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Woody Hesselbarth

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Sunflower Memorial

CFCF cherishes and honors the memory of Woody Hesselbarth with a Sunflower Memorial. To view Woody's obituary, please click here

Profile

Cancer type: Atypical Lung Carcinoid
Diagnosis year: 2004
Home: Fort Collins, CO - USA

How I Survive Cancer

As you can tell, I'm congenitally incapable of being very serious (and no, not all the folks in Fort Collins stick out their tongues :-)

I laugh... a lot.

I remember that I've had an incredible 57 years doing a bazillion things that most folks would be amazed at.

I make other people laugh... a lot.

I plan on being an 80 year old skier.

I ride my bike to work (which is easily as dangerous as having stage IV cancer!).

I try to make a difference in my world every day.

I gave up a New Year's eve (First Night) to find out that my cancer is as atypical as I am. I've not missed one since.

I remember that every minute I'm alive is an unbelievable gift (it helps to have an overworked squad of angels hanging around).

I've been dying for nearly 58 years... and I'm getting better at it every day... so I'm pretty relaxed about the whole thing.

Carcinoid is a gift that gives me cred' to support those in my world who also face the beast.

When life is a pain in the butt (sando shots) I just pull up the pants and get back on the bike.

I give my little 18 year-old rescued schipperke, Frostbite, scritches under her chin knowing that she'll carry the love across the Rainbow Bridge.

How I Fight for a Cure

Hellraising, as Mother Jones would put it.

Not accepting that good medical care is a privilege.

Hugging my partner... and receiving her hugs in return.

Actually believing that my letter to Congress has as much weight and way more moral heft than dinner with Jack Abramoff.

Offering my decrepit body to science for clinical trials.

Biking to Run for Hope and wearing purple proudly.

Believing that my oncologist is one of the best - and acting on that belief.

Letting Rainbo, my schipperke, give me an ear washing (ok, that's pretty hard to take much of).

My Caring Words of Encouragement

God is crazy you know...

Anyone with a lick of sense can see that this world is a very painful place. A place where staying curled up in the fetal position seems like a reasonable response.

That's why uncurling so Love can be poured over my head is so absurd.

That's why struggling to my knees so I can give all that Love away is so incomprehensible.

Wacko, I tell you... completely nuts...

It helps to laugh a lot

It helps to love even more.