Leaving Game due to cancer

[Lord Balian]

Hello all,

     I pray that you are all doing well.  It hurts me so much to say this, but I must leave the game in order to try to deal with my new illness, that being Stage 3 Colon Cancer.  I already had 1/3 of my colon removed, along with the tumor.  In addition, I had 3 out of 69 lymph nodes removed.  No signs the cancer (right now) is anywhere else.  However, in order to increase survival rates, I must do 6 months of chemo.  With chemo, the odds that the cancer comes back is about 25-30%. 

     As many of you know, I already have been dealing with Cystic Fibrosis, which i thought was enough to deal with.  I feel so overwhelmed, sad, depressed, and, well...nevermind...I should not type what i am thinking here.....Anyway, thank you all (the ones I have had the opportunity to play with) for the great times over the last couple of years.  You all have been so kind. 

 

     Let m say this to you that are younger then 30; I know you have been told this before, and I know you go to bed at night not worrying too much about your own lifespan, but things really can change on the drop of a hat.  One moment you are planning a trip with your wife, and the next you are wondering if you need to start planning your funeral.  Many young folks would laugh at this, because of how awkward they feel about talking about such things.  But trust me, this can happen to you too, and I pray hard that it does not.  According to the American Cancer Society, at some point in their lives, 42% of men and 37% of women will end up getting a cancer diagnosis.  Now, think about that. And no, this is no joke it is real.  Look it up.  Check out the stats yourself.  Now some of those cancers might be little or minor like a cancerous mole that can be easiely removed. But there are some cancers that are not, like mine.  On October 12th I went to the ER for what i thought was going to be a Cystic Fibrosis issue, dehydration and constipation.  But after an xray and ultrasound showed no reason for my pain, the doc did a cat scan too.  It was that scan that showed my tumor in the colon.  When the doctor told me this, I just started to cry. On New Years last year I thought that turning 42 and that 2017 were going to be amazing for me.  Instead, I am living a nightmare.  So please dont take your life or the people in it that mean something to you for granted.  Tell them each time you see them either that you love them, care about them, or simply reaffirm your friendship with them (if you are too young yet and think telling a friend that you love them is stupid or something).  I am 42 years old, and I was planning, with my CF, to make it to at least 60. Now, I pray to make it to 47, another 5 years.  God I am so scared about this.

 

    I truly wish you all the very best.  If you ever want to write me, feel free, but please do so at my email address at: [email protected] 

 

Blessings,

 

Daniel Rouan

 

    

 

[Malakai]

My prayers are with you and your family. 

[Kamea Arano]

Sad to see you go. I hope the best for you buddy. You have my upmost support in such a hard time like this.

[Sailor Jerry]

I know things are looking rough, but stay strong, not only for yourself, but for those around you.  In many cases, ones personal strength, fortitude and determination are what sees them through tough times like these.  I didn't get a chance to know you before this and, speaking for a large majority here, I hope (and expect) to see you around here again next spring.  If you ever feel to need to rant and rave to a complete stranger, please shoot me a PM, here, in-game, discord, wherever.  Take care and we'll be seeing you soon.

[King Olafr of the Faroes]

All the best to you Dan.

 

Being from a family where people live to 90+ or die from cancer at any age before that, I can relate to the fact that you shouldn't take life lightly. Just try to do what makes the world better and you happier. They tend to coincide. :-)