by his drive to educate himself on alternative treatment when he was told by medical professionals that there was no hope. When my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer in May of 2008 he had the option to have surgery and chemotherapy; these treatments were not optional for Mr. O’Connor, so I am not sure what we would have done if the doctors had told my husband to basically give up and just die. I now know that if I am faced with cancer that I will utilize all available resources such as researchers, libraries, and the internet. I would involve friends and family who are willing to advocate for me. I would make life changes in diet, exercise and investigate herbal medicines and treatment. I would learn about holistic health. I would implement constant prayer and meditation.

After reading Mr. O’Connor’s story, I realize that if I am faced with a terminal diagnosis of cancer that I don’t have to lay and wait for the inevitable. The experience of being the caretaker of a cancer patient gave me the strength to advocate and never give up hope. Mr. O’Connor has added to this concept because I am informed about the facts that there are other alternative treatments if surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are not available.

The greatest gifts that Mr. O’Connor has given are spirit and promise built on pure positivity. In Mr. O’Connor’s quest to treat his cancer and cleanse the soul he wakes up my thirst for knowledge.

I am impressed with Mr. O’Connor’s willingness to educate himself in every way necessary to make an informed decision for himself. In his biography it states that along with his intellectual effort Mr. O’Connor had an optimistic spirit. This means so much to me because I am a former pessimist who began to think positive a few years ago. Mr. O’Connor has confirmed what I already knew that there is an entity greater than us. Mr. O’Connor has inspired me to have faith. Mr. O’Connor was definitely a man who chose to live and did not accept that death was the only answer. I know that if I am ever faced with incurable cancer that it’s not necessarily over in six weeks or six months that I could live six years or longer like Mr. O’Connor. I have been inspired by Mr. O’Connor ‘s story , and I have a renewed faith that I can accomplish anything with a positive spirit, an opened mind , and the willingness to empower myself with knowledge; upon these ideals I shall live life , for one diagnosis does not secure anyone’s fate.

Mr. O’Connor’s story can assist in transforming me into an individual who takes charge in making health decisions, one who realizes the importance of education, and one who appreciates and values life.

v