Last September, a gentleman and professor from Carnegie Mellon (Carnegie Tech) made headlines when he announced he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, then stood before a lecture hall of students and gave his “lecture of a lifetime.” It’s about achieving one’s childhood dreams.
I watched it again this morning. As I said when I wrote about Dr. Pausch’s lecture last September, it is simply brilliant and brilliantly simple.
And it still melts me down.
But this post is not about Dr. Paush’s lecture; instead it’s an update on his health and life. I discovered this morning that he keeps a blog that provides that update. He is still in treatment, and so far is finding some success with a cocktail of drugs containing Gemcitabine+Tarceva+Avastin.
He’s been doing everything from spending time with his family, to advocating and lobbying Congress for more funding for research in pancreatic cancer. And yes, he’s still collecting stuffed animals and achieving his goals.
So in case you were wondering, or in case you’d forgotten, Dr. Randy Pausch is alive, as well or better than might have been expected, and is definitely making a difference.
As Dr. Pausch stated in his lecture, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt; we can only control the way we play the hand.”
Find updates to this post:
June 10, 2008: Randy Pausch: A Commencement Address of a Lifetime
july 25, 2008: A July Update on Randy Pausch
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How great to hear an update on this man. I too was touched by his lecture, and the light emanating from this individual. I am glad to know he is fighting and still here to touch many more lives. His life is a blessing to all who become aware of him.
I am a pancreatic cancer survivor of 15 years having been treated at MDAnderson in 93 with the samae Whipple Chemo and radiation. I think I have had survivor’s guilt and have rarely talked about it and now feel guilty about that also. Now I am going for some testing and am a bit scaared as I just had an attack of pancreatitis, just been diaganosed with fatty liver and diabetes so we’ll see today if I am still beating the odds. And no, I don’t drink or smoke and am not overweight. I am now married to a French citizen so I am recieving wonderful health care, yes it’s as good as you’ve heard. But if I beat the odds again I think I should get busy and help out. My prayers and thoughts are with Randy and us all. How can I help? PS my brother also a non smoker non drinker died of pancreatic cancer 4 years ago.
I was touched by a documentary that Dian Sawyer did on Randy and family. I just want to tell you that I am with you in my prayers.
Randy@Jai@Family
I am almost done your book “The Last Lecture” I first saw you on Oprah. You are an amazing man!! I pray for you and your wife and your children. I am hoping rather praying for a MIRACLE.
You have touched many people. Remember you never die your spirit lives on and will thru your wife and kids. You are going to be one Special ANGEL!!
God Bless you all
love evelyn
Randy, My family is praying for God to let you live much longer than normally expected. Also, we ask the Lord in this special time,for to you feel good and be free from pain so you can achive great things in helping to raise enough money to give to smart researchers in finding a cure for cancer of the pancreas.The great purpose for your life is shining brightly and your book has been widely read and enjoyed by everyone we know in Dallas, Texas.
God Bless You and your family, Blanch Lane
Dear Randy,
I lost my husband to this disease in March of 2007,he was 59 and didn’t smoke or drink and was very athletic.He too fought with chemo, and what our medical plan allowed.
We did everything he wanted from the day he was diagnosed,the children and I have no regrets.We miss him everyday.
Thank you for all your efforts with this disease,they are so needed.
You are a special person.
Please make sure you have great pain control people around you.
God Bless
Dear Randy,
I’m so thankful to come across this website. I was diagnosed with lung cancer last year. Have never smoked. Had an aborted surgery due to findings of tiny nodules on the pleura. Recent CT Scan showed I’m in remission but still taking drugs every other day. My onco is a wonderful doctor. I thank God for giving me good doctors & wonderful drug. I admire your wisdom and your positive attitude. You’re an inspiration to people like me. You’re in my prayers.
God Bless,
Olive (63 yr old grandma of 3 adorable boys)
Dear Randy,
I have tried various ways of trying to contact you but have only come accross this one. I am unsure if you are aware/knowledgeable about homeopathic medicine and how it can be a wonderful adjunct to the treatment that you are receiving. I shall keep this short but if you are interested in pursuing this there are various avenues that I may be able to assist you with. Good luck and you are my biggest inspiration.
Sincerely yours,
Katie Noall HD
Does anyone know how Randy is doing? I check his update page every couple of days but there have been no updates in almost a month.
This update was just posted on Randy’s website. It saddens me greatly, for him, for Jai and their children, and for the rest of us, who could some more of his encouraging ‘lessons.’
“July 24th, 2008: The cancer is progressing
A biopsy last week revealed that the cancer has progresed further than we had thought from recent PETscans. Since last week, Randy has also taken a step down and is much sicker than he had been. He’s now enrolled in hospice. He’s no longer able to post here so I’m a friend posting on his behalf because we know what many folks are watching this space for updates.”
I, too, have tried to get in touch with you. Please know that you, Jai, and your family are in my prayers. You have touched so many people. Your spirit will live through the lessons you have taught, both in the classroom and out. You’ve made this world a better place.
You have been an inspiration to us all. Your memory will live on forever. Bless your family.
I 1st heard your lecture earlier this year. It was the most unreal, heroic thing I have ever heard. When I feel lazy in the morning and don’t feel I want to accomplish everything I should, I listen to an 8 minute bit my brother sent to me and it inspires me to no end. Even though you are gone, your words, ideas and thoughts live with me forever.
Dear Dr. Pausch,
I was very touch by your speech on Oprah. I hope that we all have a testimony like yours. I know it’s probably hard that you know that you are going to die soon. We will all die one day or be taken in the rapture. I just wanted to share something from the Bible to you and all those that read this.
If you died today, are you 100% sure you will go to heaven? If not, please let me tell you from the Bible.
First, realize God loves you…
John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life.”
Second, realize everyone is a sinner…
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Third, realize sin has a price that must be paid…
Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Fourth, realize Jesus Chrsit died to pay your price…
Romans 5:8 - “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, wile we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Finally, pray, ask Jesus Chrsit to be your Saviour, and claim His promise of eternal life…
Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Thank you for your time.
God can do anything.
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