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I AM HealingStrong
107: Overcoming Fear and Finding Purpose in Skating and Multiple Cancer Diagnoses pt1 | Scott Hamilton
00:34:32
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- [00:00]
Scott Hamilton
The fear thing, you know, is. Is legit. I mean, the fear thing. I always say fear is a liar, because, you know, what does fear know that you don't? Right. Well, that's just it. You don't know. So you go into fear. You know, when I went in for my surgery, it was going to be from my sternum all the way down to my groin, like, straight shot, open it all up and look for any remaining cancer. You know, I was scared out of my mind. And the doctor said, what is your problem? Like, what is going on with you? I go, well, have you ever done this before? And they go seven this month. And I was like, oh, okay, I'm good. We're good to go now. Let's go. Have at it.
- [00:37]
Jim Mann
You're listening to the I Am Healing Strong podcast, a part of the Healing Strong organization, the number one network of holistic cancer support groups in the world. Each week we bring you stories of hope, real stories that will encourage you as you navigate your way on your own journey to health. Now here's your host, stage four cancer thriver Jim Mann.
- [01:03]
Unknown
This podcast has been long in the making, since I saw you skating when I was just a child.
- [01:09]
Scott Hamilton
That's long in the making. That was a while back.
- [01:11]
Unknown
I got to get him onto this podcast.
- [01:13]
Scott Hamilton
Thank goodness for YouTube, right?
- [01:14]
Unknown
Yeah. I'm sitting in the office of Scott Hamilton with plaques and awards and all kinds of stuff. I'm surrounded by all kinds of things. Guitars. I like the guitars especially. I mean, I would go through all the awards that you've gotten. But our podcast will be over at that time. But people know you as the gold medalist in the Olympics, and you're also a world champion. How many times?
- [01:36]
Scott Hamilton
Four times.
- [01:37]
Unknown
Four times. That's four times more than me.
- [01:41]
Scott Hamilton
Four times. Probably more than I ever dreamed or expected. So, wow.
- [01:45]
Unknown
My introduction to ice skating. I know you're wondering what it is. When I was 4 or 5 years old, I'm sitting on a bench in Baltimore as an outdoor ice skating rink. I don't know, it was a pond or whatever it was, but I was sitting there, my mother's lacing up, she's ready to go in, and all of a sudden this lady falls right in front of me. And this guy behind her tried to avoid her, but his skate went right across her forehead. And there I was, a five year old or whatever. I was seeing blood and carnage everywhere. And it probably was hardly anything because.
- [02:16]
Scott Hamilton
You know, the forehead, it gets bigger. And by then, you never seen anything like that before. So you have nothing to compare it to, so.
- [02:22]
Unknown
Exactly. So the ambulance came, they took her off, and. And I thought, oh, my gosh, there goes my skating career. So because of that, that was open for you to get the gold.
- [02:33]
Scott Hamilton
I appreciate that. You know, Silver, you know, it's all about, you know, just being in the right place at the right time or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But thank you for stepping aside so that I could, you're, you know, realize my dream that I never thought to dream. But thank you.
- [02:47]
Unknown
Since I am a year older than you, I paved the way.
- [02:50]
Scott Hamilton
So the years, it's the mileage, right?
- [02:53]
Unknown
Yeah, there's a little bit of mileage on me. But tell the people. I know you. You started in Canada.
- [02:59]
Scott Hamilton
No. No.
- [03:00]
Unknown
You didn't borrow Canada.
- [03:01]
Scott Hamilton
No. A lot of people think I'm Canadian. I go to Canada. In fact, every. It's funny, I see, you know, when I lived in Los Angeles, I'd run into Canadian celebrities and they go, I've been back home lately, and it's like Ohio.
- [03:13]
Unknown
There was an article I just read says you were born in Ontario, I think, oh, really?
- [03:17]
Scott Hamilton
Well, and I didn't know that I was adopted, so that might be accurate. I don't know, you know, so they.
- [03:22]
Unknown
Knew more about you than you.
