Coincidence?

So...those of you who have been reading the blog regularly may have noticed that I left you hanging at the end of last Thursday's post.

Last Thursday, we went to BJ's to pick up some items for the house.  At one point, I walked over to the clothing section to look around.  While browsing, I noticed a gentleman walk to the left of me and begin looking in another section of clothing.  After a few minutes, he spoke to me and I couldn't hear/understand what he said so I asked him to repeat himself.  After he said it again, I still couldn't quite understand him, but I heard enough to figure out that he was making a comment about the jacket I was wearing which has the MSKCC(Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) logo on it.  I believe his comment was something like "I know that place well."  As he said this, I noticed some type of scar on his head.  I took my hat off and showed him my scar and said, "brain tumor?"  He said yes and described the type of tumor that he had/has.  His tumor is a Glioblastoma which was surrounded by an Astrocytoma and an Oligodendroglioma (Unfortunately, I know what these are!).  Jonathan told me that his surgeon had to remove most of his right Frontal Lobe.   He is currently 12 years post-surgery and regular MRI scans are all that is necessary.  I was amazed at the success he has had during the 12 years.  Knowing what I do, the Glioblastoma alone could probably have killed him within a year or two. He is certainly beating the odds. We spoke for another minute or so before we wished each other luck and moved on.

How could it be that he and I just randomly met?  This was no coincidence.  I think I was supposed to remember to keep everything in perspective.  Jonathan has, I'm sure, outlived the statistics and his doctor's expectations.  As I begin the first of 6 Chemo cycles tonight, I will keep Jonathan in my thoughts and prayers, and I will use his story to give me the strength to get through this.