In this section, we see Randy as an advocate for his own medical care. We also get a sense of how he decided to adopt a positive attitude. Have there been people in your life who've faced the challenge of serious illness? Waht did you learn from them? How has Randy's journey made you consider how you will approach your own mortality?
116 Comments
Jamie Stivers
4/30/2012 10:11:34 pm
It is true that Randy is a advocate of his own medical care. My grandma was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease when I was in first grade. From this experience, I have learned many valuable lessons. I've learned that when see someone who looks different, you are not to judge them. Also, that sometimes things don't go the way that you want, but god has a plan and everything, and everything happens for a reason. Randys' journey through this made me think about how I will approach my own mortality, I would try to be as strong as he was and fight to live. But, sometimes you have no option.
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Sydney Stevens
5/5/2012 12:57:03 pm
I think your plan for approaching your own mortality is a great way to approach it and your right, sometimes we don't have an option. I've also never really realized how much we judge people right off the bat without getting to know their story. Now I think I'll be more careful about that and appreciate the life I have because I know that "god has a plan".
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Mukund Kuntimad
5/5/2012 11:23:17 pm
Yes, I agree that there is a bigger plan and that everything happens for a reason. It is very important to accept the limitations imposed by any disability or illness with grace and live life to the fullest extent possible. At the same time, it is very important for others not to be judgmental about the person with the disability. We have to be tolerant of differences and let the person live the life to the fullest.
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Selase Buatsi
5/9/2012 12:52:33 pm
Jamie I really like your pan for approaching your own mortality (honestly I think it's an awesome plan). However I somewhat disagree with you when you say that Randy fought to live. I understand that he was fighting in some way because he went through chemotherapy. He wanted to be there for his family as long as he could. However I also believe that Randy embraced his future. I think that he knew that it was VERY unlikely that he would live. However this didn't stop him from living his life to the fullest. Overall you are right, Randy did fight to live, but I believe that he also knew that he couldn't avoid the inevitable.
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Lauren Kirkley
4/30/2012 10:55:30 pm
Mr. Gollner is the most amazing teacher I have ever had
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Lauren Kirkley
4/30/2012 11:10:58 pm
I thought that Randy's decision to take the positive road was probably one of the greatest decisions of his life. If he had not made that decision at the beginning of his medical journey, his life would have had a completely different outcome. In my life, I have only had to experience one family member dying from a terminal illness. Unfortunately, my grandmother was diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson's disease. When she found out she had only a few months to live, she was devastated. However, after a while she accepted the fact that her life was going to end. I learned from her that it is okay to be upset, but that we have to learn how to live and accept changes in out life both good and bad. Randy's journey has really made me realize that I do have dreams and goals that I would like to achieve one day. No matter the setbacks I may face, I need to persevere through the hard times and attain the things in life that really matter to me.
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Chandru Sundarrajan
5/9/2012 08:20:29 am
I agree with the statement that Randy's life would be completely different if he were to take the negative path. In fact, we probably won't even know him now if he had done that; he may not have even given the last lecture. However, Randy did an amazing thing. He decided instead of dreading his fate, to enjoy every moment left. He also cheered others around him up, instead of spreading the pervading feeling of gloom and sadness.
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Haris Rafiq
5/13/2012 10:46:00 am
Yeah my grandma's had diabetes for like twenty years or something like that. She doesn't let blood sugar slow her down though. She has fun. She eats cookies. She takes her medicine.
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Kate Kaiser
5/1/2012 01:21:32 am
It was vital to Randy's journey as a cancer patient for him to adopt such a positive attitude. I thought it was absolutely incredible and very honorable of him to become an advocate for his own medical care. He realized the outlook of his situation and decided to approach it in the best way possible. In my own life, I have watched as my grandfather has battled illness and serious heart problems. However, he has remained a positive man throughout it all. He has undergone multiple life-risking surgeries, and yet he remains a man of strong faith. The lessons I have learned from my grandfather are to always continue to trust in God, no matter what life throws at you. Randy's journey has showed me a wonderful example for how I could go at my own death. When that time comes, I will be able to reflect on Randy's story and do my best to approach my mortality in a positive manner. I plan to die with class. :)
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Beverly Lo
5/8/2012 06:13:35 am
When my grandfather passed away, I was devasted. But, like you, I always remember to trust in God and that he put my grandfather in a better place. If I ever struggle with an illness, I, too, Kate, will stay strong and, if I do, die with class
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Surabi Rao
5/1/2012 01:25:34 am
One of my friend's aunts had cancer, and I was very surprised when I saw her acting really happy and cheerful, like she didn't even care that she had cancer. On the other side, me and my friend were very sad and would start crying half the time around her. However, after a few weeks of seeing my friend's aunt acting positive, we decided to stop crying and start spending more time with her. I learned that even in a bad time, you should stay positive and keep your head up. After reading The Last Lecture, I realized that life is short and I shouldn't spend every minute of every day studying Geometry, and that I should do things I love more. LIVE LIFE WITH NO REGRETS!
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Catherine Jackson
5/5/2012 04:52:00 am
Wait, you mean we shouldn't spend every minute of every day studying geometry? Why not? ;)
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Sierra Latshaw
5/1/2012 03:52:18 am
My great aunt had stage three pancreatic cancer, and it was a very hard on my mom as well as my grandmother. I know my great aunt very well, in fact we went on a trip to Alaska a few years ago. When she was diagnosed with cancer she put on a brave face and went into surgery with hope and God with her. The whole time she went through her procedures she would pray and tell us she had a good feeling about the next surgery. After a few rounds of chemo she is now clear of all cancer and is starting to grow her hair back. I learned from her that even in tough situations you need to be strong for the ones you love and keep up heir hope as well. Like President Snow (from the hunger games) said "The only thing stronger than fear is hope." I think I will approach my own mortality by living my life to the fullest and acting like each day is my last. You need to live your life with no regrets and that is what my current attitude is. You can't let words bring you down, but instead twist them to lift you up. So live life to its fullest and act like your not going to make it to tomorrow.
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Sakina Daresalamwala
5/9/2012 11:00:05 am
I think that it's great that your grandmother recovered well! You're right: We do need to make sure that each moment is lived to the fullest, and not take anything for granted. Sometimes I act like I have a lot of time to do everything that I want to, but then I think of this book and the morals of it and I remember! So I try to put all of my dreams into action, or atleast go into action towards them.
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Janice kao
5/1/2012 08:53:26 am
My grandmother got cancer in her ovaries and she’s had to go through a lot of surgeries. When I visited her in the summer, I could always see a smile on her face. What I learned from her is that when faced in dark trials, you come to appreciate the little things in life. My grandmother was really happy when she saw me and my siblings. She’s still alive though. Randy’s journey tells me that I should be happy. I also shouldn’t argue over petty things because life is only so long. This probably means I shouldn’t complain about what my parents do for me. Petty issues/arguments aren’t worth our limited time.
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Adreesh Roy
5/8/2012 01:18:00 pm
Go Grandma Kao! I bet she is a role model in your life, I know she would be in mine. It's true, enjoying the little things in life is important, because time flies, and before you know it, you're old and dying. Use your time wisely when it comes to life, and you will lead a much more fulfilling existence.
