PureDWTS Guest Blog: “I am alive today because of Chelsie Hightower”
PureDWTS reader Byrl Alexander has sent us a guest blog telling us of his scare with Cancer recently and how pro dancer Chelsie Hightower has helped him. He feels he owes Chelsie a lot. Read on to see why. This is a great and inspiring story for us all. Thank you Byrl and lots of positive thoughts and prayers set your way!! Keep on walking!!
This is a true story and I am alive today because of Chelsie Hightower. Update on me, I go in on the 31st of December for my 11th treatment of chemo and have one left on Jan 14th 2014 and then run a scan and I’m done with my treatments, so far I am beating cancer.
I have been a fan of Chelsie Hightower for many years. Back in January 2013 I was talking to her online,I asked her a question and Chelsie told me that I spend to much time on the computer, which I had all ready heard this from my wife and daughter as well. She offered three things I could do and I took her up on take a walk. Since I had started my own diet on Jan 1st 2013, I thought this was an ideal idea, as exercise and diet go hand in hand when losing weight. Chelsie told me to report to her daily on everything I did that was productive, and held me accountable. I never missed a day. If she had not mentioned walking that day, I would have waited until warmer weather, but by starting back in January, I was making good progress by the time the weather did turn warm. Chelsie Hightower saved my life, and I don’t know if she realizes that when she suggested I take a walk and report in daily, that she saved my life. These words saved my life (Take a Walk)
On June 21st I was admitted to the North Kansas City Hospital, in my hometown, for unusual symptoms. I ended up getting a colonoscopy and the doctors found a tumor on my colon, which was malignant. When the doctor delivered this news, I looked at him and told him I would beat this; at the same time he told me if I had not been walking and lost 75 lbs., that I would not be alive today. Walking saved my life, and I had an operation on June 25 to remove the tumor and some of the colon. I also have cancer on the liver as well, but the last visit to my Doctor he said that my liver had not increased in size which made he and I both happy. I have had 9 Chemo treatments and will have a PET scan on some time in January to see how my condition is progressing, . I still walk and will be walking all year as both of my doctors told me walking is my key to good health. I do everything I’m told to do.
I had went from 275 to 196, but both of my Doctors want me to stay at 205, so you can say I lost almost 80# my goal was 100# but that may never happen.
Chelsie needs to be recognized for saving a life, I have told her many times thanks for saving my life, but the world needs to know this and her family as well. I even sent her a bouquet of flowers thanking her. Chelsie is my angel. As a footnote, Chelsie knows me, I met Chelsie here in Kansas City, Mo back in June of 2012, and I also went to see her dance in person at Prior Lake Mn this past May.
I still will have to report to the doctor ever so often for lab work and scans the rest of my life.
John’s Update:
A friend of Bryl made this YouTube video of his story:
Keep at it, Byrl! 🙂
Such a lovely post – I think we can sometimes forget, behind all the drama or rivalries people talk about with shows like Dancing with the Stars, that dance is a beautiful thing that can heal the souls and of course, lives of many.
Byrl, I wish you and your family all the best with your battle.
What an inspiring story! I have always liked Chelsie Hightower and hope to see her featured more on DWTS in the new season.
Beautiful story. Proud of you Byrl and you too Chelsie…
Keep on keeping on!!