Wiley, United States
The STORM IS NOT THE DESTINATION
A Warrior’s Journey Through Three Bouts of Cancer
By Wiley Eugene Carter
The Unexpected Detour
In 2011, after thirty-seven years of government service, I retired at fifty-six with a dream of San Juan, Puerto Rico. But life had a different itinerary. My mother passed away, and my heart led me home to Atlanta to care for my father. Instead of tropical beaches, I found the reward of quality time-sharing wisdom with Dad and cheering for the Braves. I didn’t know then that these quiet days were the “calm” I needed before my greatest test.
The Three Battles
I was already a veteran of the fight. In 2001, at forty-six, I faced testicular cancer. In 2005, during a frozen winter in Buffalo, New York, I was hit with prostate cancer. I remember sitting with a bottle of vodka that snowy afternoon, trying to drown the reality. But the next morning, I traded the headache for a plan. I got locked into action, sought the best treatment in Atlanta, and eighteen months later, I was free.
Then, in 2013, three weeks before my 59th birthday, came the “dreadful call.” Rectum cancer. I had my “pity party” for two days, and then I asked the question that changed my life: “Why not me?” I realized I was no different from anyone else breathing this air. I decided if my glass was half full, I would add as much value as possible to every drop left.
The Miracle and the Victory Lab
In 2014, I arrived for my first chemo treatment, only to be told the robotic surgery had captured it all. No chemo was needed. The tumor was gone.
Today, at seventy-one, I am a man in his prime, defined by my future rather than my history. I have traded hospital gowns for passports. My “victory lap” has taken me to the vibrant heat of Thailand. I have a new wife, Gia, and a loyal Golden Doddle named Mecca who represents the simple, daily joys of a life worth living.
The Warrior’s Handbook:
Lessons for the Road
* Action is the Antidote:
Don’t let the news paralyze you. Plan your next course of action.
* The Mindset Shift:
Stop asking “Why me?” and start asking “Why not me?”
* Keep Moving:
The storm is never the destination; it is just the path to a peaceful shore.
Life is to be lived. Go live it for you-and me.
About the Author
Wiley Eugene Carter is a three-time cancer survivor who believes that health is wealth. His “victory lap” through Thailand remains a highlight of his journey-from navigating the bustling streets of Bangkok in a tuk-tuk to finding spiritual peace at the Wat Phra temple in Chiang Mai. He has a deep appreciation for culture and throughly enjoyed attending cooking classes with Gia to learn the secrets behind the Thai cuisine he enjoys.
* At home, he is rarely seen without his most loyal companion, Mecca, a Golden Doddle trained on a farm in Danville, Alabama. Mecca is a model of discipline -never stepping a paw in the kitchen and waiting patiently for his “free-free” command anytime he and Gia sit down together for their daily meals. But more than his training, it is Mecca compassion and desire to be near his owner at all times that serves as a daily reminder: after every storm, there is a peaceful shore and a wagging tail waiting.