James "Rhio" O'Conner Memorial Scholarship Essay Contest Entry

Cancer. It’s a word that when heard can easily turn ones dreams into history. To many people it symbolizes the end, a termination. James “Rhio” O’Conner though, a courageous man diagnosed with terminal mesothelioma, turned cancer into hope. He was given a year to live after his diagnosis, but rather than sit and accept his fate, he waged a battle that would go down in the ages as, to many, a victory.
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by the inhalation or ingestion of asbestos. It is relatively rare, effecting 2,000 to 3,000 people a year with four times as many males being effected. Asbestos was commonly used in many industries until it’s health risks were realized in the mid-1970’s and use of the material has subsequently declined. Rhio was diagnosed with pleural mesolthelioma, a type that develops in the lining of the lungs. Surgery was not possible to remove a cancerous tumor because of it’s proximity to his spine and chemotherapy was not a proportionally viable option because his quality of life would be effected and his survival time would not significantly increase.
After his diagnosis, it was suggested by his doctor that Rhio take a cruise to soften the blow of the news. He declined the doctors suggestions, and instead marched courageously into a battle that was weighted against him. He was determined to beat the disease, and spent much of time researching the disease, talking to may doctors, and learning about various therapies, their side effects, and the ideas behind them. He developed his own method of treatment inspired by what he learned from this research along with personally selected professionals. This hard work and determination helped Rhio outlive his doctor-given expiration date by more than six years.
I can honestly say that I have been touched by Rhio’s determination, courage, and commitment to his cause. It may have seemed easier and perhaps, correct to accept the oncologists prescription of a year to live. He was after all, a doctor, a professional in his craft. Rhio’s story inspires me in a few ways. First, it encourages me to not always assume something is right only because someone says it is. Too many times people accept things because that is what they were told, and they therefore believe it. Rhio was told that he only had a year to live. He questioned his prognosis though, and found out for himself that that was not the case. Rhio also inspires me through his “no fear” attitude. It appears as though in his last years of life, he realized that there was no where to go but up. He had nothing to lose considering he was only expected to live for another year.
If I was handed the same challenges the Rhio faced, I would have to say that I would handle the situation similarly, but not exactly the same. I would have to say that I would absolutely focus my time on alternative treatments, but I would also focus a significant amount of time on doing things that would make a lasting impression on people and create my legacy. I would without a doubt get several opinions from different oncologists and learn more about the disease via research on the internet and through medical journals, and put that information into use in a practical manner. More of my time though, would be focused on living out the short amount of time that certainly had left. Being a 19 year old, there are many things in life that I have not been blessed enough to have experienced. I have never sky dived. I have never been to another country. I have never surfed. Sure, I would spend some time doing those things. But perhaps more of my time would be spent helping others in situations similar to mine.
After losing my grandmother to breast cancer, I spent a significant amount of time thinking about cancer. I though about how it could be cured, but of course being 19 years old with absolutely no medical knowledge my horizons were very limited. I remembered that ever other Sunday after my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, I would bring her to the local grocery store to go shopping. It was not much, but something that I could do for her. I realized that the simple act of showing up made my grandmother day exponentially better. It seemed as though when I pulled into her driveway in my mother’s while Ford Taurus, my grandmother seemed happy; almost euphoric. I thought about this and thought about why it made her so happy. Could it be the fact that she did not see anyone much during the week? Maybe. I continued to think about it and couldn’t understand how who was almost definitely so close to death could still have moments of happiness, knowing that the end was near. It occurred to me one day though, that the reason she may have been so happy was because of the fact that for that split second, when her grandson pulled into the driveway to bring her out to shop, perhaps the highlight of her week, she forgot about the cancer. When looking at it this way, I saw that in a way my minute act of kindness for my grandmother actually cured her cancer for a split second as she forgot about it.
I would apply this learned philosophy to other people if I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I feel that my “curing” of cancer would almost be a staple in my short time left and would make me feel like I had done something that would last: a legacy.
At the beginning of this essay, I referred to Rhio’s struggle as a victory. To some, dying might not seem like a victory. To Rhio though, being granted an extra six years when you were only told you were allowed one because of your own hard work is truly a victory. Rhio, as it may be interpreted, beat cancer.

Learn more about mesothelioma at : www.survivingmesothelioma.com