Survivor Rolando L. pleural mesothelioma punched in the face.
After completing her chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy in July, Rolando challenge celebrated in August by his Harley-Davidson riding through the country ?? 2,0 miles in three and a half days ?? to reach the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota West.
This was his victory lap.
War may be raging inside him, but Rolando won the first great battle.
"I just wanted to really challenge myself," said Rolando Miami. His name is withheld for privacy. "And I wanted to prove that mesothelioma was unbeatable, I could kick your ass."
In her irreverent, Rolando, 59, became a symbol of hope for many and an inspiration to all. They greeted him with the famous Sturgis Full Throttle Saloon, the epicenter of the annual event that attracts hundreds of thousands of bikers for a week of festivities.
A cancer may one day kill him was put in his place by a rebel strong will that refused to yield. He hit back with conviction.
"I will survive mesothelioma, or I'll die fighting every step of the way. I will not give up any moment," he said recently at his home south of Florida. "I'm careful of my doctors, who were amazing for my life. They are my heroes. I will not let them down now. "
not the first fight of his life
Rolando is a former Miami police officer who has pursued drug traffickers aggressively in the 80s, at the risk his life help crush a south Florida cocaine cartel known. He almost died stopping a bank robbery that ended in a shootout. the assault weapon pointed at his head stuck, save her life.
"I was fighting a different war at the time, some of the worst moments of the history of Miami: the era of the cocaine cowboy, riots, the Mariel boatlift and criminals on the streets all days, "he said." I fight a different enemy now, but I will not be afraid. I will live or die fight against this disease. "
Rolando was diagnosed late in 2014 and started chemotherapy at the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center.
He underwent surgery pleurectomy / decortication aggressive in March with Dr. Nestor Villamizar, a young innovator surgeon who trained at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Rolando has completed five weeks of radiation regime in late July.
Rolando rests in bed after surgery.
He stood that day by the ring of the bell hospital patients to celebrate the end of their treatment. Rolando shelled several times before leaving.
On August 1, he miraculously left to Sturgis with his wife, Susana, on the back of their Harley-Davidson. Another couple is mounted next.
"He started talking about a trip before it has even been diagnosed with cancer," said Susana Asbestos.com. "But getting sick made him more determined to go. Meanwhile, leading to, it provided the details. I thought it was good because it took his mind cancer. But I thought it would actually produce. "
chemotherapy was desperately sick, surgery had decreased and weakened a great man and a radiation at the end drained him. But he moved forward again, determined that mesothelioma would not stop.
"The night before we left, I said ?? Are you sure you want to do this ??? I do not think doctors actually thought it would, and I do not want die on the back of a motorcycle crashed, "said Susana. "So I kept asking, Are you sure ?? ??? But it was weird. It gained is strength just before we left. It was always a very positive person, and this gave him the energy. So finally I just said ?? we will go.????
a Hard Working Man Determined
his commitment to ride across the country was strong, like his work ethic.
as a youth, he worked in the family restaurant before and after school. he played football in high school and worked in a store the cars weekend driving a tow truck, brake repair and pumping gas.
He became a cop during a tumultuous time in Miami, and later worked as a long distance driver truck. he worked in a warehouse, loading heavy equipment for a major manufacturer when he was diagnosed. he stayed on the job until the chemotherapy overwhelmed.
It was the first time in his life, he used a sick day, and it hurt him to do so.
"I had no idea what mesothelioma was at first. I had to have the doctor write for me, "he said." When my family looked up, they just freaked out. We prayed to God and he gave me the strength. And I'm very lucky to find good doctors. They questioned me, and I questioned back. The care I got was wonderful. "
Before leaving the intensive care unit, he asked doctors to hasten his recovery so that he could attend the next play Miami Heat basketball. He had walked the halls of hospital constantly with her walker ?? tubes hanging everywhere. he grew impatient and refused to wait for a wheelchair when he checked the hospital. he hobbled to the car of his wife instead.
she knew before how hard and determined it could be. They had met when she worked ?? the same bank where he foiled the robbery.
his heart was soft, but his will was strong. So off they roared, traveling about 0 miles each of the next three days
Trip of a Lifetime
When they arrived, he began to take pictures. a endless sea of motorcycles, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park and the beautiful black hills. He texted pictures to his doctors and nurses in Miami.
They were in awe, but not totally surprised. They had learned to understand her determination.
One of his nurses sent her a text message: ". Knowing what you have experienced, these photos make me love my job even more"
Although not walking around Sturgis so that his wife and his good friends, he bathed in the scene of his bike. Driven by experience, they took the long way home, riding through Denver, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Baton Rouge before hitting Florida Turnpike ?? and turn south.
They arrived home just before midnight on Sunday. Susana was back at work Monday morning. Rolando slept for two days. He had attended the 75th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. He slept with a smile.
They had traveled 5,300 miles through 16 states in nine days on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He rose to mesothelioma, and he looked down.
"I had always wanted to go to Sturgis, and I did not want to die and I must say I had never been there," Rolando said. "I still struggle sometimes today, get short of breath climbing stairs, but life is good. I learned that you have to enjoy every breath you take. Just do not let anything stand in your way. "
