Really don't know why I'm writing this. Maybe my story will help somebody else out there who may be going through some difficult times. My story actually begins on May 16, 2010 when I attended the Traditional bow shoot in Chester Texas. I was shooting my Martin Hatfield, #65, and shot a 338 on the course. One of my best performances. A few days later, 5-20-10, I started Chemotherapy for throat cancer. What followed was a year of absolute hell. It's hard to describe the pain and misery of throat cancer treatment. I wish that on no man. Cooked by radiation, I couldn't swallow, and survived 8 months on a feeding tube,liquid diet, and some of the most powerful painkillers man has deviced. Often I contemplated suicide. Actually that's not true. I planned my suicide. To the detail. What stopped me? I wasn't strong enough to get up and leave the house. I didn't want my wife to find me at home, so I planned to drive to my hunting area, text my grid coordinates to the authorities, and end my pain once and for all. I forgot somewhere that suicide is a final answer to often temporary problems. The treatments took their toll on my body. I went from a young strong 210 pounds to a shell of a man. At 150 pounds, I was so physically weakened, I couldn't hardly stand or walk. I didn't have the strength to even 'pick' up a bow, much less shoot it. But I fought back. And even though I'm still in recovery, my weight is slowly coming back and I get stronger ever week.
In May 2011, I, along with my son-in-law, went back to Chester. I had managed to build back enough strength to draw a 35# Samick Sage. But my endurance wasn't there, and I was unable to complete the whole course. Today, I shot the Hatfield. Over a dozen arrows. Into a 2" circle at 10 yards. Once again, I'm preparing for Chester. We are born, and then we die. Life, or what you choose to make of it, is in between. So if you too are having difficult times, problems that just don't want to seem to end, look to the Heavens, and say a small prayer. Then grit your damn teeth and fight thru it!
Topic: Long road back, preparing for Chester (Read 1745 times)