- [03:23]
Scott Hamilton
If they knew my birth parents, and they probably know maybe I was born somewhere else. But I, you know, it's. It's. It's remarkable that, you know, I grew up again, you know, you could say, as an adopted, unintended, unwanted, you know, and then my. My family, my. My mom and dad wanted to have a larger family, and they, they. They just couldn't bring a child into the world. And that survived. They have a lot of really horrible pregnancies. Some would go full term and the baby just wouldn't make it. And so they decided after three. I think it was three failed attempts. My sister was born of my parents. She was a survivor of twins, from what I've been told. And then they said, well, we want to have a family, so we're going to go adoption route. So I was the first one, and then my brother four years later, adopted. So we look like three total strangers. Brother, sister, but we look like total strangers. So growing up as an adopted child is really remarkable because there's sort of an expectation that comes with coming with a birth child, but with an adopted child, you just kind of go, okay, let's just see what happens. So life just sort of was an experiment. You know, my parents were both in academia. If I were a birth child, that probably would have been my path. But since I wasn't, I kind of got into sports.
- [04:52]
Unknown
Right? Yeah. And you were not that healthy as a child, right?
- [04:55]
Scott Hamilton
No, I had a really odd thing that I don't think was diagnosed until 2004. So I was born in 1958 and then around 62 I stopped growing and developing. And it was just one of those things where they couldn't figure out what was wrong. They didn't know if it was some sort of food allergy or if it was some sort something was wrong digestively with me or if something, you know, something wasn't working right. So four years in and out of hospitals, started in Ohio, went to Bowling Green, then to Toledo, then to Ann Arbor, and then year four, I was in Boston at Boston Children's and I had every symptom of a disease called Schwachman diamond syndrome. And my doctor was Harry Schwachman. So he's a celebrity. Right. So I had to be with the man and I was there probably for, in and out for over a year. And he said, I can't diagnose this. He has every symptom but he doesn't have the disease. So I can't treat something that I can't diagnose. So the advice was to go home and live a normal life and see what happens. And so I went home and our family physician did a one man intervention. He said, okay, Dot Ernie, that's my parents names. You need a morning off to restore and just recharge your depleted batteries and you need to bond with this new baby and you need to do a lot of things. So I was 8 years old, my brother was 4 and getting a toddler, getting in all kinds of things. And so they said, well they took me to the rink and they said brand new skating rink at Bowling Green State University, just Northwestern Ohio. And they teach kids how to skate from 8 to noon every Saturday morning. So I went and fell in love with it and became a rink rat. I realized after a few weeks that I could skate as well as well kids because being the shortest one in my class and last one chosen for every team sport, you know, it was kind of like no self esteem, right. It's just I was the ist, the littlest, the weakest, the sickest. I was all the estate. Not the coolest. No, definitely not. That was the. And so, you know, I, I, I had good friends. You know, we grew up in a very lively neighborhood with lots of kids and so we were very active and we did a lot of things, but I was always kind of the sick kid. So skating was the great equalizer. You know, it put me on equal footing with everybody out there. And as I started getting better, I started realizing that I could skate as well as the best athletes in my grade. And now all of a sudden, it's like, okay, I now can feel good about myself. You know, I'm not a complete failure and everything. So I became a skater, and that took on a life of its own. And I started growing again. I started developing, and nobody could figure out why. It was just something about it just appealed to me. And then 2004, post cancer, actually cancer. 97, 2004. I'm now a husband and a father and sort of symptomatic. And so I went in for a checkup. And, you know, as far as endovascularly, I had very, like, you know, I. Hardly any testosterone in my body. And they thought maybe the chemo for my cancer, you know, prevented me from, you know, living normally. Right. So we can treat that topically. It'll be fine. I go, no, there's something else. So they ended up finding a brain tumor that they had to go in and do a biopsy. So they went to the top of my head. They joke, you know, it's funny, is like, we. We. I think we found a safe corridor. And it's like, well, I think I'm not using any of it. So I have at it and, you know, all the bad things that can happen in a surgery like that. And I woke up, and I knew who I was, where I was, why I was there. And then they told me I could lose speech and motor function. I wiggle my toes, and I said, test. I go, okay, I can speak. I guess the surgery went well. And I was diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma brain tumor that I was born with. Wow. And craniopharyngiomas, usually they inhibit growth and development in young people. That's how. But they didn't. In their early 60s, they had no scanning to find anything like that.
- [09:05]
Unknown
So if they would have caught that, you could have been six, four.
