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Going There and Surviving Cancer

December 26, 2021, 11:11 AM ET [0 Comments]
Paul Stewart
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • RSSArchiveCONTACT
If you have not already done so, I highly recommend purchasing a copy of Katie Couric's new autobiographical memoir, Going There. It's touching, funny, sad, and ultimately inspirational. It's well worth the 500-plus page read, especially the discussion of how personal tragedy influenced the creation of Stand up to Cancer (SU2C).

SU2C has saved countless lives in the 13 years since its creation. The foundation has raised more than $600 million to support cutting-edge collaborative science. The research SU2C has helped to found ultimately contributed to six new FDA-approved therapies.

I've met Katie, but don't personally know her well. However, she is very much part of my own cancer recovery story back in 1998. Katie's late husband, Jay, passed from colon cancer at age 42. Katie went on TV and used her national platform to discuss the warning signs of the deadly disease.


My wife, Lori, was watching the program at the time and told me that I need to pay attention to the report. I had every symptom. Lori leaned over and told me to make an appointment as soon as possible with a doctor (Dr. Kearney). I followed the advice. It turned out that I had Stage 3/ Stage 4 colon cancer. I learned of the diagnosis literally one day after Lori gave birth to our first child. I told this story in my own autobiography, Ya Wanna Go.

Here we are, one day after Christmas in 2021. I'm an advanced stage colon cancer survivor. I just spent the holiday with my two now-grown sons, McCauley and Maxwell. That is why, every day, not just Christmas, I consider a gift. Life is the greatest present of them all.

God bless us, everyone, and thank you, Katie Couric.

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A 2018 inductee into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.

Visit Paul's official websites, YaWannaGo.com and Officiating by Stewart
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