On Sickness...

A saving grace to me in dealing with cancer is that I’ve been very public about my battle. My job, my friends, my family, and my global Facebook family knows the deal. So if and when I don’t feel well, I miss days or weeks of work, I lose my hair, etc, I really don’t have to explain myself to anyone. In fact, being public about my bout has gotten me generous support that I might not o...therwise have had if I remained quiet and/or reclusive.
Healing for me is all in my approach to dealing with cancer; I can either curse it or embrace everything. Chemotherapy is helping kill the cancer cells, but my creativity is helping me to cope and rise above fear and uncertainty.

Chemotherapy treatment #7 tomorrow—I’m at the halfway point to ridding myself of this dis-ease!

The light was speaking to me ever so softly...in a hushed whisper.

Thanks giving dinner for those in need

You don't have to be ashamed or feel embarrassed. If you need a hot Thanksgiving meal, check your local churches and food banks. If you're Uptown, St. John's Baptist church located on 152nd street b/t St. Nicholas and Amsterdam Avenues will be happy to serve you and your family.

The crossing guard

Descending from the clouds

One day in the 'hood

Getting a check up by my doc in between my chemo session. Chemo every other week. Doc's visit on my off weeks.

Not the best picture, but more important than the picture is the message: Listen to your body and believe what's it's saying to you. MEN, PLEASE get regular check-ups whether you're sick or not. It's worth mentioning also that I was mis-diagnosed A YEAR before I got a proper diagnosis of Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which means I very may have had cancer for a whole year before getting diagnosed! I never accepted what the doc was telling me (everything is ok, you only have a minor lung infection which doesn't require treatment), yet my body was telling me otherwise. I listened, changed doctor's and now am getting the proper care that i need. Chemo is a bitch but it may very well be saving my life!

Desiderata Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all people. Speak your truth quietly and clearly;and listen to all even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive people, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself to others you will become vain and bitter; there will always be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to the virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have the right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. ~ Max Ehrma

“Every moment you get is a gift. Spend it on things that matter. Don’t spend it by dwelling on unhappy things.” ~Unknown

Doctor's building lobby...two flights up to chemo

Message to me and you

To give, receive.
be the wet, fertile valley
That rivers of life flow through.
The full will be emptied
The empty, filled.
So be empty, that you may be filled.

The greatest healer shares all
And becomes yet greater.
One who wants to be healed
Must become a healer.
And one who wants to be a healer
Must first seek healing;
Suffering gains meaning only when
healed
And healing is meaningless
Until it is shared.

To receive, give.

--Haven Trevino, The Tao of Healing

11/11/11 Day after chemo--Seeking healing energy in nature

(Central Park, NYC)

2nd Avenue Diptych

Last night's moon

Checking neutrophil count (Chemo #6)

Getting my blood drawn before chemo, checking for the neutrophil (White blood cell) count.

When you have Hodgkin's Lymphoma (like me) that has spread to the bone marrow, it's imperative that your white blood cells stay at a normal level. If these numbers dropped, they would leave me susceptible to all sorts of infections. Fortunately, my numbers are good!

Chemotherapy #6--The battle continues

Staring Into the Face of Adversity

Harlem Shoe Shine

I will use cancer to create art. My creativity will ensure my healing.

I am not a cancer PATIENT. I am a man living with cancer, Hodgkin's Lymphoma to be exact. I am being treated with chemotherapy, yet my hair continues to grow and I'm not experiencing many of the harsh side-effects that chemo can induce. I Live, Love and Laugh everyday. Positive thinking and creating art are two major aspects of getting me through this process. There is another side to this dis-ease and that's VICTORY, and I'm claiming it, not because someone told me I would be victorious in this fight, but because I BELIEVE it to be so!

Love on the Uptown A train

I LOVE this moment!! I was so glad to be at the right place at the right time with my camera!

Inner Light

Messages from friends

"ur my inspiration bro. i love how you're soaring. everytime i get the urge to complain about something that is not right in my life, i think of you and how you manage to hold your faith and to find beauty, courage, grace as portrayed in your images. even in facing such great adversity as cancer, you are not afraid to look him in the eyes, keeping your stance as a fire angel warrior. may ur day be blissfull bro."
--Modupe Olufunmi (Facebook)

Ocean sharing his experience is shinning a light in an area that many people lock down and retreat into themselves as personal and private. By doing so, he is letting everyone know that a person dealing with cancer or any illness affects all those people he knows, and who know him, directly or indirectly; that within the context of a human family and the construct of a village, one person's illness has a direct effect on each of us, and for others like him to know that we all share in the daily struggle, we all feel the pain, and we all are there to support, that each person need not feel alone, ashamed or abandoned.
--Antoine Craigwell (Facebook)

I have always drawn inspiration and great pride from Ocean’s artistry, Now, I draw inspiration and great pride from Ocean’s struggle with cancer and his amazing strength and determination. We, as a community must demonstrate our support for one of our own. Ocean Morisset deserves all of our thoughts, our prayers, our hope and our love. Thanks for this post!
--Stephen Maglott (Facebook)

Doing what I love--the key to healing