2 People Lucky to be Alive

Who are they?

Me, Ryan. And my sister, Amanda.

Now, I believe all of us are lucky to be here in this life.

Your existence is a miracle in and of itself.

Amanda and I almost never made it here. But we are no different than you.

The circumstances of your parents lives and those that came before them had to line up ever so perfectly for you to be alive.

The story I’m about to tell you is just a small piece of how I made it here to this life.

I hope it makes you realize how lucky we all are.

This will serve as an addendum to How to Live Forever, if you will ;)

I didn’t include this story in the original article because it’s not just my story to tell, but my dad’s as well. And I wanted to get his permission before sharing this with you because it’s a really personal story of his.

I published How to Live Forever on Thursday, Feb. 29. Then, I sent it over to him, as I normally do after publishing. He sent me a text about 15 minutes later: “The BEST YET, without question Bud ❤️” I knew this one would hit home given what it was about and what we’ve gone through.

So I FaceTimed him, just to chit chat, and to hear his thoughts. When he answered, I could see that what I wrote had brought tears to his eyes. How could it not?

We talked for a while discussing all things life, death, and how to make the most of each day.

While we were chatting, the topic of my own birth came up.

Now, most of you, even if you know me pretty well, probably don’t know this story.

I didn’t even know all of the details myself until a few months ago.

So here ya go…

Before my sister or I were born, my dad was down the shore with his friends. One of the things they’d do there was play football on the beach. All of them were South Philly guys, so needless to say, they fucking dominated the competition all across the Jersey shore.

One weekend on the way home from the shore, my dad didn’t too feel great. Something was off. Something down below. It was his balls. He told his mother, my grandmom, and she told him to go the doctor. His doctor told him to go get checked out immediately. The doctor knew something was off but wasn’t exactly sure what it was.

Sure enough, my dad went and got tested for various things, and got his answer:

Testicular Cancer.

He was 24 years old.

When you get diagnosed with cancer, it’s quite literally life or death.

Kill or be killed.

Strap the fuck in.

Game on, motherfucker.

The fact that you’re reading these words tells you how it went.

A few years later, he and my mom got married.

Then out came my sister, and a few years later, me.

If you think something is wrong with your health, please get checked out.

I feel like a lot of young people think they’re invincible and that they don’t need help, or that whatever it is will pass. I’ve been guilty of this myself on occasion.

But do yourself a favor, if you have something that feels off, go to the doctor.

If he hadn’t gotten checked out right away, Amanda and Ryan Ward don’t exist.

“Bye bye”…

Actually not even “bye bye,” there wouldn’t have even been a “hello.”

One of the things that they mention when getting treatment is that your fertility may in question afterward.

Well, me and her are living proof that even if you get sick you can still have kids later on. I pray that you’re not sick while reading this, but if you are or if you know someone that is, things may seem bleak right now.

Know that you can get better, and you can have kids after. It’s not gonna be easy, but it is possible.

Now look, if there’s anything that we, the Wards, know, as a family, it’s cancer.

As I mentioned in How to Live Forever, my mom died of cancer 6 years ago. Colon cancer to be specific. Believe it or not, she also had breast cancer back when I was in 4th grade and was able to beat it. The second time around though, it just wouldn’t go away.

I find it funny how the timing was so similar to me and my dad. I haven’t had cancer, thank god, but both of us had our own life-altering event right around the same time in our lives as young men. His cancer, and my mom dying. Both brought us closer to death. And I have to say, we’re both pretty happy guys as a result. Sad about what happened obviously, but it really does give you a new outlook on life.

I’m not sharing this so that you feel bad for me.

I’m sharing this because you will undoubtedly be faced with hardship in your life.

It may be your own battle, or it may belong to someone you love deeply.

But eventually, it will be someone.

Every day here is gift, that’s why we call it the present.

Don’t take life for granted.

It may be gone sooner than you think.

-Ryan Ward