Chicago Cubs, cancer times two and the little things that matter

I’ve been a Chicago Cubs fan for 40 years and have been stricken with cancer not once but twice. Being a fan and this battle have reminded me of what matters.

My name is Nicholas Blazek. You know me from all the posts I’ve done over the last seven years in my time as a senior site expert. I’m a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan (or else this job wouldn’t be nearly as interesting to me). As some of you know, I’ve been afflicted with cancer not once but twice. Let me tell you; it’s been a hard journey -especially this second time.

The second time around, I started feeling better. I was walking fine and had minimal movement in my right arm. Within a short few weeks, I had no movement in my right arm, and I was using a cane for my right leg. I ‘blamed’ the chemotherapy, but that was misleading. It wasn’t. After a few days of taking it off, I had no qualms about it. This wasn’t the cause.

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I had a speech therapist, OT (occupational therapy) and PT (physical therapy.) I took a couple weeks off because I was depressed. I can admit it. But now I realize something. It’s the little things that matter. It’s the small stuff that means the most, not the seemingly big things. It doesn’t matter if I can’t move my arm or leg. I plan on it. But if I’m here, I’m here – and that’s good enough for me.

So I’ll hang my hat on OT, PT and speech therapy. I have to; it’s my only choice. If I want to get better, I have to try. No more being a ‘rebellious teen’ as Dr. Sumrall used to say. This wasn’t about the Cubs. Well, it was. It’s my strength through thick and thin. And 85 percent of the time, I’m outfitted in their gear. I’m just saying.

This wasn’t about the Chicago Cubs. It’s about cancer. Two times, actually. But Anthony Rizzo and Jon Lester lived it. And now I’m living it, too. They had Hodgkins Lymphoma; I have brain cancer. But I’ll beat it, this I promise you. I’ll have as many surgeries (God willing) as possible to be with 11-month-old daughter Adeline.

Thanks to a staff of doctors that really cares about me, I know I’m in good shape. The Cubs are just who I write for. Now, I couldn’t write for anyone else. That’s a fact. I’m a Cubs fan till I die. My grandpa got buried in his Cubs coat. That’s the way.

I’m a Cubs fan. Born and raised. That’s the way I was raised, and that’s who I am.