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Ashleigh Little
5/1/2012 09:38:08 pm
My grandpa has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease but just like Randy he is not going to let it stand in his way. He is going to live life and not worry about tomorrow or a day that hasn’t come. I learned that from my grandpa that you have to always tell someone, a family member or a friend, how much you love them before it’s too late. You have to share your memories, passion, life, and love so that those you love will always remember you. Randy’s Journeys have so many life lessons you can take away from them without having to live through it. From his journey Randy has taught me to remember that I’m not going to live forever and, could die at any time. I realize that I can’t worry about stuff that hasn’t even happened I just have to live. He also taught me that just because a situation is bad I get to have a negative attitude; even if the situation is bad staying positive can make it better. If I spend my time with a bad attitude the time is spend alive won’t be worth living.
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Grace Lu
5/1/2012 10:25:16 pm
I really admire Randy for thinking this way. Sometimes in life, people just need to learn how to look on the bright side of things. The wording of a phrase definitely makes a difference on the positive or negative connotation it gives. If everyone knew who, what, when, where, why, and how to say things, many fights and problems could be avoided.
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Anna Sneed
5/1/2012 10:58:30 pm
One of my cousins married about a year ago, to a cancer patient. When I heard his wife had cancer, and I was about to meet her, I felt sorry for her, because she wasn't even 25. However, when I met her, I didn't feel sorry for her. The only difference that I found with her and other people was that she was much more positive and happy. She was told that she only had a short while to live, and she made the best of it. If we could all learn to live like my cousin, knowing that we aren't immortal, life would be much more enjoyable. In every situation, there is a good and bad side. It's our choice which side we look at.
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Janice Kao
5/9/2012 09:43:23 am
Gosh!!! I agree with your last two statements! I think it's really true because I think life is all about perspective. If someone looks at it in the bad way, then of course life sucks for them. But if they look at the good side, things are a lot more happier and upbeat. I think a lot of people think that's impossible to change our views/perpectives only because they were raised thinking there's only a bad side. It's sorta like slavery back then like how slaves didn't know there was another way to live life because they had been brainwashed to think that nothing existed like that.
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Janice Kao
5/9/2012 09:43:52 am
*views/perspectives
Ryan Kinder
5/2/2012 12:59:32 am
When my aunt Debbie was diagnosed with cancer she didn't wallow in self pity, she stood tall and took on a positive attitude. From her outlook on life even when faced with death I have learned not to complain about the little things in life. Even after reading The Last Lecture book I not sure how I would deal with my demise, I would try to have a positive outlook but I don't know if I could pull it off.
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Eric Benenson
5/2/2012 03:35:56 am
There have been people in my life that heave had serious illnesses. From them, I learned that staying positive is the best way to get through tough times. Randy’s mortality will help me live my life fuller and to a greater extent. I loved his perspective on pretty much everything. He is a great role model to have.
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Zachary Pranske
5/2/2012 03:43:47 am
I have been very lucky as far as the important people in my life. The only person I was somewhat close to who I have lost is my grandfather, and even he died suddenly and peacefully. However, I know what I can pick up from the story. I really liked how Randy decided to take on a positive attitude to help him as well as the people in his life. Instead of worrying, he spent his limited time doing what he felt was important, and leaving a mark on the world. He emphasizes that time is limited, and he took it as a challenge to use every bit of it that he had.
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Jennifer Chavarro-Rogers
5/2/2012 04:01:41 am
At my mom's work, there is a nurse who had cancer. I didn't know the whole story, but she went through chemotherapy and lost all her hair. She began to wear hats to her work, but she didn't let her cancer slow her down. Whenever I saw her, she was bright and cheery and acting as if everything was normal. It made me realize that with bad situations, you have to somehow make the best of it. You can't let anything slow you down from being the happy person you are. Slowly, she began to recover and her hair started growing back. She has been rid of her cancer and now she is perfectly fine. There was only one thing that I feared, death. I used to think of it as an end and nothing but a bad omen. But now I have a new perception of death. You could either be depressed, fearing how the next day brings you closer to death's door, or you could put on a brave face. Face death with a smile, because you have had your time on Earth and have had a lifetime of happiness.
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Giselle Peng
5/2/2012 04:03:04 am
I have been lucky when it comes to serious illness: no one in my life has ever had to undergo those challenges. Since I've had so little experience, I learned a lot from reading The Last Lecture, especially from the way that Randy approached his own death and dealt with the problems his diagnosis brought up. It made me resolve to stay positive, even in the face of my own mortality. It does no good at all to wallow and feel sorry for yourself; instead, enjoy whatever time you've got left, because every minute matters.
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Jenna Song
5/2/2012 10:43:35 am
So far none of my close family members have experienced any serious illnesses, so I didn't know what it really felt like to lose someone really close. When I read about Randy's life, I felt the real pain behind losing someone, and having to leave people you love behind, but I really liked how Randy always stayed optimistic, and he made every second count of his life. With a shortened time, he used it very wisely, and he never let the diagnosis make him miserable and lonely, but he thought of this a positive way for him to learn, and really use his time wisely. His diagnosis has taught him many lessons in a way. Randy's journey made me consider many things. I started to realize the troubles and problems I have in school is nothing compared to what he had to experience. I have to find a way to overcome everything, and make everything into a great perspective of the life of beauty. Just living and surviving healthy with the people I love is something I should be very thankful of. Perishing every second of your life is important, because before we know it our life would be at the end. Bad situations and good situations are all there for us to teach a lesson, and letting the bad situations rot you as a person isn't what we should do. We should look bad situations as a important purpose of our life and we should think this as a lesson learned. Randy's journey made me consider many things.
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Jackson Stone
5/2/2012 11:02:57 pm
Earlier this year my father was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. At that time he had multiple areas on his skin that were abnormal. After five surgeries he is healthy and cancer free. I asked him soon after his diagnosis how he felt about it. He told me that his lack of responsibility as a teen was why he had it. Since he caused his own demise he was not mad or sad about the melanoma. I have considered how i will die multiple times and i have always decided that i would want to die in my sleep after 100 years of life. Now that i am older i consider more-likely ways that i might die. On the topic of cancer, my grandmother, father, other grandmother, grandfather, and ant have all had it at least one time. This worries me greatly because i want to die after a long life not have my life taken from me prematurely. Because of this i try to live without regrets and live like everyday is my last.
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Kyle Towe
5/3/2012 01:00:58 am
I have had people in my life who’ve gone through illness but I have been too young to remember and anything I do are sheltered ones by my parents. His approach is very inspiring and makes you think twice about what you will do if you are put in a situation like his. If you take a negative approach to the way your cards were played then you will be stuck with a crap hand. If look at it positively and think of the best way you can use it then you are left with a good hand that will get you somewhere. It is all about your perspective on the way things in life come at you. If ever I have to face a problem like Randy’s I would be hard pressed to make the best of it. You want to sit and cry at your bad luck and that only makes things worse. Instead I could look at it and make the best with what I have and move on in life.
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Daxton Davidson
5/3/2012 01:29:47 am
About 2 years ago my aunt was diagnosed with cancer. It was not life threating, so should would be fine. But it did make her go through chemo therapy. She ended up being fine, but I did visit her a lot in the hospital. I learned that you never know when you may end up in the hospital for weeks at a moment’s notice. The Last Lecture showed me that you should fulfill your dreams while you can, because someday may be your last. He also told to live life to the fullest and with no regrets. I know approach life with a new perspective. It’s not a major change it’s just that I now try to live life the way you want to live.
