Please Twinkle Mexican Star

The bell for 'Round 7' rings for my next dose of chemotherapy sometime next week and the doctors and I continue to make decisions one day at a time. I'm quickly learning that one has to be both flexible and patient when fighting cancer. Fortunately for me I am both. But I have to admit, patience is a rather new capacity of mine and I embrace it. I know true patience is a factor of time, so I do my best everyday to fight this disease in the best way that I can. I don't get upset when delays surface or my suffering increases. I've experienced pain on a daily basis, so intense that it would surely bring any man to his knees. Pain so deep that I know tumors have manifested in my bodies core. Remarkably my mind has strengthened its capacity to cope with such a malaised invasion on my body. I have faith that experiencing the greatest pains in life often inspire the greatest gains. And I have so much to gain and soon.

I've been experiencing a "low" fluctuation since Round 6, which ended a couple of weeks ago.

I reluctantly realize that the chemotherapy treatments haven taken quite a toll on my body and now my mind. I'm starting to question why the word 'therapy' even proceeds Chemo. Take my word for it, nothing seems therapeutic about it.

My cancer fight is very much a race against time and the amount of collateral damage that medicines have done to my physical existence. Cancerous tumors exist on almost every major organ of my body, but thankfully at the time of my diagnosis it did not spread to my brain. Doctors have informed me that the advanced metastases of tumors have spread as far north as as my super-clavical lymph nodes and it is near impossible to surgically remove all of the tumors, much less attempt to identify active from benign tumors. So, according to traditional Western medicine and advice from some of the most experienced and learned oncologists in Houston, chemo treatments are the only viable option for my cure now.

I've come such a long way since the beginning of this fight, and much of my cancer has left me. In its place, I have regenerated healthy, happy and peaceful cells. I still have unrelenting faith that my full cure is around the corner and my excitement grows. I see the finish line in the distance, but it still feels so far away at times. I remind myself that even the brightest stars appear to fluctuate in brightness from here on Earth. At times appearing to be dim and dull, much like I've been feeling lately from all this chemo. But here is the thing, stars only appear to 'twinkle' here on Earth as a result of our atmosphere and its fluctuating state. If we had the ability to view stars outside of our atmosphere they would always appear bright and unwavering in intensity. So would stars 'twinkle' if there is no Earth to view them from? Would certain diseases not manifest if we put our minds to it?

I believe that much exists outside our atmosphere on levels we will always struggle to comprehend. It is important to me to study and understand the ideas and theories of men like Einstein and Hawking during this cancer battle. They serve as great examples of what mankind can dream up about our Universe when you master the ability to imagine.

"We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special." - Stephen Hawking

It is important to understand that our journey through the Universe starts from within. It starts on the cellular level. However, it is not until we acknowledge and become keenly aware of the greater Universe around us, that we can truly appreciate the beauty of individual cells. Even if they are cancerous.

- Mexican Armstrong

Mexican Armstrong and Baby Lilly Armstrong use their imaginations to play 'Super Stars'