Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Daige.
Hi Jonathan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I served two combat tours in Iraq in 2003 then again in 2005-2006. I came home and fulfilled my dream of being a Worcester police officer in MA. I graduated the academy in 2006. 2012 I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I had testicular cancer surgery, then I needed to have a lymph node dissection surgery due to swollen lymph nodes.
That surgery was extremely invasive and had a painful 6 months recovery before returning to work.
I was healed and back at work where I was training for SWAT tryouts. I started coughing up blood and went straight to the hospital. Just kidding, I’m a guy and waited 5 days to be seen for coughing up blood every day.
Basically the testicular cancer layer dormant and spread to my chest and lungs. I had 6 tumors spread all over.
I needed chemo 8 hours a day for 5 days a week for 5 months. I couldn’t leave the hospital at all. I had friends and family visit who me in the hospital was nice. My tumors shrunk and I needed the top and bottom lobe of my right lung removed. That surgery was very invasive and painful as well. They had to break a rib to take sections of the lung out.
I went for a two week post surgery follow up and they found a tumor on the brain. I then needed brain surgery and brain radiation.
I also needed another partial left lung resection. I went back to work for a bit until a second brain tumor appeared and I needed another brain surgery and radiation.
Within 2012-2015 I had ten invasive procedure chemo and radiation.
I was cancer free and started cycling. I started a team called thinblueride.org where we raise money for veterans and first responders when battling cancer.
I ended up getting on the swat team as a sniper for 8 years, I hiked to Mt. Everest Basecamp and wrote a book.
Several years ago I was diagnosed with CML leukemia so I retired and have been dealing with that and working on longevity practices daily.
This year I’ll be cycling in the PanMass Challenge. A bicycle ride that is two days and travels just under 200 miles across Massachusetts to raise money for cancer. Look up Team Thin Blue Ride to donate.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The obstacles have been that my baseline for workouts and lifestyles have changed. With pain, cancer, trouble sleeping. There’s a lot but I keep moving forward and stay positive
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I will share my cancer journey with anyone if it helps motivate them or get them the proper help they need. I recently wrote a book called Beyond Survival, What Comes After The Fight on Amazon.
What makes you happy?
Being able to have experiences with my family and friend.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://resiliencetalks.com/public-speaking/ and Thinblueride.org
- Instagram: JonathanDaige
- Facebook: Jonathan daige
- LinkedIn: Jonathan daige
- Youtube: Jonathan Daige