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Melody Siebenmann
5/3/2012 01:39:08 am
There was a little boy at my church who had a fatal disease. The doctors told his parents that he was going to die. He didn't. He managed to miraculously stay alive day by day. every night they expected him to die Every morning he proved them wrong. His parents did not give up hope and continued to pray and hope that he would stay alive, he did. Through all of this, I grasped that you should never ever give up. Randy did not give up. after he saw that he still had 12 tumors in his liver he decided to try his hardest on staying with his family as long as he could, and to not ruin the rest of the life he had, but to live positively and get the most out of the life he had left. If I learned that I had only months to live, I wouldn't give up for one thing, doing everything possible i could do, then I would be a positive tigger and to live out the rest of my life, and not ruining it for other people. As well I would want to spend as much time as I could with my family and friends... Honestly, we don't know when where going to die and not everyone gets a warning that you only have months. I could die this very day.. would I had been happy with the way I lived my life? Or do I need to work harder to never give up, be positive and to spend time with my friends and family? Randy got a warning and he lived the rest of his life positively, spending time with his family. Now will I live the rest of my life positively and never giving up no matter what happens? Live like were dying people.
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Taddie Cook
5/3/2012 03:38:02 am
I have never known anyone who has faced a serious illness, so death does not seem that really to me. I have only experence the death of one person who was close to me, and they died peacefully in there sleep. I think that I will apperciate every moment more. I have started to use every second just because I only have a few weeks left of middle school left. I have learned to use every minute.
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Josh McFarlane
5/3/2012 03:42:04 am
Im not even in this class, but this book was amazing and I would like to add that I even started to cry when I read this and I am a grown adult man.
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Raghav Kotha
5/3/2012 07:39:22 am
I think Randy's decision to be positive changed his life completely. Sadly there has been a serious illness in my family. My grandma on my dad's side had cancer. She did have a positive outlook on life because she had a 50-50 chance of living or dying. Luckily in the end, she did survive so I am happy about it! I learned that even though she MIGHT die, she kept a positive outlook on life, and I had a first hand experience of that when I visited her in India. Randy's experience has taught me to always respect life instead of dread it's end. It has taught me to always stay optimistic!
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John Wang
5/3/2012 10:11:14 am
I know a kid, Mike Morales. He was once deathly sick with cancer. However, he stuck through and eventually overcame his disease. From him, I learned to always look for the good in every situation. His condition brought him a lot of opportunities to increase his social standing and gain friends, and he took opportunity of it. He turned what was pretty much a death sentence into an opportunity for him.
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Teena Thomas
5/3/2012 10:55:57 am
When I was in fifth grade a boy that goes to my church was diagnosed with leukemia. It used to sadden me a lot seeing him going through all that pain. I have seen him in all stages of his chemotherapy. Every time I see him, I pray that he gets better and that nothing like this would happen to anyone in the world.I am now in eight grade and he is currently done with all of his chemotherapy slowly receiving back to his original state.I really appreciate Randy for being avery positive person.
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5/3/2012 11:24:25 am
My dad's uncle was diagnosed with lung cancer a few years ago. He went into the battle just like Randy, with a positive attitude. He knew that he would have to go threw chemo therapy to survive. When the time came, he survived. As far as the doctors knew, he was in the clear. But a few months later, they realized it had spread. This time he was not so lucky. He did not survive. It was very sad. His death taught me that sometimes it is not within the power of the doctors to keep someone alive. Through my great uncle's and Randy's journey, a negative attitude woulod not have helped them. Knowing this I will try my best to keep a positive attitude no matter what troubles are staring me in the face.
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Chandru Sundarrajan
5/3/2012 12:06:26 pm
I am amazed at how well Pausch handled his last months to live, and that is definitely how I will approach my own mortality. If I know that I will die soon, what is the point of dreading over it? There is only little time left, and I might as well enjoy every second of it. In my life, I witnessed the death of my grandma, who died because of diabetes-related causes. When I visited her in India two years before her death, she was undergoing lot of health problems. However, when I visited her again a few weeks before her death in India, she seemed very cheerful and without much health issues. Little did I know that she might pass away soon. Just a week after I flew back to U.S., she passed away and my family came back for her funeral. I learned from this situation and applauded her decision of making the most of her life in her last months, just like Randy Pausch. She spent a lot of time with her grandkids, and my family was especially lucky to visit her during the last weeks of her life despite living tens of thousands of miles away.
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Helen Zhang
5/3/2012 11:26:00 pm
Fortunately, so far, no one in my life has experienced the challenge of serious illness. Nevertheless, if one does, I hope he or she approaches the situation with as much positivity as Mr. Pausch. He faced his mortality in such a courageous and nonchalant manner. It's truly incredible. When my time comes, I won't spend my last days regretting the things I haven't done. Instead, I'll gladly reflect on the accomplishments I've made, so I can die in peace.
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Yuna Oh
5/4/2012 12:24:59 am
My grandmother had cancer about ten years ago and I have this mere memory of that time, her lying on a bed at the hospital. I was very young at that time, so I didn't really know what was happening, but I remember that she was positive and trying very hard to get better. She got cured and still alive. I'm pretty sure that she was very ill, but she is good now and I'm so glad. I learned that you don't have to be negative when you are facing morality, you can be positive because it helps your both mental and physical health. I also think that death isn't always sad.
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Sujay Adhikari
5/4/2012 03:50:57 am
I thought that he made the right decision by staying positive throughout his medical hardships. It is important to stay positive and move on with life. If Randy had spent everyday grieving and feeling sorry for himself, then he never would have gotten anything done, like the book. None of my family members have had a serious illness, so I didn't learn anything from them, but I definitely learned a lot from Randy. I know that when my time comes that I will try to be like Randy and have a positive attitude.
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Yacine Issioui
5/4/2012 03:53:41 am
None of my family members have ever been diagnosed with a terminal illness like Randy's and I am very thankful for that but I also believe that just from what I have seen from deaths in general that life is short and time is precious. Randy's way of approaching his death is very similar to my thought of how I would like to approach mine in a positive manner. I would like to accept my death just as he did his.
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Sujay Adhikari
5/10/2012 11:51:15 am
I agree, life is short so you have to live life to its fullest. I would also like to approach it the same way, but it would be tough.
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Vishaal Sakthivelnathan
5/4/2012 07:16:22 am
Unfortunately, my grandfather's brother died 7 years ago due to Cancer. When we found out about it, we were devastated. We started weeping everywhere since our he meant so much to us. But then after sometime we could not cry any more. But then my Grandfather's brother read us a thirukkural verse (a Tamil book of aphorisms). In English, it meant " Destruction it may sometimes pour, But only rain can life restore." He told us to that cancer was the destruction, and that we were going to be the rain to take his place. This really shocked everyone and taught me to be hopeful of the future. My grandfather's brother really inspired me to live out to my potential. If I am ever diagnosed with a sever disease, then I would spend the last minutes of my life with my loved ones. Randy's journey told me to be thankful for what you have since come people have even less than you.
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Catherine Jackson
5/5/2012 05:00:14 am
A couple of years ago, my grandfather (now 79) had a stroke. He had brain surgery, and since then he's been in a nursing home. He's doing great physically, but he has a hard time understanding his surroundings. He'll think he's other places, or that there's an upstairs(his house where he lived before the stroke has 2 stories). We visit him every week or so. However, my grandmother (his wife) isn't doing so well either now. This whole thing ha been exhausting her. It's been hard to deal with, but he's been getting a bit better.
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Swathi Sarathy
5/5/2012 10:50:40 am
My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago. Though things are looking okay now, it was very tough on our entire family. In general, I think people who know that they only have a certain amount of time to live, usually end up living their lives the fullest. They never have any regrets and they can cherish every moment of their lives. I think sometimes, we end up taking what we have for granted, and by the time we realize it, so much has gone by. We don't always take time to appreciate what has been given to us. Randy's story has definitely given me a whole new perspective on life. His entire story is so inspiring, and the way he dealt with his situation was unbelievable. His story has definitely made me realize that life can go by fast, so I need to be happy with every single moment of it.
