Beautiful....

My mother died of the same metastatic colon cancer as Chadwick Boseman in 1996. Ever since then, my husband and I first, got our paperwork in order, creating a Living Trust so our sons would not have to go through the bullshit that families go through when someone dies; second, I make sure to have the colonoscopies I need to, at the intervals prescribed to ensure a chance at survival if anything does ever show up. So far, so good.

My Italian husband, however, was not as lucky. While not Black, nor in his 30s -- it never crossed his mind either. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2014, further complicated by the fact that it had spread to one of his kidneys. Hard times for sure, but we talked and talked and got through it. Doctors said better to take the infected kidney totally out, rather than risk spreading the cancer to other organs by excising the tumor. More talking, because if he only had one kidney, who'd be able to give him one if that one failed -- not me, because one of mine is small & pelvic.

A-a-a-nyway. They took the kidney, made sure they got all the cancer and he's been good ever since -- no chemo needed. And as you said, he "was blessed, they caught it early enough; he had health insurance, a supportive network and partner and quality medical care." (Would that the many here in the US had any or all of that...)

We've sat our sons down, shared EVERYTHING their Grandma and Dad went through -- to give them the chance (something all of us should be doing!!).

Apologize for going in and on so long, but your piece brought up a whole lot of sentiments. Seems like Jimmy's always floating around, NO?