- [09:07]
Scott Hamilton
No, if they would have caught it, I would have had a big old C in my head and would have had all kinds of developmental disabilities. So it's probably better, though, that they didn't find it back then, because all they would have had is an open surgery, you know, And I don't think in the 60s there is as. As sophisticated as they are now and taking care of problems like that. So radiation went back to life. Six years later, came back, one surgery, it became nine. Wow. Finally obliterated the aneurysm caused by the, you know, first surgery. And then six years later came back and this one, I decided to just hand it to the Lord. You know, I just felt in everything, in my spirit, said, just get strong and you'll be okay. So that's all I've done, is try to get strong physically, mentally, intellectually and spiritually.
- [09:59]
Unknown
Now people look at someone like you who's always seemingly happy.
- [10:03]
Scott Hamilton
Yeah. You're known for it is a choice.
- [10:05]
Unknown
Yeah, yeah.
- [10:06]
Scott Hamilton
Because I could choose not to be what they think.
- [10:08]
Unknown
Well, nothing's ever happened. Otherwise he wouldn't be so happy.
- [10:11]
Scott Hamilton
Yeah, right. Yeah.
- [10:12]
Unknown
And I watched your TED talks.
- [10:15]
Scott Hamilton
Oh, the one on suffering.
- [10:17]
Unknown
Yeah.
- [10:17]
Scott Hamilton
Yeah.
- [10:17]
Unknown
I'm like. Because I kind of knew your story, but I, I was so impressed. And that's, that's something that also helped me because I'm an optimist. I think it's just because I'm simple minded.
- [10:27]
Scott Hamilton
Yeah.
- [10:27]
Unknown
You know, like when I first got.
- [10:28]
Scott Hamilton
Don't overthink it. Right. Just give me the facts.
- [10:30]
Unknown
Yeah, that's right. Like, I was devastated, of course, when I got my diagnosis. I was at Disney World when it happened. But that fear and everything. I mean, I cried like a little baby once after I've been to the surgeon, he told me what's going to happen. And, you know, I cried thinking I'm not going to make it to Christmas because it was in September when I was diagnosed. And then after that I was fine. I'm like, God's got this. And I went on like it was just, you know, a cold sore or something like that, which I knew was a lot more serious than that. But there's something about your mindset that really helps. And I never, I didn't think that had anything to do with it until that place.
- [11:07]
Scott Hamilton
Ecosystem is really important. And positivity, joy, laughter, it ignites a different chemistry in your body than stress. I mean, think about stress, anxiety, unhappiness, anger, you know, all the hostility, you know, all those things can change, you know, create an acidic environment in your ecosystem that allows for really bad things to happen. So, yeah, I don't mind just sort of tricking myself into being okay, you know, and that's okay, that's fine. I don't want to be super irresponsible or stupid about anything, but at the same time, I, you know, I've lived through enough to have something to compare it to, like to Compare this moment to. And right now, this moment is a lot better than sitting for eight hours with a chemo bag attached to my arm. Yeah, it's a lot better than that. You know, and. And I, I can compare, you know, getting stuck in traffic this morning was way better than a 38 staple surgery down my abdomen. You. You know, probably way better than that. Right. So. But, you know, the fear thing, you know, is. Is legit. I mean, the fear thing. I always say fear is a liar because, you know, what does fear know that you don't? Right. Well, that's just it. You don't know. So you go into fear. And, you know, I. When I went in for my surgery, it was going to be from my sternum all the way down to my groin, like, straight shot, open it all up and look for any remaining cancer, you know?
- [12:31]
Unknown
Yeah.
- [12:31]
Scott Hamilton
And. And I was scared out of my mind. And the doctor said, what is your problem? Like, what is going on with you? I go, well, have you ever done this before? And they go seven this month. And I was like, oh, okay, I'm good. We're good to go. Now. Let's go. Have at it. But with each of those challenges, those adventures, it's like chemo is an adventure, and the surgery was an adventure, and brain radiation was an adventure, and brain surgery is an adventure, and shoulder surgery is an adventure, and getting my ankle rebuilt as an adventure, and all the medical intervention stuff, they're all. You can look upon them as these devastating, terrible periods of your life, or you can look at them as I'm now getting repaired so I don't have to worry about that anymore or things are going to be better once I get through this. This period of. Of challenge and struggle.