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Taeeun Kim
5/9/2012 11:29:34 am
I completely agree with you!!!!!! We should always appreciate everything in our life. When we suddenly lose something that we never knew was precious to us and try to get it back, it'll be too late then.
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Sydney Stevens
5/5/2012 12:52:17 pm
There have been a few people that I have known or a few of my friends’ relatives that have had to deal with serious illnesses. From all of these people, I have learned that you should never take anything for granted because you never know when it will be taken away. I’ve also learned that you need to live life to the fullest and just do everything you want to do before it’s too late. Randy’s journey has made me realize that when my mortality comes, I won’t put myself down or feel bad for myself. Instead, I will cherish the time I have left with my family and try to do everything I have ever wanted to do in my life. That way I can live with no regrets and know that I have left my impact on the world.
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Mukund Kuntimad
5/5/2012 11:17:28 pm
My Granduncle was a blue baby when he was born. Gradually, his health faltered and he passed away in his early twenties. While he was alive, he had a great positive attitude. Though he did not involve himself in strenuous, physical activities, he excelled in arts and crafts. He could paint and draw very well and taught his friends and children how to draw and paint.he was a very popular kid. He made most of his life despite his handicap. He did not whine that life dealt him lemons. He made lemonade instead.
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Dheeraj Nuthakki
5/6/2012 01:33:43 am
No there have not been people in my life that have faced the challenge of serious illness since I was born. My grandparents died but that was before I was born, that was when my mom was a little kid. My mom has always reminded me of my grandparents and how nice and awesome they were. I wish I could meet them. My mom was super sad when they died. My mom is living happily now and she is living positive. I don't think now is the time to be thinking about our death, but what I have learned from Randy is that you have to live life very happy and positive even if you know you are going to die. You have to cherish the days you have left and fulfill your dreams. You have to live the last days to the fullest.
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Nithin Pingili
5/6/2012 04:21:03 am
There have been people in my family that have faced serious illness. One of them was my grandmother, who had died when I was a 2 year old baby. I didn’t have any memories of that event, but I knew it was tragic. My dad always used to tell me how nice she was and what a great mother she was to him. I wish I got to see her again because I wanted to see and remember how she was like. I am sure my dad was sad and heart broken when he heard that she had passed away. Now, my dad is happy and positive that he has a family of his own and a dad that cares about him. I have learned that death is something that you can’t avoid and just the cycle of life. Randy had taught me that I have to stay happy and live life to the fullest, knowing that death will fall upon me someday. So, I want to cherish the lovely days and make a difference in the world of living.
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Taeeun Kim
5/6/2012 10:29:12 am
My uncle was diagnosed with liver cancer, and he passed away only like a month ago. Sadly, I couldn’t be there when he was going through his journey, but I know it must have been painful. I think it was very brave of Randy to adopt a positive attitude to approach his mortality. He knew being negative and complaining about his medical condition was going to get him nowhere. Instead, Randy accepted the hurtful truth and put on a positive attitude and tried to live the rest of the time he was given with no regret. Randy’s journey made me consider how I will approach my own mortality, and I think I would try to approach it exactly how Randy approached his. I’m going to stand firm and fight until the very end. I’m going to stay positive and spend the rest of my life in the most awesome way possible, so I won’t have any regret when I look over at it at the end of my life.
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Rudy Rampersad
5/6/2012 11:41:36 am
It was extremely crucial for Randy do adopt a positive, up-beat attitude, because without it, we wouldn’t have this amazing book or his well-written lecture. And I do mean that sincerely, because if he couldn’t be happy around his wife and kids, how is he supposed please a crowd of hundreds. Also it would have been terrible to live life every day, thinking about when you were going to die. But because he decided to accept what he was given in life, he made the best out of it. He lived life the way everyone should: In the moment, not worrying about tomorrow. And that’s one thing that I am going to take out of this book, a way how to live life. Randy was an inspirational man, and it is sad to know that he is gone.
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Payton Molina
5/7/2012 07:14:42 am
2 years ago my grandad was diagnosted with prostate cancer and they told him he had 3 months to live. After hearing this I did have a hard time with it because I was very close to him. But he said you shoudn't be sad about this be happy with the time you have left with me. Lets spend these months doing great things. He continued his life as it had been before he found out like it hadn't even happend. We went to the carnival, played games, and basically just hung out together. Not once did he ever get negative about how he had cancer. He stayed positive the entire time. He ended up living 9 months longer instead of just 3 months and we were very lucky that happend.I think I learned from this is stay positive throughout everything even if you are in a bad time just look at the postive side of things not the negative. Randy pretty much did the same thing and I think I will definatly do the same thing now. I will make sure to always look at the postives instead of the negatives.
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Claire Jordan
5/7/2012 07:44:16 am
Randy's parents, like he said, were wonderful. They understood him and wanted him to achieve his goals and dreams.
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Coleman Wylie
5/7/2012 09:50:45 am
It was very inspiring that Randy was able to adopt such a positive attitude even though he was faced with such a "brick wall". Randy's courage and strength have led me to completely rethink my life. Because Randy gave his all to approaching cancer and death, he was able to make many great things such as the his Last Lecture and his book. Now that I have an great example of a way to approach mortality, I think that I will try to be like Randy, and I will try to approach my eventual death with a positive attitude.
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Julia Stephenson
5/7/2012 10:28:25 am
A positive attitude when going through something rough can definitely change the way things turn out, and definitely the time you have left. Had Randy not had the attitude he did, he wouldn't have grown so strong and strengthened those around him. I babysat a man with terminal cancers kids, he however did not live like Pausch. He spent his time doing all of the treatments he could trying to deny the fact that he was slowly wasting away. Instead of having me babysit them while he was dying, he could have spent every second he had on this earth with the ones he didn't want to leave behind, not trying to change his fate. This discussion makes me think that if I'm ever faced with a life-threatening illness, it is what it is, and I don't want the people around me to be sad, i want them to be happy for the time we have left. "Do not cry because it's over, smile because it happened." A quote by Dr. Seuss could take on very many meanings, the Pausch's lived their life like this, content with the time they had left, not grasping for answers.
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Lea Balcerzak
5/7/2012 11:31:47 am
I am amazed at how positive Randy was throughout his treatment. In my family, I have had numerous people in my family face a terminal illness. I have known only one of them though: my grandfather. Because he had cancer, he had his voice box removed and could no longer speak. From him, I learned more about determination of keeping relationships together. He could have very much just given up on life and his relationships with his family and friends. Yet he did everything he could to continue being the happy and witty person he was before surgery. He always had a pad and pencil with him so he could write anything that he would otherwise say. He also began to attend classes where people who went through the same surgery would learn how to speak again. This greatly inspired and taught me to look past the difficulties thrown at me and strive to, despite any difficulties of life, remain very much alive, literally and emotionally for the people who we love in our life.
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Madiha Rehan
5/7/2012 11:37:49 am
When my baby sister was two weeks old, she got Pertusis. It was a big struggle during that time for my family since my sister was barley 1 month old, and my parents were worried sick about her. But during that time, my parents kept a positive atittude for my brother and I, so we wouldn't be as worried. They still joked with us and made us laugh and all, even though they knew we were going through a hard time. But now, by the grace of God, my sister is a healthy baby now. But what I learned from this book was that, even though Randy was also going through a hard time, he kept a positive atittude for everyone around him, just like how my parents did for my brother and I. And I've learned that even going through a bad time in life, you should always find a way of making things positive for you and for the people that love you.
