For many years I have had the opportunity to help people with pain, emotional discomfort, and a broad array of internal conditions. And often, I work with people undergoing treatment for cancer. Modern cancer therapies, though brutal in many regards, are very effective. So I see the vast majority of my patients survive treatment. Humbled and tired, they forge ahead in their new, forever-changed lives.

Occasionally, the story turns out differently. Such is the case with Dave Tinsley. It is both with great admiration and heartache that I share his story.

Dave first came to me in late 20006 after having been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer that had metastasized to his spine, and brain. Doctors had never seen this type of cancer in a patient so young and in a non-smoker. The prognosis was grim: 3 months to live.

Though my wife had gone to high school with both Dave and his wife Daisy, and our children attended daycare together, I had never really met Dave until the day he walked into my clinic. What I saw amazed me. He was the antithesis of a person diagnosed with terminal cancer- upbeat and positive, he expressed his appreciation every time he saw me.

Incredibly, but not surprisingly, Dave stretched his three months into nearly three years, allowing him to see his children flourish and grow, to spend precious time with his wife,  and to enjoy family and friends. I am convinced that it was Dave’s relish for life that took him so far beyond anyone’s expectations.

What I learned from Dave, I can immediately apply to my daily life. Be present. Enjoy your family. Be grateful for what you have and express it daily. Be kind to others. Have fun.

I hope you will have the opportunity to meet someone like Dave Tinsley during your lifetime to remind you of what we are all striving for: meaningful personal relationships, a positive impact on others, and an enjoyment  of life. I am grateful for the opportunity to have known Dave.

Dave is survived by wife Daisy, three children Carl, Will, and Sarah, three brothers, parents, many more loving and supportive family members, and hundreds of friends.

Sincerely,

Ted Ray