Many of you are aware of Hamilton Jordan's passing and the legacy he left behind.  I have struggled with finding the time to absorb the loss and what it truly meant to me.  I never knew Mr. Jordan directly; however, I was friends with his son during our summer camp years.  This being said, Hamilton left an impression of greatness in the eyes of his unknowing admirers. 

It was in a recent passage that I found my true appreciation for the man who touched millions of lives. 

The passage reads, "Hamilton said he would always remember his "raw fear" at his initial diagnosis. But he also said he would never forget the focus, realization and sense of purpose his cancer brought him, too.  He called it "the ironic blessing." 

As a cancer survivor of 12yrs I can tell you that, the majority of those years has been spent understanding my diagnosis and how it affected who I am.  Cancer did not define the type of person I am today, yet it defined a life worth living.  It is through this passage that I saw a divine understanding to a commonly misunderstood "illness" that many struggle to find.  Hamilton encompasses all the traits one would see in a warrior, an artist, and a prophet.  In a single word, he is a survivor and a model to those who are traveling the seemingly blind path cancer lies. 

He made it his life mission to give back through programs like Camp Sunshine, a place where I found a gradual understanding through the compassion of people who could relate to what I was facing.  The experiences and friendships I received from this oasis are the stepping-stones of my life.  I believe camp enabled me to better understand what life is about and how quickly it can pass you by; for this, I am forever thankful Mr. Jordan.

Here is to you dear Hamilton for showing us what it truly means to be a survivor of cancer.  Through your legacy, it is clear that "there really is no such thing as a bad day."

One of your Million Admires,

Preston Presnell
Founder, LifeLinkage.Com