- [13:28]
Unknown
Yeah, you. You had, like I said, that TED talk that you had. You had two of them, I think, right?
- [13:33]
Scott Hamilton
Yeah, I did one on proton therapy. I'm the dumbest guy to ever talk about splitting atoms easily. And we're sitting at a proton therapy center, which is really ironic.
- [13:44]
Unknown
But I thought. I didn't know this part about how you would get into competition with skating and you would, like, come in last or.
- [13:51]
Scott Hamilton
Oh, yeah, I was the last place guy for a long time.
- [13:53]
Unknown
Yeah. Most people give up at that point.
- [13:55]
Scott Hamilton
Nah. Well, they can. It was really funny, though. I joke now. Cause I, you know, I embellish a little bit just to make it more fun. But I did. I mean, my first competition, I fell so many times that I went from. I think I was fifth in figures and I came in ninth overall. And last. Last, last. Right. And. And, you know, when you, when you do that, I mean, I think based on results, you. You tend to put your. Yourself in a category. Yeah. And so I kind of. I was last place guy. I was like, well, here I am. And the next year I went back and I didn't fall as many times, but I came in ninth again. But out of 10. Right. Well, maybe the guy that was 10th shouldn't have been there. But, you know, who knows? But, you know, it got to that point where I felt like if I beat anybody, it must have been really humiliating for them because I'm last place guy. It's like I beat two guys. My first year in juniors, I was seventh out of nine. And I can just hear the locker room talk. Wait, Hamilton beat you? Really? What are you going to do? You're going to quit? I mean, what are you. I mean, obviously you shouldn't. You're not. You shouldn't be in the sport. And then, you know, I ended up the next year, I kind of saw some things that woke me up. I. We were going out for a practice, and there was this guy that was supposed to win. The year that I came in seventh, there was a guy that was supposed to win, and he told everybody, it's mine, it's mine. I'm, you know, you guys are all competing for second place. And basically it was that, you know, it's kind of, we're going out for a practice, and the guy goes, ah, you're all competing for second place. And I heard a guy like, this guy knew, and he goes, we'll see about that. And I'm like, you're not just going to take that as face value. Like, of course he's going to win. He was like, second or third last year, he's going to win this year. He goes, we'll see. And sure enough, the guy that said, we'll see. Wonderful.
- [15:42]
Unknown
Wow.
- [15:43]
Scott Hamilton
And the other guy's on the podium looking at him, going, what just happened? This was mine. This was my moment, not his, right? And I go, so nothing's out of reach. And the next year, like, I was the. We'll see about that guy. Like, I ended up winning Junior Nationals the next year. Wow. And I don't know if I wouldn't have witnessed that moment if I would have thought it was possible, but from there, I go up in senior level and I don't do well at all. My mom was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, breast cancer. And we're talking 1975. And they threw everything in the kitchen sink at her, everything they could to try to slow the cancer down, but it went into every organ. And she had her left breast removed. Chemo took all of her hair. And she fought it valiantly, but she never had a chance. And so in that on the morning I lost her, I just decided that it was time to put some big boy pants on and just try to be the person that she thought I could be and the person that she sacrificed everything for me to be. And I started taking my life a little more seriously. And the results changed immediately. The last competition she saw me skate in, I came in ninth and the senior level. My first year, I went from junior champion to ninth on the senior level. And it was because I was distracted. I was too young, I was immature, I wasn't training properly. I was just interested in everything else but what I should have been doing. And then I was awakened. We were in her room till about three in the morning, my brother and I. And then my brother in law at the time woke me up and just said, you mother is gone. And all I could think to say is, I know. And it was really a weird response. But then I went for a walk and our backyard. And I just, in that walk, decided that it's time for me to grow up and just try to try to honor her and be the person that she always dreamed I could be. And so the next year I was ranked third in the United States. I was on the podium on the championship men's level and 11th in the world. And then the next year I had a horrible ankle injury that put me behind. I ended up fourth at Nashville, so I didn't go to the Worlds. And then the year after that, I really put my head down and worked harder than I've ever worked. And I ended up third again at the nationals and that put me on the Olympic team. And so I was in Lake Placid for the Olympics as a tourist, the third guy on a three man team. And then, you know, the top three guys, I came in fifth. The top three guys retired. So the next year I went into the season ranked second in the world, which is kind of like, huh, wow, that was quick. You know, I go from ninth to like now I'm ranked second in the world, ninth in the United States to second in the world. And. And from October of 1980 until March of 1984, I went undefeated.
