I look for
inspiration from many places – my wife, my kids, my parents, my brothers and
sisters and in-laws and nephews and nieces and students – lots of places. I frequently
find it.
What I don’t
often find is inspiration with multiple layers.
My inspiration
today comes in the life of a man who was diagnosed with breast cancer late in a
life that was full of inspiration.
Very briefly and
in his own words: “Mr. EDWARD BROOKE (Former Republican Senator,
Massachusetts): I'm doing well. Thank you for asking. I did have breast cancer.
They removed one of my breasts and took tissue from the other. They also
removed about 13 lymph nodes and so far I'm doing well. And I've been working
with the Cohen Foundation and Why Me Foundation to get the word out to men that
if you have breast tissue, you can have breast cancer.”
In addition to an amazingly active political life and
being showered with awards, former-senator Brooke is a strong, masculine beacon
for guys who need to talk about breast cancer (that statement remind you of
anything?)
He said, “‘I
want to produce some male breast cancer awareness on a national level,’ Brooke
explains. ‘I'm a very private person, but if I have to give up my privacy to
save a life, then I am willing to do that. Because if you have breast tissue,
you can get breast cancer. Don't forget that.’”
Inspiring.
Powerful. Very much “a man” (complete with a tawdry, very Washingtonesque um…relationship
life; he has come out later in life as an advocate for breast cancer awareness.
If you read my
other website, you’ll know that most of my reading lies along the lines of
science fiction, young adult novels, fantasy, and the occasional mystery. I
will be adding to my list Edward Brooke’s 2006 biography, Bridging The Divide: My Life (http://www.amazon.com/Bridging-Divide-Professor-Edward-Brooke/dp/product-description/0813539056).
I’ll let you know if I get inspired!
Resources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Brooke,
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10080320,
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2003-06-24-brooke_x.htm,
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