Paul's Heart

The First Time I Laughed

The question had been put to me:  When was the first time that you laughed following your diagnosis of cancer?

I consider myself to have a good sense of humor.  I enjoy jokes and funny tv shows.  However, my diagnosis took my ability to purely laugh.  It was not until my daughter Madison’s 3rd Christmas, 19 years later,  that I discovered the innocence of laughter.  No shadow of my diagnosis or prognosis hung over me at that one moment.  I was showing my daughter pictures of our visit from “Santa Claus” the night before.  She looked at the pictures and said “Look Daddy.  Ho-ho has your sneakers on”.  It was a laughter I had not felt in 19 years.