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Kassidy Cragg
5/7/2012 10:28:43 pm
I think that everything happens for a reason. Your life could turn around any minute just like his did. Its important to care for everyone because you have no idea what they are going through. They could be acting one way when really at home its really hard. My aunt had a tumor in the lower part of her stomache and if it wasnt removed it could lead to cancer. Our whole family was stirred but through prayers and amzing doctors it was removed and she is perfectly healthy now! Our whole family stayed strong and we were there for eachother and in the end, it all pays off.
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christian spiller
5/8/2012 12:25:51 am
i have had good luck about my family members not bieng diagnosed with any horrible disase but i know that it would be a great lession because they would help you see the true meaning of life and that even when your dying you can have the time of your life
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Avery Pietrowiak
5/8/2012 03:54:13 am
I think that Randy is very smart in the way that he lives his life even before his diagnosis. It would be very easy to get depressed and not feel like its worth it to live, but he has shown that he wants his life to be just like before. If I were in his position, then I would want to respond to the situation the way he did, making every moment count.
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Maddy G
5/8/2012 05:10:14 am
Strokes run in my family. My great uncle died from one, my grandfather had three before his fourth one killed him, and my uncle(only 30 years old) just recently had a stroke. My uncle tries to live his life to the fullest, even though he has limitations because of his stroke. He may not be able to snowboard any more, but he can still have fun and live life.
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Beverly Lo
5/8/2012 05:54:31 am
My grandpa passed away a couple years ago very suddenly; one day he was fine and the next he wasn’t. I was too young (and sad) to really understand what was going on, but I learned to cherish every moment I had with the people I loved. Randy also added to this. After reading his story, I learned that when I’m aware that my time with someone is limited that I shouldn’t grieve. Instead, I should be having as much fun with them as possible to create memories of them, so that when my time with them is up, I will have those memories.
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maci scates
5/8/2012 06:25:34 am
One time I volunteered with my church at a nursing home, and took care of a woman there, she was about to die and she knew it but still she acted so happy and friendly. She taught me how precious life is. Randy taught me the same thing and i think that if I were about to die I would write a letter to every person that ever changed me just so I would feel like I had accomplished something that is not only for myself.
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Neil Bhamoo
5/8/2012 07:29:28 am
My grandmother suffered from cancer as well. I don't know what kind, but it was really serious. It took a couple of years, but she survived her battle against cancer. She was a very happy person, but it seemed that she got even happier after winning her battle against cancer, if that is possible. Now, she always tries to take care of herself, and lives as if there could be an accident the next day. She always tries to have fun and enjoy life, and from her, I learned that you should always persevere, the way she did against cancer, and have fun. If I knew I am to die, then I would set up my family to get ready, the way he did.
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Ali Ozymy
5/8/2012 07:44:01 am
Randy really was an advocate for his own medical care. My grandfather did the same thing. He had something seriously wrong with the blood circulation in his leg. He eventually had to have it amputated. This was really hard for him, because he still wanted to be active and have fun. That's why he was always trying to find a way to get back on his feet. He now has a prosthetic leg and walks around on it like a normal leg. He was always trying to get better, even right after the surgery. I can tell you that my grandfather works out more than a lot of americans do these days, and he's 70 years old and has one leg. As soon as he could after his surgery, he was back at the gym lifting weights for his arms because he couldn't quite stand on his leg yet. I learned a lot from him, because he really took a positive stance on his situation. He could have been depressed about the way it would look to have a prosthetic leg, or how difficult it would be and how painful it would be, but instead he went on living life like nothing happened. If something like that ever happens to me, I hope that I can be like him and see the good side of the situation.
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Morgan Glover
5/8/2012 09:02:42 am
Most people with serious illnesses don't just give up on life when they get diagnosed. They usually fight the sickness until they can't fight it any more. While they are fighting, they are enjoying as much of life as they can, not waisting one second for sorrow. When it is my time to die, I want to face death with courage. I don't want death to eat me piece by piece because I can't handle it all at once. If the shark is going to bite me, it might as well eat me whole.
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Amy Roh
5/8/2012 09:05:11 am
Randy has definitely taken the positive road in his journey.
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Rahi Patel
5/8/2012 10:50:37 am
Yes, my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Gaffner, well she had breast cancer, and she was luckily a survivor but, she still fought through it all. I learned a lot from her besides that fact that she was my teacher, but I also learned that you have to be strong no matter what, especially when the times are through, that's when you have to push and pull through even harder. You know, thinking about Randy and Mrs. Gaffner, I think that I will be accepting to when I die... I think that when something like that happens to me, I will be living my life to the fullest-until the day that I die!
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Pratyusha Manthena
5/8/2012 10:59:19 am
My great-grandmother died of cancer. She had fought so hard for her life. I was very close to her, and when she passed away, I was terrified. However, she taught me that you have to fight to the end. She never lost hope for herself. She was never sad that she would lose her life. I learned from her that you should never ever stop trying. You should keep going until it’s all over. When I feel like giving up, I think of her. I realize that you should never ever give up. When I approach my death, I won’t regret because I know that one point it will eventually come. I will do what I can to enjoy what time I have left.
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5/8/2012 11:08:14 am
My grandfather passed away a few years ago due to a stroke. Until his last days, he was always energetic and kept a positive attitude about his life like Randy. He taught me to never let anything put you down and to always work hard. I found it amazing how smoothly Randy had handled his cancer. Instead of going into a stage of fear and depression as I expected, he was smiling and enthusiastic about "playing the cards he was dealt" as he said in the speech. From Randy's and my grandfather's death, I learned that dieing is inevitable, and it is best not to obsess over it. Randy only had 3-6 months of good health, but instead of living those months in melancholy, he managed to create a legacy with his last lecture and enjoy his last moments. Randy's attitude taught me that "living in the moment" can help you overcome some of the harshest issues in life, even death. I also learned that you should cherish every moment you have with your loved ones. Death can come unexpectedly and it is the moments with that loved one that will stick with you as great memories.
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Tyler Smith
5/8/2012 11:21:57 am
My list of people that have had serious illness or death:
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Tyler Smith
5/8/2012 11:22:51 am
My list of people that have had serious illness or death:
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Adreesh Roy
5/8/2012 02:25:46 pm
My own maternal grandmother has been diagnosed with the early stages of breast cancer. Although doctors have given her a positive outlook for near complete recovery, her treatment has been long, grueling and draining both physically and mentally. But through this process I have noticed that never, for once, has she allowed this illness to overshadow other aspects of our family. She has always minimized the disease and highlighted the recovery process. She has celebrated the day-to-day joys and successes of her grandchildren and children and treated her condition as a mere road bump in our family’s journey.
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5/9/2012 06:18:28 am
I find the fact that Randy is so positive going head-on to death, I find so inspiring and amazing. I, personally, haven't met or known anyone with a serious illness, but if I did, I would probaly learn so much from them. For example, I would learn that not everything is the end of the world, and to take everything that happens to me (good or bad) in stride and with a positive attitude. I would also learn to appreciate life and enjoy living.
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Aisha Espinosa
5/9/2012 06:58:25 am
I admire the way Randy chose to have a positive attitude, even though he knew he'd face the prospect of death. He chose not to let his diagnosis get the best of his remaining time left. Although I've had relatives that have been diagnosed with disease, like my favorite uncle, I never got to spend time with them. When my favorite uncle was diagnosed with lung cancer, my parents didn't want me to see what he was going through, so it ended up only being my mom flying out to California to support him and his family (my aunt and three cousins). But I did manage to get some details out of my mom, and what she's told me has only inspired me more. My uncle was positive until the very end, even though his chances were slim. He had ultimate faith in God, often saying he was in His hands. This was a long time ago, when I was about 8, but I'll always remember the lessons I learned from my uncle.
