My Son, My Hero…

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My Son, My Hero…

So when I experienced the joy that is chemotherapy, one of the first things I lost was my sanity.  This usually happens about the same time I lost my hair.  It was the first time that people who didn’t know me either thought A. I was a really cool bald guy, or B. I had cancer.  It’s almost as if cancer says, “Look what I did to this poor schmoe.”

But when you are a child, it means only one thing: the child is battling cancer.  Or does it?

My son Sam is my hero for so many reasons, but the biggest lately is that on March 9, he is going to have his head shaved to raise awareness for childhood cancers.  He knows that I went through cancer, and he’s doing it to support me.

And in turn, I’m going to do it to support him. You read that correctly: on March 9, both Sam and I are going to have our heads shaved to raise awareness for childhood cancers.

I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t nervous about this.  I have not been bald since three weeks after my last treatment eleven years ago, and I know that seeing myself this way is going to bring back a lot of memories, some of them horrendous.  But I also know that my son is my hero, and I would be a coward and a fool to not do this with him.  I’m so proud and honored that he’s doing this, and I’m blessed to be able to do it with him.

It’s all for St. Baldrick’s, an organization with the mission of ending childhood cancer.

It all goes down on Saturday, March 9 at Helen Fitzgeralds.  We’ll be chrome domed around 2pm.  I am inviting all to come out and cheer on Sam and members of his Cub Scout pack who are participating, and I invite you out for a giggle at the three dads who will be doing it as well.

Sam and I are trying to raise a few dollars for this organization.  His page is here: http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/603270, and mine is here: http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/603248.  (Though if you pick only one, pick Sam’s, so that he can kick daddy’s bum!)

We would appreciate so much even a $1, $2, or $5 dollar donation.  Every dollar raised is going to go towards ending these dreaded diseases.

It’s funny, we’ve seriously tried to talk Sam out of doing it several times, and each time he becomes more adamant: “Dad, I really want to do this.”  That seven-year-old has more guts than I will ever have, and I’m so proud to be gifted with the honor of being his dad.

-Dan

By | 2013-02-20T06:52:14+00:00 February 20th, 2013|Blog|3 Comments

About the Author:

Dan Duffy has been working in film, television, and radio for almost 20 years. Graduating from the Foundation Film program at the Vancouver Film School in 2000, he has been making documentaries, commercials, and short films since for companies big and small around the world. Prior to this, Dan spent five years as an assistant producer, sports director, production manager, and on-air talent for the nationally syndicated “Steve and DC Radio Show.” He has won numerous awards in his career, including a Telly Award Winner, a seven-time Telly Award Finalist Winner, and an AIR (Achievement in Radio) award, with two other nominations. In 2003, Dan was diagnosed with stage three testicular cancer. Through massive amounts of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, Dan was declared cancer free seven months after his diagnosis.

3 Comments

  1. Dan February 20, 2013 at 6:57 am

    Just copy and paste the link of your choice to see our donation pages. Thank you so much!!!!

    • Jennifer Shell February 20, 2013 at 8:22 am

      This is so awesome. You must be so proud!!!

  2. Melanie February 20, 2013 at 8:10 am

    Done and done. Give that kid a huge hug from me!

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