How Beer Saved My Life

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How Beer Saved My Life L. Ben Crenshaw How Beer Saved My Life When I was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer late December, of 2011 I had just started a new job. I remember receiving the news following a colonoscopy procedure from a couple of days earlier. I was too restless to wait and visit my doctor for the results, so I called during lunch break. That morning in the office was scheduled with training classes, yet I was in no mood to learn. When I spoke to my doctor over the phone, he was surprised I called. He told me he was very sorry, but there was a large tumor in the left sigmoid section of my colon. The next several weeks were of rushed of doctor’s appointments, hospital stays, and recovery. After an emergency surgery, I spent a week in a hospital bed recuperating. I have always been a social person, constantly working on projects, hobbies and going out with friends. Yet, the main thing that assisted me through my stay was reading. I love to read. And if I could do nothing else for the next several days I know I could lose myself in literature. When I left the hospital I would begin an aggressive chemotherapy for at least the next six months. I was worried about losing my job than about the treatment. Unbelievably, however, I was granted long-term disability with pay. This relief allowed me to engage in what I love: reading. I decided I would use my convalescence to learn a new hobby, something engaging and something I could share. I purchased my first book on Homebrewing shortly after. I had always been interested in brewing my own beer, but never had the time. Now I had time. I was immediately fascinated by my new pursuit and acquired most of the basic equipment to get started. For the next year, I would read, research, and homebrew. I believe that my love of reading and learning this new pastime is what carried me through the challenging

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