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5/9/2012 07:33:08 am
I completely respect Randy for taking the positive route. I have had many family members in a health situation like this. But they definitely don't dwell on it. I learned that dwelling on the negative isn't going to make what's going on any better. I love how Randy took the opportunity to celebrate his life and focus on how great his life has been. When faced with my own morality I would of course do the same.
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Hauwa Oyebanji
5/9/2012 07:42:22 am
i think it is very important to face death in a positive way. i have seen people in my life who have faced the challenge of serious illness. i learned a valuable lesson that death happen for a reason and i learned that you should face death in a positive way and i learned that no matter what to do to avoid death, death will still come in your way.
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Shishir Jessu
5/9/2012 07:56:38 am
The only person who has had a serious illness in my family is my baby cousin, who had the extreme misfortune of dying at the age of three. She had congenital heart defects (a hole in the heart) and she also had a hearing defect. In the first 3 years of her life, she had to have five surgeries, in hopes of treating both of her health problems. Despite all of the pain she went through, she was still very positive and playful. Her attitude may have been attributed to the fact that she did not likely know of her ailments (she had never known what hearing was like, nor was she old enough to realize she had a heart disease). However, her attitude in the face of disease is comparable to that of Randy's which means that anyone can be positive despite the circumstances (because a 47 year old man did it).
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Anushka Limaye
5/9/2012 08:12:13 am
My grandma had cancer. She died two years ago. I'll never forget the picture of her that I found in her home, my grandma, who had black hair and a kind, young face for someone her age, until we left for America, and in the picture was lying helpless on a hospital bed, with family crowded around her, and white hair streaming from her temples, and the face, the face that I'd come to associate with the strongest woman in the world, weathered, and for the first time, to me, old. But until the end, she loved all of us, and would not bow to anything, including worry and feeling sorry for herself. My grandpa died a year later, from cigarette use, and sheer lonliness. I've always felt that if I'm going to die, I'm going to do something big before I go, like if I have a terminal disease, I'll donate all of my money to a good cause, like cancer traetment. Randy helped enforce that. But I also know that I'm really fine with death. I would hate to live forever. I think that 80 years is a good enough life span. Even going a little before is fine, as long as I had a full life. I don't really know what to believe about the afterlife, whether I'll just be in a hole in the ground, or whether I'll be in a heaven, or in a hell, or in another life. All i know is that if I manage to do something meaningful for the world before then, I'm fine with death. Something else I learnt when my aunt's friend who also had cancer is not to haggle for a couple months, because apparently, the few days/hours/minutes involved are not worth making the remainder of your life miserable. This friend stopped going for treatments when her doctors said she had six months to live with treatments, and only three months without. She smiled and said, 'well, is it really worth it?' and walked out, or so my aunt tells it.
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Joy Johnson
5/9/2012 08:24:38 am
I think that it is very important to approach a terminal illness, such as cancer, in a somewhat positive way. Randy said that he was not in denial and he knew he was dying. But sine he knew this he was not going to waist any more time on sadness. Multiple people in my family have had many heart troubles, especially my grandfather. He has under gone many surgeries but stayed strong through all of it. I think that it is very inspirational to watch someone go through something like that but know that the Lord has a plan for them. They are not worried or stressed. I have learned a lot from my grandfather. He has taught me to enjoy and live in the moment. He has also taught me to stay strong in faith, and trust the Lord. Randy's journey has made me think a lot about how I would/will deal with my own mortality. It is a very hard concept to understand and not deny. I know that i will die and i know that i will do so in a joyful way. Randy is doing so in a great way and i think he is teaching us all a lesson about how to approach life and death.
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Whitney Bras
5/9/2012 08:32:30 am
Fortunately no one in my family has had a terrible illness. Randy's journey and how he handled everything alerted me to not take my health for granite. It has also gave me motivation to live everyday to its fullest. Taking the "positive path" makes the bad things into meaningful things. Dwelling on it isn't going to make it better, just like crying won't make your boo-boo hurt any less.
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Joshua Chow
5/9/2012 09:40:29 am
Yes, there have been people in my life who have faced the challenge of a serious illness. In fact, she is my mom. She has shown me that you have to live your life when you can, this summer we are going to Florida. She wants to go to the beach and have a great time while she still can. I’ve noticed that she doesn’t like to talk about her health, and usually she seems fine. She looks completely normal on the outside. Randy’s journey has convinced me that I need to live everyday like I might not wake up tomorrow. We only have just so much time on this Earth and we should enjoy ourselves. I get a feeling that I should prepare for the future, but I should also spend some time to play. Not just work all the time. I need to spend more time with my family.
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Sanjuktha Pendyala
5/9/2012 09:52:49 am
Fortunately, in my life, nobody had a serious disease. But what Randy taught was to stay positive no matter what. I know its hard to have positive thoughts when you are yourself in a bad condition. I know it's easy to say, but that's what it is. Randy's journey made me realize that every single moment is precious and every second counts. He made me realize that life is not always about work and money. It is, also, about loving each other and looking after each other. Sure, money and work also comes into it, but love, support and affection is the most important thing in these kind of situations. Just live your dreams.
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Lauren Villanueva
5/9/2012 10:13:38 am
In my life sadly there have been a lot of people that have faced serious illnesses. One of my aunts died from staph infection, while my other aunt had breast cancer but is about to be five years cancer free. Two of my grandparents had Alzheimer’s disease. My grandfather died from throat cancer. Also my uncle had heart, lung, and kidney problems, which cause him to recently pass away. I learned that being with family is extremely important and to live everyday to the fullest. They also taught me to be happy in the worst times because they always had a smile on their faces. Randy’s journey made me have the live everyday like I wouldn’t wake up for the next one. It also made me consider that I shouldn’t be thinking about the past but live in the moment because things can happen without you expecting them.
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Rinith Prasad
5/9/2012 10:31:51 am
I have never met my family since fourteen years, due to the fact that my parents have never taken me to India, I have never known if any of my family members have died. I do know for a fact that my Great-Grandma is dead, though I have never seen her. She died in a car accident. That's the closest death I know. From how my dad describes her, she was a very happy go lucky person and really had no problems. I think you should be sad if a person is infected with some disease, but not cry all the time. Instead, spend the last moments of their life trying to make them happy. When they leave this world, they can go in peace to heaven. When I am about to die, if I know before hand, I will do all the things on my bucket list and make a mark in this world. My mark, for everyone to remember me.
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Joshua Chow
5/9/2012 11:14:17 am
You said, "I will do all the things on my bucket list and make a mark in this world." I don't know about his bucket list, but Randy did everything he dreamed of in his childhood. I would also say he made a mark on the world. Wouldn't you?
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Rinith Prasad
5/9/2012 10:33:54 am
Cont. from happy go lucky person and really had no problems.
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Sakina Daresalamwala
5/9/2012 10:39:06 am
My great aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer about five years ago. She’s still fighting, but something I have always admired was how positive she was, even though some people would consider her one of the unluckiest people on Earth, given her condition. She always has a smile on her face, and she is not worried about dying because she knows that she will not be alone. Our whole family will go with her as well, when she does. For now though, she remains healthy and happy, not worried at all about what is to come. Randy’s journey made me want to live my life to the fullest. His story reminds me that time is precious and not something to be wasted on irrelevant things. I should surround myself with people that I love and make sure that I am happy with where I am, so that when my own death comes, I will not feel scared or sad, because I will have a piece of everybody I love coming with me.
