John McCain is known for being a fighter; unfortunately, he is now facing the toughest one yet
The Arizona Republican senator has always been thought of as indestructible. However, he has just been diagnosed with brain cancer, as CNN reported on Wednesday.
McCain wears the scars of a lifetime of both military and political campaigns. He has gathered more friends and enemies than most people, and he’s also a certified national hero.
Sadly, eight years ago, the senator stood before the flag-draped coffin of one of his friends and sparring partner, Senator Edward Kennedy, who suffered from the same disease as he is.
“Ted and I shared the sentiment that a fight not joined was a fight not enjoyed,” McCain said, remembering the arguments that he had with his friend, and also the moments in which they dropped their differences to puss the nation further
McCain added that he is eager to come back to work as soon as he finishes with his surgery, and is already working the phones. However, doctors strongly recommended that he does not travel for at least two weeks, due to the complications that might arise.
His movements could further be deviated by treatments that include chemotherapy and radiation.
On the long term, his outlook is doubtful. Doctors told CNN that he was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer. Kennedy survived 15 months after a similar diagnosis.
Senator’s McCain office mentioned in a statement that he is very grateful for all the support that he had received since first going into the hospital.
“He is grateful to the doctors and staff at Mayo Clinic for their outstanding care, and is confident that any future treatment will be effective.”
There is one thing that no one has any doubts about: McCain is going to fight the disease with everything he’s got.
“John McCain is an American hero & one of the bravest fighters I’ve ever known,” former President Barack Obama tweeted. “Cancer doesn’t know what it’s up against. Give it hell, John.”
As soon as his diagnosis came public, his daughter made the following statement:
“He is the toughest person I know. The cruelest enemy could not break him. The aggressions of political life could not bend him … cancer may afflict him in many ways; but it will not make him surrender. Nothing ever has.”
