I have chronicled my experience with Ewings's Sarcoma through a book entitled, "A Call to Faith, The Journey of a Cancer Survivor." I wrote my story from the third person perspective because I really didn't want it to be about me, but about the hopes and inspirations that come through the struggle. The following is the Prologue to the book. I hope you enjoy the story.

Prologue

The events that unfold before you in the life of Skip Sibley are true to the best of the author’s recollections. Skip Sibley, as well as the rest of the group of characters in this book, have been made up in name only. The triumphs and tragedies and everyday occurrences that take place in their lives are very real.

Unfortunately, suffering is a part of life, but fortunately there is hope to counterbalance the pain. Anyone who has gone through cancer, lost loved ones, and witnessed family deconstruction has a story to tell. Skip Sibley is a regular guy who lived such a life. His successes are not unlike your own and his recrudescence of difficult issues afflicts the everyday man. The undercurrent of stress and mental health concerns trouble many of us and arise in Skip at times throughout the story.

If we live long enough, events will appear that we would rather not witness. All of us will go through the good and the bad that life has to offer. They say that it is how you react to trying times that matters, not the times themselves. Perspective changes and can go in either a positive or negative direction. The second coming of faith in the life of Skip Sibley, it is believed, allowed him the resilience necessary to fight the tough physical and emotional battles that came his way. Skip’s salvation was transcendental and led him to a better place. Everyone must find that place, be it of secular or non-secular means. Faith is espoused repeatedly throughout this journey because it is the author’s belief that faith has been what has kept Skip going throughout these tumultuous times.

This is the story of Skip Sibley, but it could be your story as well.