- [18:38]
Unknown
Wow. I don't, I don't know that feeling.
- [18:40]
Scott Hamilton
No, you know, neither did I. It was kind of like. But once you get on that train, it's like I, when I, the first year I won worlds, I thought, I'm not worthy. Like the sport is at its lowest place in history of last place guy is on the podium at Worlds, like, this is not good. This is bad for the sport. I'm killing my sport because I'm its champion, right? And then I went, my coach got me through that that year, and the next year I went back and I won again. And now I'm looking around going, wait a minute. I'm not competing against the history of the sport or every sentient being on the planet. I'm competing against knuckleheads just like me. You know, these guys, all they want to do as best they can. My job is to try to stay ahead of them for the next two years through the Olympics. And if I can do that, maybe I can win an Olympic gold medal. And so that turned into my strategy. I was just going to try to stay ahead of those guys as best I could strategically, because there were some of the young guys doing things that I knew I would never be able to do. And I just had to find a way to stay ahead of them. And I did. And then I got through the next two seasons really well. And then after March of 84, I decided that it was time for me to turn pro. But all that time from losing my mom until then, I was raising money anywhere I could for cancer research because I figured if I could find a treatment for my mom's cancer, I'll know why I was born in the first place. Because when you're adopted, you don't know why you're born. You know, a lot of people aren't. Right, right. So, and then, you know, 20 years, like I had this, like, from the Olympics, I created a professional career that just kept going and going and going. And I'm thinking, man, I'm fooling a lot of people here. If I get a job next year, I. I'm really fooling a lot of people. And it just took off. It just became this gigantic career. It was amazing. It was just sports entertainment. Skating was hotter than ever. And we just rode the wave in a really cool way. And then I was 50 cities into a 60 cities stars and Ice tour where I just got so tired of the abdominal pain that I went into an emergency room to get like, whatever they give people with ulcers. And it was there that they said, we found a mass. And I was like, really? That's kind of funny. And they go, what's so Funny about that. I go, well, I mean, I'm really like not a tall person, so. Hear the word mass is kind of like, oh, it's kind of like, sounds big, right? And then they know you need to take this thing seriously. And, and I, I, they said it's either benign, malignant or something else. And he didn't know what it was. So they, I did the show that night, and then I got on a bus and I went to the Cleveland Clinic and they biopsied it and told me I have stage three testicular cancer. And here's the 80 to 90% survival rate due to research. Two guys in Indiana figured it out. So, you know, I went through three different chemotherapy drugs. They were eight hour infusions. They were. We would do five days in a row and then 16 days off. Five days in a row and 16 days off, and we'd four rounds of that. By the time I got done with the third round, I wanted to quit because my life had changed from being in front of 17,000 people screaming and hollering and applauding to, you know, being in a very quiet space suffering from, you know, nausea and just looking at myself in the mirror and not recognizing me at all. And I just, I went into, you know, I went into that full blown pity party that is easy to get into. Right, right. And then after the third round, I had one five day period left, and a dear friend of mine looked at me. He started laughing. I go, what? He goes, you want to quit? And I go, yeah. And he goes, how many rounds you got left? And I said, one. He goes, come on. I go, yeah, I can get to the last round. And so I did. And, and then it was the big 38 staple surgery. And, you know, my man, my size, that's. Most of me got opened up and the fear was unbelievable. And, and the doctor was, he goes, what's your problem? And I go, I'm scared. And he goes, why? And I go, have you ever done this before? And they go, yes, seven this month. And I go, okay, I'll be fine. And then life became like, I, I got to live, I got to live my life again. And this time I was very intentional on doing it differently. I was given a second chance where my mom wasn't. And so I, I just stepped away as best I could. I wanted to keep my career going because I realized that I had now an encouragement ministry where if I could get back on the ice for the next tour, that might inspire some people in an infusion room to understand that their life isn't over, that there's a next chapter. And so I got back on tour the next year and did that for a few more years. And I met my wife, and we got married, and I had a child. And it was like, okay, what am I doing here? I don't. I want to. I want to see my son's first steps and hear his first words. Why am I still wearing