Dear Fellow RV-Dreamers,

The consequence of my aborted surgery of late June was the determination that the cancer has spread beyond my esophagus and is now also lodged in my liver.I have been told that this is a terminal condition and the prognosis is 6 months to 1 year.The intended purpose of the proposed course of treatment--the Chemotherapy--is not a ‘cure’ but rather an attempt to curtail or delay the growth or spread of the cancer cells as long as possible.Whatever combination of drugs/chemicals they choose to use will have to be modified over time—over and over again--as each choice in turn becomes ineffective.Apparently this will ultimately prove fruitless once there no longer exists any possible effective combination.Personally I am determined to fight to make this outcome occur as far in the future as possible.

Needless to say many things have gone through my mind since learning of my impending fate.I wish to take this opportunity to elaborate on one of them.

What I am Grateful For

I.I am grateful that I have enjoyed 58 wonderful years of life.That I was raised in a loving family and have always enjoyed the fellowship of good friends—then and now.

II.I am grateful that several years ago, when my mother’s health and mental status degraded to the point that she could no longer care for herself, I took on the responsibility to care for her at home determined that she spend her remaining days surrounded by places and persons familiar to her, and by her remaining pets.I am grateful that I was able to fulfill this responsibility and that I can rest in peace knowing that she and none of her beloved poms will be left behind and that all were able to spend their last days in the comfort and with the peace of mind of loving surroundings.

III.I am grateful that two and one-half years ago, at the age of 55, I ignored traditional practice and retired and decided, although I had never even driven an RV, that I would become a full-timer.I harbor absolutely no regrets concerning the more then two years I have spent on the road visiting places I have never been to before and meeting so many wonderful people along the way.Let this serve as an example or warning for those readers of RV-Dreams out there who are hesitating about taking the plunge.None of us know how much time we have remaining—I just happen to know that mine is more limited than most.In retrospect I can only say that I would have greatly regretted circumstances had I been diagnosed with this and found myself still living the 9 to 5 daily grind that my life had become while taking the safe path and waiting to retire until I reached age 65.

IV.I am grateful that in the end I have found how important family really is.My brother—Shay--and his kids--Sam, Katina, and Jake--are providing me with a great deal of love and support that I am not sure that I could do without under the circumstances.I also include in this a true appreciation of the role friendship plays in our lives.The Farmers—Russ and Susan—have proven to be true blue friends and all of my fellow members of the RV-Dreams family have provided great solace in this time of great tribulation in my life.

Bless you all,

Scott Gad