hey papa i know that ive never done this write to you thing but thought id give it a try. i was so young when u passed i was to young to fully understand what was happening but deep down in my heart i knew that it was time to say good bye to you for a little while. i could have asked HIM for a little more time with you but then i wouldnt have cherished all the time that we had together. i wouldnt go back and change a thing about our relationship. i remember when i would go to work with mom and we would get subway for lunch and you would move my tomatoes and eat the part that didnt and after that thats all i would get at subway the same kind of sandwhich just wishing you would come and move my tomatoes thats all i wanted i would only eat that kind of sandwhich for 2 years. i wasnt ready to let you go even though it was time. i remember we would wash ur towtruck or pick up trash out of the yard and you would give me and owen money for it. i wish so much that you were here i wish you were here and i could give u a hug and say im 16 and im almost out of highschool. i know ur here but not physically not like i need u to be. i wish i could still smell you in ur clothes that i have of urs. i wish so many things and i know that they wont come true but doesnt mean i wont wish for them. i remember going to see u in the hospital and you wanted ur oranger dream pops we drove all over town to find you those pops and when we got there i couldnt help but cry and mom told me to go into the hall because u wouldnt like that i was crying so i went and tried but it didnt work i couldnt stop and the tears just kept coming   i remember sitting in the living room and you got mad cuze i was treating you like u were a baby and ur exact words were "im not a baby dont treat me like one!" i said "yes sir..." i remember when u passed daddy woke me up and i automatically knew u had said goodbye we got to the house and i sat in the yard with ur little yellow flower sprinkler and held it and cried every year we let ballons go in memory of u but i dont know if thats enough i just need my papa you were my last one and now i have none i will always love u and need u and miss u love u papa forever and always

Today would have been Benny's 50th Birthday. The relevence of this birthday and cause of death are so closely related.  Without having a family history of colon cancer, screenings do no begin until a patient is 50 years old. The survival rate for stage 1 colorectal cancer is 93%. But you have to catch it early on. If you have any symptoms you should visit a Gastroenterologist immediately for an exam. (see symptoms below)

For those of you who are related to Benny you need to make sure that you are mentioning this to your doctors as they need to be aware of your family history. I know that the idea of having a colonoscopy can be embarrasing fo a lot of people but I assure you that you would rather die of embarrassment than cancer. Benny's deteriorating health in his final 23 days is forever burned into my mind. It's something that I never want to experience and feel that it is important to educate others about. Let's not forget that there is a Mauck decendant that is currently battling this horrible disease. Don't be a fool and think that it can't happen to you. Because I have painful gastro problems I had my first colonoscopy this year. Thankfully it is only IBS. My brother has gastro problems as well and had his first colonoscopy last month. He now has confirmed Crohn's disease. Your problems may only be IBS or even Crohn's disease, but it may also be cancer. Please, get screened if you have any symptoms or if you are over 50. Let me let you in a secret: the preparation for the exam is the worst part. The fliud that you have drink is vile. But your completely knocked out for the whole procedure. You wake up in a recovery room and you don't even feel violated. Honestly! There is no pride to pick up off the floor, just your results and a day off of work. 

If any of you are interested in learning more or supporting the cause you can visit the Colon Cancer Coalition website. They have a 5K race that is worth joining when it comes near you to raise money. 

http://www.getyourrearingear.com/

Colorectal Cancer Symptoms include:

Changes in bowel movements, including persistent constipation or diarrhea, a feeling of not being able to empty the bowel completely, an urgency to move the bowels, rectal cramping, or rectal bleedingDark patches of blood in or on stool; or long, thin, "pencil stools"Abdominal discomfort or bloatingUnexplained fatigue, loss of appetite, and/or weight lossPelvic pain, which occurs at later stages of the disease

father daughter dance 04/15/2006 a snap shot in time that i will never forget