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Joseph Overman
5/9/2012 10:47:06 am
In early 2010, I was told I have Legg Calve Perthes in my left leg. Although it'll go away and I certainly won't die, it still has had a huge impact on my middle school experience. For more than two years I haven't been able run, exercise, or even really walk normally. It'll be a while until I'm completely healed, but it's given a different view on things. My favorite basketball team didn't win the finals? Oh well. I don't like the lesson we're learning in science? Things could be worse. Although I don't pretend to have felt what people like Randy did, I feel almost enlightened by having this injury. I don't get upset constantly about trifle matters, and I have learned to appreciate some of the smaller things I take for granted.
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Marisa Villanueva
5/9/2012 10:58:51 am
This past February when my uncle was in the hospital I started to realize how valuable life is and how quickly it can be gone. He knew there was a chance going into the surgery that there was a possibility that he wouldn't come out but he didn't have a choice. I remember sitting in the hospital and in the funeral seeing all the people come up and talk about how amazing he was. He was a war veteran with a purple heart and one of the funniest, witty, and caring person i've ever met. I hope to make such an impact like that someday. After all of that I knew that every moment you have left is valuable and it is pointless to waste it being angry or sad. Randy was the same way. And because of both of them I know that I have to embrace every struggle and appreciate each day I get.
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Caden Fernando
5/9/2012 11:09:38 am
When I was five years old, my grandmother passed away due to Lung Cancer. She made a huge impact in my life, and even towards the end of her life she always kept her head up and still continued to help people. She was my role model and when I lost her, I almost lost it. Now though, I am proud to say I am the grandson of Numbukarage Kshama I. Fernando and Sir Chitra M. Fernando III. I am proud to be Caden-Alexander M. Fernando V. From her death I learned to always keep your conscience clean, no regrets. To keep my head up and continue to benefit the world till the last second of my life. I have learned that I am finite and there is nothing I can do to stop the inevitable.
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Lauren Rudd
5/9/2012 11:12:53 am
3 of my aunts, both of my grandmothers, and my uncle have all passed away due to cancer. It was extremely hard on all my family. I don't even know how Randy stayed so positive! There are many times when my aunts just wanted to give up and not try anymore, so I truly admire Randy and his determination. As other people have said, he accepted his condition and made the best of it. When I die, I hope to have made a lasting impact on someone in any way possible.
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Nicholas Castorina
5/9/2012 11:24:13 am
I think that choosing a positive attitude is good for not just what he went through, but with everything in life. He took a very serious illness and was being as optimistic as he could. Also, he was willing to fight and do anything to stay with his family. A few months after my father was born, my grandfather got mesothelioma and asbestosis from exposure to asbestos where he worked. The doctors said he only had a few months to live but he worked hard every step of the way. He got these diseases when he was 38. He died when he was 92 due to lung cancer caused by asbestos. He lived longer than most patients that have mesothelioma ever dream to live for and it was all because of his attitude towards it, and how mush he loved his family and how he wasn't going to give up. By what I know, I think that I should be as optimistic about all issues or illnesses in my own life and that if you approach every rough spot in your life with a smile on your face, it will make it so much easier.
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Siddharth Marella
5/9/2012 11:48:48 am
Only a man with true courage can do such a thing. I know someone who had a heart failure and died because of that. A dear friend of our passed away only a year ago. He was very jolly and used to treat me like his grandson. I never had a grandfather so he was the closest thing I got. The man always was happy. He once had a minor heart attack and did not even go to the doctor. He woke up an hour later and was fine. Randy was the dsame kind of man he took cancer as a joke.
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Alex Berend
5/9/2012 12:04:01 pm
I admire Randy for staying positive and having a calm outlook on his fatal disease. I also admire him for taking advantage of his little time left to live and using it to influence, inspire, teach, and guide other people to follow their dreams, instead of just spending his last times completeing things that he always wanted to do before he died, as some people would call a bucket list. I can relate to my grandfather dying from idiopathic pulmonary lung vibrosis. His lungs were thinning out, and he couldnt breathe anymore. He went for months breathing through oxygen tanks while the insurance said he needed to be able to walk without the tanks for the lung transplant he needed. But, then the insurance company said they would do the surgery on him in the condition he was in, but of course they changed it to this right after he was put into ICU so they wouldnt have to cover the surgery. He ended up dying, never recieving the surgery because the insurance didnt want to cover the risks of the surgery and because they didnt care whether or not he lived or died. All they care about is the easiest way out for them. To this day, as I write out this reflection, I am absolutely FURIOUS with the insurance company, for they let a good man die, when they could have easily saved his life. I admire my grandfather for remaining calm and somewhat postive, however, and I still know he loved and still loves me as he watches over me and my family. When I approach my own death, I will try to patch my relationships with others and help them as much as I can, like Randy did. I will die in graciousness of my own life, just as my grandfather did.
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Miika Jarvela
5/9/2012 01:29:59 pm
Alex, I understand your frustration. Sometimes, people only care about themselves. It is heartless, and it shows the worst in humanity. I am sorry for what happened; it is not deserved to anybody. I want you to know that insurance company had no right to do what they did. They were heartless and should not be that way.
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Avery Pietrowiak
5/9/2012 12:57:20 pm
A year or so my cousin's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, fortunately in a treatable form. She, being the strong women she is decided to take the bull by the horns. She signed up for the hardest treatments to get the whole thing over with. After her treatment was over and she was cancer free, she and her husband when sky diving to celebrate. She adopted a new lifestyle of healthy and organic everything. Even after this experience, she lives by the healthy food philosophy. I look up to her for "treating the disease at the source" as Randy would say, I wish that I could lead my life like that all the time.
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Lauren Villanueva
5/9/2012 01:15:47 pm
That is a wonderful story and it sounds like she has taught you a lot. I love how they went sky diving to celebrate too.
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Miika Jarvela
5/9/2012 01:14:01 pm
None of my friends or family has really gone through a serious illness. I have gotten pretty lucky to not have to go through that. But I do know people who have gone through that, and I know what I think the best thing to do is. You have to, like Randy, be positive, supportive, and optimistic. It doesn’t make the healing process any faster if you spend it grieving and thinking about how you will never be fine. Like Randy states later in the book, optimism doesn’t really do anything; what it does do is it makes you want to get better. It, in a way, forces you to work and do everything that you normally wouldn’t do. You should be accepting of what’s going to happen. Don’t think: “I’m going to die in a year.” Think this instead: “I’m going to have another year to live. I need to fulfill my life with my dreams and goals.” The second choice is a choice that may end up helping you heal faster.
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Selase Buatsi
5/9/2012 01:56:10 pm
In this section we see how positive and upbeat Randy is even though he knows that his death is quickly approaching. I am fortunate enough to have a healthy family. The only person that I know of in any of my family that has an illness would be my sister. My sister Sena has Sickle Cell Anemia, but God blessed us by making that one in a million that has practically no symptoms. She has only had to be hospitalities once, and that was only for a fever. The only symptom that she somewhat has, is that she get tired a little quicker and that sometimes causes her head to hurt. However I do know another kid that has Sickle Cell, and he is been to the hospital many more times than my sister. Although he goes to the hospital quite often, I never see him upset. He is always smiling. I learn from him to always try and have an upbeat spirit. If he can smile even though he has to go to the ER many times, then I should be able to at least smile.
