So very sad and heartbreaking when a life has to be taken so abruptly. He will probably be missed by the ones who knew him and the ones who will read his words many years from now.
You had me tears, very touching. Thank you for sharing this.

Thank you for posting this. It's an extraordinary story by a man of courage. I never heard of him before, but I'm glad to have heard of him now. Death is a train that stops at all stations. We'll all take that ride. He's taking it as it ought to be taking it. I hope I can do as well when my time to ride comes.

wow Patrick... is he a friend?

I was immediately drawn into his words, and finished thinking what a loss this was to all of us who are readers. Also, what a courageous and generous insight into a world that will some day be familiar to many of us. Thank you.

A beautiful writer, an amazing man...xox

I think he was brave to go out with his senses, knowing his loved ones, and without too much pain, although their will be some. You had some friend there.

Hey FE, Henry thankx for the stop
Survived a major tech crash, but I'm back...
Mike was an incredible read, many of his words remind me of another of my faves on life, goes like this, "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"
— Hunter S. Thompson

Hey Gabby
Nary a friend, but readin' him for years I feel I know him...

Ann
You sound very wise, glad you found it interesting...

Ahh beautiful Robin, amazazing indeed!xoxoxo

Scanman he was definitely one of the best! Thanx for the peek...

We should all hope to have the balls to go out with that much class.

stoic writing amidst a bleak outlook — a sad outcome.

Such a shame. Another brilliant life snuffed out by cancer. Thanks for posting, Patrick.

Thank you for your tribute and sharing the link so that his words can live on in my life and those of all of us who did not know his work and now will.
I am so very sorry that this adventure came to an end.
rated with love

Michael,Chuck, I knew you katz would appreciate Mike's spirit, thanx for the read... How's life in your worlds?

Lisa , cancer can be more than an ugly word, in Mike's case it was a life sentence... I was amazed at the way he dealt with all of it, you said it perfectly, "quite the shame"...

Kimberly, cancer has taken so much, from so many, sad! Mike was not an OS'er, I read him for years, thought his words were worth the mention on our site... Thanx for the stop...

Romantic, You're most certainly welcome!

So sorry to hear this. It scares me to know how deadly the cure is in some cases. Have a niece that just finished months of chemo for Lymphoma in her right lung and lymph nodes in her neck. Her PET scan is clear as of yesterday. Another male friend called me out of the blue last week to say he had beaten Lymphoma after months of chemo as well. He was brutally disgusted with the medical system and called "cancer, a huge business for the government and doctors." Either he was out of his mind with the effects of chemo or he truly believes this to be the case. He further claimed there is a sure fire way to beat most cancer through diet alone. If that were true, a multitude of doctors worldwide would be out of business. If it were true, the media would have an orgy over this information. And books on "cancer diets" would be best sellers. This notion or belief has been talked about and written about before and for many years. Maybe most people are just so convinced that the medical realm has our best interests at heart. One must question this when faced with a "deadly" illness with an even deadlier protocol. So sorry for Mike and his family, as surely, they put their trust in their doctors and medical findings, following what was believed to be the best course of action. We can only hope for truth in medicine, if faced with such unwelcome news. It makes me think back to my father's brain cancer and wonder, if he hadn't gone in so soon for brain surgery, would he have lived longer? Who can tell? Forgive me for this, but I am beginning to believe, that if we truly want to "die at home," we have to stay out of hospitals. Again, so very sorry for Mike.

Thank you for posting this and his link. Sad story of a courageous man

Kathy The endless stories of those afflicted by cancer, many with successful treatment, yet the permanent scars, and too often death, bring much sadness! I do have faith in science, and medicine, as for diet, hmm... Thanx for stopin'

Trilogy You're very welcome, Mike was a favorite...

I'm not a hateful person, but I hate fucking cancer!

Poppi Ditto!

I'm really sorry to learn this, I had no idea.

I didn't know when I sent the PM.