James "Rhio" O'Connor Memorial Scholarship Essay
There is an absolute stillness when life’s timeline has projected itself onto your soul. The silence will remain lost in oblivion as you face the inevitable path; death. That silence will undoubtedly last a few minutes, hours, days, years, or lifetimes following the present one until it turns into turmoil searching for peace. Erratic thoughts justifying the ends never seem to be put to rest. Nothing seems to ever be put to rest, not even the initial silence. Is that what being faced with death does to us? It elevates us to come face to face with it much quicker? It seems logical enough.
James “Rhio” O’Connor didn’t believe in the rationality of life, however. Upon being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer affecting 2,000 to 3,000 individuals due to asbestos exposure a year with invariably fatal results in all its forms, he surpassed all expectations and lived until he was 69, a staggering 7 ½ year defeat of prognosis. In his book, “They Said Months, I Chose Years: A Mesothelioma Survivor’s Story”, he documents his grand efforts inspired by Hippocrates words “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” through which with the help of professional clinicians, he adopted a strict wholesome, organic, and veggie diet accompanied with his practice of holistic mesothelioma mind-body medicine.
O’Connor found hope where hope wasn’t known to exist. He rose above sociological standards and began not a battle with cancer, but a battle against course of thought. That’s where I draw my inspiration from his story. He gained purpose in his last seven years and a rare vigor for life. Given I have about 81% less of a chance to attend college than any other person my age who has spent more than 15 years in this country due to my legal status, I lack the governmental financial help. I have nonetheless grasped onto hope and life’s pedestal by their heart attempting scholarship after scholarship and working job after job to come up with the funds to get an education. A will that is nonetheless strengthened with O’Connor’s story in my heart. With my ailing mother searching for the same optimism “Rhio” had as she battles ovarian cancer and aids me to get an education, we live out our moments in abundance of purpose and hope.
Stepping into “Rhio’s”, my mothers, or any of the millions of people diagnosed with cancer each year’s shoes, the action plan I would take is clear. First and foremost, adhering to a spiritual belief to enhance the support system would be imperative. Buddhism would be the main choice considering I’ve attended Buddhist temples and connected heavily with the principles to end suffering and their views on death which depict life continuing even after this life ends. Though I am uncertain if O’Connor adopted any religious or spiritual beliefs in his last seven years, it was clear that his spirit extended his lifespan.
Following that, conducting research on the illness I was diagnosed with would take me to as many professional doctors as possible to gather their data. In order to treat myself, information is vital and other people’s experiences are vital. Therefore, visits to medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists would help me further see what treatment is available while always sustaining renewal of my spirit as my priority. Libraries, friends and family can help along the way by providing more insight. Taking the time to do research on my own in regards to what is happening to my body and what caused it can help me understand how to treat myself. Family and friends serve as an extended source of information. They can reach out to the community or anyone they know, or don’t, to gather information and resources that can not only help me evade death, but enjoy the life I am living at the moment without fear of the inevitable.
Samuel Butler once said that “If you follow reason far enough it always leads to conclusions that are contrary to reason”. Butler was insinuating that courage leads to facts. That truth lies in courage, hope, and faith; in the ephemeral. It’s become impossible to avert the inspiration from O’Connor’s story. It has sparked in me the courage to step out and explore the truly infinite array of possibilities out there. The timeline that strikes my soul is absolute. Most importantly, I have been inspired to live life in such a way that doesn’t let anyone’s word be my final verdict. And I know that I, like James “Rhio” O’Connor am infinite.
- Gina Lily Montoya