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Eugene Han
5/9/2012 06:00:15 pm
Yes, we did see Randy being an advocate for his own medical care. And yes, he chose to be optimistic. At church, there was a friend of mine, and his mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I thought he'd be extremely sad, but actually, she came to church with a huge grin on her face. I guess she thought that being sad wouldn't help at all so why bother being an Eeyore? I learned no matter the situation, on your death trail or not, everyone has a chance to smile and be happy. Personally, if a person with CANCER can be HAPPY, so can I. I will approach things a lot more in a "joyful" manner, without being an Eeyore. After all, I AM a Tigger.
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Josh Fink
5/9/2012 11:42:17 pm
Both my grandparents have faced forms of cancer. On a good note, my grandmother fought it and beat it. Then beat it again after it came back! Unfortunately though, my grandfather died after a long battle. Their adventures with cancer made me value life more than ever before. When reading a book, you don’t have the same effect as when it is connected to someone you know and love. I learned to live life as it is your last day, and to put one hundred percent effort into everything you do. Because, you never know what can happen on any given day. I also realized to be more relaxed. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect, and sometimes you have to take chances. From these experiences with cancer, I learned to not worry as much and live to have fun, because everything one way or another will work out. Randy’s journey inspires me because it obviously sounded like he had a lot going for him. Yet instead of being upset about his cancer, and wondering why this would happen to him, he went among the rest of his short life with a positive attitude. The way he cared for his wife and family was great, and it made me remember how thankful I should be for a loving family. After reading about his experiences, it made me realize how even small things can be life-long memories.
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J.C. Humen
5/10/2012 06:21:37 am
Well to begin, my aunt, a wonderful woman named Kimberly actually has severe brain cancer. While I can't say I've learned as much from her as I have from Randy that doesn't mean I haven't learned anything. She taught me how to stay optimistic during the really hard times. In fact, like Randy she's making sure to spend her time wisely. Every day she spends important time with her family that I actually envy. After all, with a divorced family how couldn't I? However, what I've really found to be amazing about this is how much it's brought both sides of the family together. It really taught me that sometimes the bad things happen for a reason, and finding it isn't really the challenge. It's incorporating that lesson into your own life, if only to prevent the suffering in those bad times from being in vain.
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dhathri bobba
5/10/2012 08:28:14 am
It is correct that Randy is suffering from a terminal disease, but if he never told us that in his last lecture and we did not know, we would have never guessed! He was so full of energy and he did not go into denial when he found out about his condition but instead starting enjoying life even more. He reminds me of a person I know named Bob(I will call him Bob because I do not want to reveal his true name). He had a mother who died from a disease that is called sarcoidosis. This kind of disease causes the tissue to die within the body slowly. It particularly happens to the lungs. The sad thing about this is that she could have lived if she got a transplant, but she never got one because her family did not want to pay the money for the transplant even though they could afford it. She was suffering from this disease for 5 years and you would have never guessed that she was dying. I did not even know she was dying until she actually died! She enjoyed life and did not go into denial and stayed in the same state as Randy. She taught me that you should enjoy life to the fullest no matter what happens. I will remember these incidents of my life until I die.
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Michelle Zhang
5/10/2012 09:05:29 am
My grandpa has cancer, and it's going okay, but he doesn't know if he's going to make it yet. The lesson I've learned from him is just to always live life like you usually would. When I go to visit him, he always has this big smile on his face and takes me out to parks and movies and places that we could have fun at. He laughs at things even though he has cancer and he's happy. Randy's diagnosis has taught me just to be happy and appreciate what I have in life, because what I may take for granted, someone else might be wishing for.
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Isabelle Garza
5/10/2012 10:18:03 am
My great grandfather fought a long, tough battle against colon cancer and prostate cancer. He went through his good times during remission and bad times when the cancer would return. I remember visiting him in the hospital when things would get bad and he would still have a smile on his face. He was always laughing and making sure everyone was doing the same no matter how bad he felt. He remained very strong in his faith through out the entire time he was sick. After ten years of illness and 91 years of a wonderful life he passed away. At the funeral last winter I couldnt help but smile as we all thought back on his life and all of the amazing things we learned from him whether we knew it at the time or not. The entire family went through the ultimate head fake. The way Randy approached his illness and medical journey is truly inspiring. He has taught me a very important lesson about life and how to live it. From this moment on i plan to have no regrets in life and to live my life to the absolute fullest. Why wait until you are facing your last little time before death? We are never guaranteed tomorrow so I am going to live like every day is my last.
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Belle Tan
5/10/2012 10:59:57 am
I don't think I have really had anyone in my family that died of cancer yet I think i have learn alot from Randy like how god always has a plan for you, so go with it.
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Katy Hensel
5/10/2012 12:33:23 pm
My grandfather, like Randy, is currently facing pancreatic cancer. The only difference is that he has been living with it for a few years now, which is truly a miracle. He is currently having kidney failure though, and his doctors say he isn't going to make it very long. But, every time I see him, he puts a smile on his face, and he has never changed from the grandpa that I used to know. I've never seen him admit that he is in any pain and he is truly a strong survivor. His perseverance is a huge inspiration to me, and seeing him fully appreciate life is beautiful. It is true as Randy said, that a terminal illness can bring out the very best in humanity. It completely changes your mindset. A lot of people have heard the term YOLO, but behind the cleverness, it really is a deep message. You only have one life to live, and it's your choice to live it or just go sit in a corner and watch other people live life to the fullest. The number one thing I learned from my grandpa's condition is that it's never about what situation you're in, but it's about how you chose to deal with it. It's about doing the very best with what you have, and I try to do that every day.
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Myles Paschall
5/10/2012 01:15:45 pm
It is true that randy is dieing from a suvere illnes but you really would not be able to tell if he had not told you. I have not had anyone very close to me die from a terminal illness but i know that if someone was i would take advantage of it and not sit and sulk because that is not what randy would do.
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Vishnu Kunadharaju
5/10/2012 01:24:38 pm
So far I have never had anyone in my family had to face that. But if I have ever had to face any kind of situation like Randy Pausch then morally instead of thinking about death 24/7 I would focus on other things. Like I would spend time with my family and my friends. Do my favorite activity maybe go and watch the new movie. I would focus on the happy things on my life and not the sad things. But in the time given I would want to be completely happy and have a great time.
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Elbio Guedilla
5/10/2012 10:40:17 pm
Yes actually I know some one that even though she has cancer she is happy. I learnt that even though life pulls you down you have to keep your head-up. I will try and live my life to the fullest.
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Christina Munnings
5/11/2012 01:13:54 am
I actually knew a lot of family members who've died through different sicknesses, but I was also hospitalized because of my ears. I had a HUGE ear affection that I could've been brain dead from. I learned that not everything in life would be perfect. Just have fun and spend a lot of time with your family and don't take gifts for granted because you won't always be there to take it or use it.
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Jariah De La Garza
5/12/2012 09:13:47 am
I think the way Randy is handling his life dying is the way every one should live their lives dying or not.people that accept their dying for what it is can make others have to worry less because if they know that you're comfortable with the cards delt to you then they can also be comfortable.And instead of being depressed about the fact he is out living his life to the fullest like everyone should do .
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Zane Erickson
5/13/2012 06:08:32 am
There has been no one close to me with a serious medical disease that I learned from but the book made me really appreciate doing things when you have the chance or opportunity to do them so i told myself that if i get the chance to do something cool i'm not gonna squander it i'm gonna do it and have a great time. It made me appreciate my own mortality more as well because you never know how long you have.
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