27 Days By Gina Warren
27 days.  Less than one month.  That is how long John T. Warren’s battle with cancer lasted.  In 27 days time esophageal cancer stole from this world a marvelous and loyal husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend.  It stole a brilliant scholar, teacher, author, mentor, and human rights advocate.  It stole from me a form of love and laughter that I will never again know, and left me in return wondering how any of this came to pass.  How is it possible that a healthy, 36 year old man can be diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer when the only symptom he ever experienced was acid reflux?  And why didn’t I force him to have an endoscopy seven years ago when our family physician first recommended it?  Because we mistakenly thought that a 36 year old man who ran six miles per day, six days a week was healthy, and that his health and the miracles of modern medicine could see him through cancer or any other physical ailment that came his way.  But John never got the chance to have any treatment.  He died two days prior to his scheduled chemotherapy.  He left me, our 3 year old and five year old sons, and the rest of the world wondering what had happened and wishing we could only have had more time with him.