This morning I read in an article that the average person has 60 000 thoughts per day over 80% of which are negative. I think this is extremely sad and unacceptable. We all need a serious reality check. We need to focus less on the tiny occurrences that really do not matter in the big scheme of things, and in turn become A LOT more appreciative of all the amazing blessings we have in our lives.
I am going to share a story that I hope will help you put things into perspective. So what someone cut you off in the parking lot, who cares if you accidentally locked your keys in the car, and the fact that you feel like you have nothing cute to wear to work today, get over it.
I would like to introduce you to a man who defines the words strength, positivity, and perseverance. This is a man who has encountered more negative events in his life time then most of us could ever imagine. I present to you the story of Mark Bishop.
On September 3rd 2011 while my boyfriend Josh and I were enjoying labour day weekend at my cottage we got news that Josh's Dad, Mark, had a massive stroke. It hit us like a ton of bricks seeing as Mark had been doing so well in the last few years.
Mark has overcome a great deal in his first 50 years. He was born premature and was not expected to survive, made bald look beautiful when he developed alopecia in his teens and lost all of the hair on his head and body, he was diagnosed with and beat testicular cancer when he was in his 20's, and finally, he has undergone a quadruple bypass heart operation after a massive heart attack in his early 40's.
Mark has not only battled through cancer and a massive heart attack he has also been a rock for his mother and sister after the tragic death of his father 19 years ago on Labour Day weekend. Mark's Dad was 65. Six years later in 1998 Mark's brother Kim was killed after being in a car accident on Thanksgiving weekend. Kim was Mark's best friend and these were huge losses but Mark knew he needed to be there for his family, and he was.
Mark never complained about his minor physical ailments so I was surprised to find out that he had two disks removed from his back, had one knee completely replaced and underwent extensive surgery on the other knee following a car accident (separate from his brother Kim's) not to mention the fact that he has only one functioning eye and one functioning lung.
Mark is a true athlete, he works out religiously, and is often compared to superheroes due to his massive biceps and killer 6 pack. Mark has also been taking part in the "Ride to Conquer Cancer" for the last 3 years to raise money for Cancer research. He has raised close to $15 000 and has ridden his bike over 520 miles for the cause.
Mark is an amazing father to his four kids, Josh, Daniel, Adam, and Holly. He has never once missed a football or soccer game and has been taking his boys camping despite a hectic work schedule every year since Joshua was five years old (he is now 24).
Mark returned from visiting his wife, Rocio, in Colombia two days before he had the stroke. They met about a year and a half ago while Rocio was living in Ontario. It was love at first sight and the two were married four months later. The lovebirds have been inseparable ever since so when we got news that there was an issue with Rocio's citizenship documents and she was required to return to Colombia and start the immigration process all over again, Mark was absolutely devastated (although he would never show it). Rocio was able to spend Christmas with us but shortly after Mark accompanied her back to Colombia and the fight to bring her back began. Mark works extremely hard - 30 days back to back with not so much as a night to himself sometime in order to save money to fly to see his wife every 5-6 weeks.
Mark is the ultimate provider always making sure his family is taken care of and because of that he has selflessly opted not to spend money on the prescription medication his doctors advised him to take following his heart attack. Mark was doing great but financial stress along with the stress of work, not being with his soul mate, and trying to grasp how his newly renovated apartment (which he designed and constructed himself) could flood after a pipe suddenly burst, was too just too much for even Superman to handle.
Mark spoke to Rocio at 12AM on Sept 3rd and was found 9 hours later by his 9 year old son Adam. We are not sure when the stroke began but we do know that it did severe damage to the left side of his brain leaving his right side completely paralysed and his speech virtually non existent - for the moment. As a true testament to the optimist that he is Mark will clearly respond "yes" when he is spoken to, but that is about it. Mark is the strongest man I know and the Bishops are the most loving, committed, and dedicated people, so there is no doubt in my mind that Mark will come out of this on top. This will just be another notch on his belt - something to add to the autobiography we all joke about him writing. Anyways I just think that the world needs to know the power of perseverance and that no obstacle is too hard or too large to overcome. Mark is a true inspiration and until he can do it himself I wanted to share his story.
I wrote this note in September 2011, just days after Mark had the stroke. Five and a half months later I am so happy to report that Mark is doing amazingly. Rocio has received full citizenship and flew home to Canada to be with Mark on Christmas Day. She has been taking amazing care of him and together they have been working extremely hard on speeding up Mark's recovery. He is able to communicate and can recognize and say most words almost flawlessly. Mark can walk and do all daily activities on his own. He works out 3 times a week, and is able to use his right arm (a huge accomplishment seeing as the arm is typically last to regain movement).
My message here in simple, please, whenever you find yourself dwelling in negativity, think about Mark and everything he has had to endure and overcome. Do yourself a favour and realize that you really do not have it very bad at all, and for goodness sakes SMILE! : )
This is Mark in the fall of 2010 at his son Daniel's University Varisty football game.