spandex? Running around with knives strapped to my feet? It's crazy. And so I. I stepped away. And it was soon after that the brain tumor started. And. But it was. It was all part of, like. You know, I always joke that if you live long enough, all questions will be answered. And having been born with that brain tumor, it was just remarkable that. Okay, check. Now I know why I went through all of that as a kid. And it was. There was a lot of suffering, a lot of humiliation, a lot of, you know, just weird things that happened around that period of time that. That were difficult. But once you get through a difficult period of time, you. You have a better understanding of how strong you are and how resilient you can be. And in that, it's just sort of strengthens you. It's. You know, I read something in. I think it was David versus Goliath, the Malcolm Gladwell book, where Hitler thought that he could intimidate England into surrender by just bombing them like crazy, right? What he didn't understand was more people were surviving than getting killed. And as they survived, they got bolder, so he made them stronger by doing the bombing instead of weaker. You know, as long as they. They. He was a threat, they were scared. But as long as they survived his attacks, they were emboldened, and it just went the other way. And I think in many. I related to that in so many ways, because I've had enough medical intervention to kind of compare, you know, life. Well, life and sick life. I can compare them both. And having been through it, it's like, I could do this. Like, you know. You know, brain tumor was like. First one was like, you know, wow. That was really ignited my faith in a really cool way. And it brought my marriage really tight. And then six years later, it comes back, and it was like getting kicked in the stomach. I was like, what's going on? Like, why is this going? Why am I doing? Why am I going through this again? And my assistant, you know, started. She looked at me and she started to laugh a little bit, and I go. I go, wait, what. What's so funny? And she goes, I can't wait to see where this one takes you. Because she understood survivors, you know, she understood that I survived enough. And each time I survive something wonderful. I survived cancer, and now I become a husband and father, right? I survived this brain tumor, and now I'm stronger in my faith than I've ever been. And the second brain tumor comes, and I realize, like, I packed my own suitcase and walked out of neuro ICU three times. And it's like, you do that enough, and it's kind of like, okay, I think there's more in the tank than I ever thought there was. I think I'm stronger than I ever anticipated I could ever be. And now the fear part of it, especially because I'm rooted in faith now and not so much on what today brings. But I realized that every moment, every, every day is just an opportunity to do more. And that's why I founded this, my cancer foundation. And now we're only curing the promise of immunotherapy and not the idea of it, but the promise of it. And we really feel like you can treat the cancer and spare the patient harm by igniting their own immune system to recognize and destroy the cancer. Well, you know, not going with the status quo of collateral damage.
- [27:09]
Unknown
Yeah, yeah. You're like, the perfect example of mindset. Like, I had no idea that had anything to do with it. You've been through so many things, you know, from birth on, that you. Your mindset just changes as you. As you come against a challenge. And some people just give up and they have the pity party, and they never really pull out of it.
- [27:32]
Scott Hamilton
And that can be. I mean, we all kind of come out, you know, the way we are, you know, And I think, you know, when I see people that you get a diagnosis and they're paralyzed with fear or they're just, like, frozen in an attitude of, no, I'm not going to do that. I don't want to. You know, when I started cares, we came across an oncology nursing society survey where of newly diagnosed patients, 30% feared death. That was their greatest fear. 42% feared treatment. People would rather die than get treated for cancer. And it's like. And once you've kind of been there, done that. Because I didn't know what chemotherapy was, I saw my mom go through it. And so I had a lot of fear and trepidation. But once I go, I go, so, are you going to take me in a room and replace all my bodily fluids of the machine? And they go, no, we're Just going to hang an IV bag with stuff in it and it's going to kill your cancer. And it's like, that's it. And they go, yeah, that's pretty much it. I go, let's go, let's go. I can do this. And my carrot. You know, my whole inspiration, my daily thought pattern was, I'm going to get through this so I can be back on tour next year. Because I not only have to do this because I want my life back, but I also really feel a sense of responsibility that if I can do this this quickly, then maybe it'll serve somebody that they'll say, wow. Wow. He went through four months chemotherapy and he's back. Wow, that's crazy.
