How Lung Cancer took My Best Friend from me.

I had a dear friend of mine, we'd lived together for years. He was one of the best people I knew. He was the kind of guy, who'd done at least two tours in Iraq, tough as nails. He'd joke that he'd rather go back to war, then deal with a medical issue. He was the kind of guy, who'd wear a smile (mostly smirk) and crack a really inappropriate joke. He had been able to do get his doctrine and ironically, it was about how people use virtual realties as escapism, and he was really proud of his research on it. 

In a very, "CC style" he decided that all his friends were a cult. We don't even know what we were supposed to believe in, and honestly, if I had to choose one thing; I'd say we all believed in him. We all believed in the joyful times. We all believed that no matter what happens, real life comes first, and on IMVU, we wanted to have a grand old time. 

When I learned that the month of November is lung cancer awareness, I knew it was meant to be. He was my why, for why I've done this magazine. His favorite color was blue. (Ironically the color for male and prostate cancers) and he'd always joke, "(his) lungs may be (messed up) but (his male part) and best part of (him) works just fine, and if (he) lost that, (he'd) lose (his) mind." 

"First the Worst"

I will never forget the first time he was found to have lung cancer. He had tried to hide it from me, until he started coughing blood. I was terrified but he remained calm and chipper. That's how he told me the first time.

I think he made some joke about it. 

He went through a surgery that, at the time, we were told they'd removed a tumor.

He had been a proud smoker of "many things" for years; I still, sit in my back yard and enjoy a menthol for him. 

"Second the best" 

The second time, he was more upfront. He had sat me down, and told me his will. When I asked what's making him feel the need to do this, he was honest. 

The second time was rough. The chemo made him lose his stunning blond hair. It turned red, thus he made himself a red head on IMVU. He used to joke, the "chemo made him have no soul." The circles under his eyes got a bit bigger. You could tell. This young, healthy, strong man was being eaten away by Cancer.

They also couldn't operate, this time... They had found, it "might be" in the blood.

Still, he made it through and joked about now becoming a red head. He had lost some of his hair, but was glad he didn't go bald. He was one to use gallows humor to make it out the other side. We actually had a party, the second time. It had taken 2 rounds of chemo and we felt blessed. It felt like, we could all take a deep breath. CC was going to get through this. He was going to be okay.