RESPONSE: Health obstacles, hope

Mr. Malloy’s Friday, July 23 op-ed is so true. I hope Congressman Fulcher follows the top line. It is so important to believe and trust those six words. Having a cancer that is treatable is God’s help. Having friends that encourage you is also helpful.

Mr. Malloy’s health obstacles remind me of my own through the years. I was born with a defective aortic valve and not allowed in sports as I grew up. When I was 39, I had prostate cancer. When I was 55, I had major heart surgery to replace the valve. While all the testing went on they discovered I not only had a bad valve, I also had an aneurysm on my aorta. That ended with a human aorta (including the valve). I blessed the donor and still do.

They said it would last around 25 years. When I was 80, the valve started to go bad. I had a new valve replacement with new technology. It was easier than having a tooth pulled. Thanks to technology, but again during the testing they found I had lung cancer. More testing for what kind of cancer. With that cutting into my ribs I flatlined. Thank you again, I was brought back. After that I went through radiation.

I turned 83 on July 29. Always tell your doctor if it’s only a hangnail! “Health obstacles are not death sentences.”

J.W. VANCE

Coeur d’Alene