- [29:23]
Unknown
That, again, is a mindset of looking beyond your cancer. Not like, oh, here's the end. So, yeah.
- [29:28]
Scott Hamilton
Or what's my today? Like, it's like, no, I'm still looking ahead. Like, okay, so the surgery is gonna happen on January 20th or June 23rd. Okay. Yeah. So six weeks. I mean, that I could start getting back on the ice a little bit. And then I have to worry about the incision because it's an abdominal thing and I gotta be careful of that. So I have to let that knit and heal. Got that. So that's gonna be another. So I think I can make it to rehearsal in time to be able to get in shape, like, get purely done for the show. So we did choreography with marking, all the athletic stuff, and we did all that, we got prepared. I did all that kind of off ice stuff to prepare for the year. And then October 29th, I was diagnosed March 16th, and then October 29th, I skated again.
- [30:16]
Unknown
Wow.
- [30:16]
Scott Hamilton
And it was. It was. It was dumb. Like, it was really dumb. I'm looking at it back now. It's like, why did I. Why didn't I just take a year to heal? No, because I felt an urgency that I had to get back on the ice. And in that, you know, it's like, we all can listen to our spirit or we can all listen to the enemy whispering in our ear all the time. And our spirit is much stronger than the whispering. Right. And all the whispering said, no, get on your horse. Get back on the horse and get back out there, because this is important. Not for you. This is important to other people. And so I got back and made it back on the ice, and it was amazing. And it was a great year. And it was hard. And I made some real big life changes, and that was hard. But I just listened to my spirit and it just said, here's what you need to do. And just don't listen. Yeah, yeah. Listen and. Okay. And be obedient. Okay. All right. And then all that. All that listening, obedience to my inner voice. When I meet my wife and we start to date, she goes, where are you in your faith? And I said what any smart guy would say. I said, where do you want me to be? You know, but in that, you know, it answered. It connected all the dots. It answered all the questions. It's like, ah, that's why. Yeah, okay. Cancer was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.
- [31:48]
Unknown
Yes.
- [31:49]
Scott Hamilton
The greatest thing that ever happened. It is.
- [31:52]
Unknown
Yeah.
- [31:52]
Scott Hamilton
And it's also the worst thing that ever happened to me, but it's ultimately the best thing that ever happened to me, so.
- [31:58]
Unknown
Right.
- [31:58]
Scott Hamilton
You know, I heard a girl say that as this young student athlete lost her leg, cancer. Said, cancer is worse than ever happened to me. I was at a cancer survivor celebration on that in our heads. And she said, but I'm here to tell you that cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me. And I was like, wait, what? And I'm up next to speak, right? It's like, okay, that's a computer virus right there. It's like, now what am I gonna say? Because she was right.
- [32:22]
Unknown
Yeah.
- [32:23]
Scott Hamilton
I wouldn't have the children, the family, the opportunities that I have right now, probably without cancer.
- [32:29]
Unknown
We're gonna end part one right there of Scott Hamilton's interview. But before I go, I want to recognize a partner of Healing Strong. RGCC is globally recognized as the leading laboratory in the field of personalized cancer testing. RGCC partners with patients and practitioners throughout the cancer journey with powerful testing tools that provide actionable information, allowing for the creation of personalized treatment protocols. To learn more, head to myrgcc.com healing-strong.
- [33:01]
Jim Mann
You've been listening to the I Am Healing Strong podcast, a part of the Healing Strong organization. We hope you found encouragement in this episode, as well as the confidence to take control of your healing journey, knowing that God will guide you on this path. Healing Strong is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect, support, and educate individuals facing cancer and other diseases through strategies that help to rebuild the body, renew the soul, and refresh the spirit. It costs nothing to be a part of a local or online group. You can do that by going to our website@healingstrong.org and finding a group near you or an online group, or start your own. Your choice. While you're there, take a look around at all the free resources, though the resources and groups are free. We encourage you to join our membership program at 25 or $75 a month. This helps us to be able to reach more people with hope and encouragement. And that also comes with some extra perks as well. So check it out. If you enjoyed this podcast, please give us a five star rating. Leave an encouraging comment and help us spread the word. We'll see you next next week with another story on the I Am Healing Strong podcast.