The unpredictability of future is often scary than being intriguing to some people as we see cases regarding a sudden development of deathly disease or ill-fated turn of events that can break one’s morale and can put a stop to their dreams, aspiration, desires, and even wreak havoc on families, relatives, and others. Such is the case with the diagnosis of cancer, the deathly disease. Fortunately, the advancement of medical science has produced the cure for the fatal illness which still demands long term patience and strength to succeed in the process of treatment. However, in trying times like these, one can only aspire for positivity and high mental power to sail through the tough time.
The story of Wade MacLeod certainly depicts the need for optimism in a time of his life falling apart. This hockey player, who was a part of the Northeastern University’s hockey team, says that his hockey mentality and rigorous physical training for the athletic purpose had helped him in standing against the sudden discovery of the glioblastoma tumour lodged between the parts of his brain responsible for motor skills and speech. This discovery barred him from the certainty of a chance to play in the National Hockey League as two of his line-mates were already promoted. It was a Valentine’s Day of 2013, which according to MacLeod changed his life. He said, “I took (cancer) on with a hockey player’s mentality, just one shift at a time, one day at a time”.
For the last seven years, Wade had to endure four brain surgeries and receive a round of radiation and chemotherapy treatments to combat the mass in his left side of the brain. He credits his wife Karly, an interior designer who has supported him throughout this journey and they have a little daughter together, named Ava. They have gone through two recurrences of cancer together. Nonetheless, Wade is partially back at the ice-rink after he was declared cancer-free around last Christmas and he is ready to commence the second part of the journey of his life.
Rubena Bose