Several months ago, Jim sent me a note thanking me for putting his 1997 Army
Magazine article, Maintaining a Fighting Spirit, on our class home
page. I was moved by his note and am more moved by his passing. For
those of you who have not had a chance to read the article, here it is --
God bless you Jim.
*****
Maintaining a Fighting Spirit
THE UTIMATE BATTLE
By Brig. Gen. James H. Ramsden, U.S. Army retired
In April 1990, my life changed dramatically. After years of suffering from
increasing lower back pain and spasms, I underwent a CAT scan and a MRI.
The test results revealed the spread of malignant tumors in my bone marrow.
I had multiple myeloma, a cancer in the leukemia family, with an average
life expectancy of three more years. As with others diagnosed with cancer,
I was devastated. I experienced the denial, anger, bargaining, depression
and finally acceptance that often accompany serious illness or grief.
Through this transition, I noticed that the experiences and challenges of
military service, combined with medical treatment and other techniques, created
powerful forces of healing.
Military service develops many attributes- self-discipline, planning, motivation
and emphasis on mission accomplishment- that can be brought to bear on the
treatment and healing process. Moreover, positive attitude and a firm
determination not to allow setbacks help in selecting favorable courses of
action. A vital tool I continue to use is the decision-making process taught
at the Army's Command and General Staff College of analyzing advantages and
disadvantages of each possible option. The option with the most important
advantages and the least significant disadvantages is usually selected. I
use this technique to decide on such issues as chemotherapy options, second
opinions, relapse questions and maintenance treatments. Input from others
certainly played a part in the decision-making process, but I was, and am,
ultimately responsible for my own decisions.
Since I have now more than doubled the three years I was projected to live,
let me share some other insights about the battle I have fought and continue
to fight. I could not have overcome adversity without comprehensive medical,
mental, physical and spiritual recover/healing programs.
Medical. State-of-the-art medical treatment, from competent
doctors who truly believe in my ability to fight for my life, is essential.
I frequently told doctors tht I believe in the possibilities of living, not
the probabilities of dying. If a doctor told me I would be dead within so
many months or years, I found another doctor. I also discovered that the
larger medical centers usually employed more expert staff members who had
access to better facilities and equipment for tests and treatment.
I underwent chemotherapy for 18 months followed by interferon injections
for maintenance. The initial results were promising but, by later 1992, the
cancer began to grow again. After much soul searching and use of the
decision-making process, I opted for a 1993 autologous bone marrow transplant
at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Now, I am back on
interferon and staying in partial remission.
Mental. The tough "can do" mental attitude I first developed
as a U.S. Military cadet, then honed in airborne school, the 82nd Airborne
Division and the lst Cavalry Division n Vietnam, helped me fight initial
depression and fear and motivated me to work on my recovery program everyday.
I tried to live just for today - the past is gone and the future is unknown.
In addition, family support and encouragement has contributed immensely to
my positive attitude. My wife and our four adult children have provided hope,
courage, and love during many crucial times. Owning a pet to care for and
love has also been a big boost.
My books on healing emphasize the essential nature of techniques such as
visualization or mental imagery. "Love, Medicine and Miracles by Bernie Siegel
discusses these techniques in great detail. After going through a daily
relaxation exercise (see Herbert Benson's "The Relaxation Response"), the
imagination is used to visualize the chemotherapy, radiation or drugs destroying
the cancer and healing the damage to the body. The connection of mind and
body (psychoneuroimmunology) is an often-discussed topic in articles and
books on alternative medicine and is especially in keeping immune systems
strong.
Reading books on maintaining a positive attitude helps me. I like what Siegel
says about healing verses curing. We each can live a healed life one day
at a time, and some can be cured of their illness for the rest of their time
on earth. I also highly recommend "Anatomy of an Illness" by Norman Cousins,
"Getting Well Again" by Carl Simonton and "Spontaneous Healing by Andrew
Weil.
An important and effective healing activity is to regularly engage in a local
support group for a particular illness. The American Cancer society has
information on cancer groups. As a facilitator in such a group for five years,
I can attest to the help they provide participants. They are not "poor me"
groups, but upbeat, informative and humorous gatherings.
Physical. Those in the armed forces know the importance of
physical factors in maintaining a healthy body. A daily routine of exercise,
such as walking, running, swimming and bicycling - with a doctor's approval
is beneficial. Exercise can greatly strengthen a body being attacked by disease.
Other benefits can be gained by cutting back on fat, cholesterol and sodium,
and eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Vitamins and herbs can be
useful supplements. Getting plenty of rest and taking several relaxation
breaks during the day (even if it is just to do deep breathing exercises)
enable a mind and body to relieve stress and worry.
Spiritual. Although it is sometimes unpopular to mention God,
I firmly believe that a strong spiritual belief system is a major advantage
in fighting serious illness. Regardless of preferences, faith in a higher
power seems to strengthen resolve and provide hope and acceptance of a situation.
Daily prayer and meditation improve conscious contact with this spiritual
power. An excellent time to meditate is after relaxation and visual imagery
exercises. Reading spiritual literature educates and keeps thoughts focused.
While a few people may blame God or feel God is punishing them with sickness,
most intuitively know God wants only good for us. When problems or questions
arise, we should accept the pain and try to grow from the experience. An
excellent book on this topic is "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" by
Harold Kushner.
Medical science continues to give more tools to battle cancer, heart disease
and other serious illnesses. I hope I have given enlightenment on additional
healing techniques. Proper diagnosis of the problem, taking responsibility
for recovery and maintaining a positive attitude all help in finding solutions.
Military service personnel have the added benefit of being able to use the
training they have received, especially in decision-making and problem-solving
areas. A well-planned mental, physical and spiritual recovery program can
enhance the body's ability to heal.
BRIG. GEN. JAMES H. RAMSDEN, USA Ret., has served at posts throughout the
United States, in Vietnam and in Cambodia. He was head of the U.S. Military
Academy's department of chemistry when diagnosed with cancer.
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