My fellow islanders, friends and neighbors, I am writing this letter with humble gratitude for all the loving support that I have received from this wonderful community. Thank you for your heartfelt prayers, daily encouragement and financial aid that have been a huge assistance during these last several months while I have confronted a diagnosis of an aggressive prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bones in my spine and upper right shoulder.

I am so pleased to report that I am doing well. My medical team at Skagit Cancer Care has stabilized the cancer’s growth with  hormone therapy and IV infusions that protect the bone from the cancer and I have finished my radiation therapy.

I am getting stronger day by day; going to the gym, gaining back the weight I lost and am working again, half-time only. I am grateful that I have my faithful employee, Juan, and my son, Yaro, to help me with the work load.

I want to thank Audrey Wells and her intrepid Mercy Flight Pilots for shuttling me back and forth to the Cancer Care Center.  I want to thank our very dedicated islands EMTs who twice came to my aid and helped with my pain and put me in the chopper to Bellingham.

Although there is no known “cure,” I have every intention of living a full, strong life regardless of the number of years I may or may not have in front of me.  This has been a very powerful life journey and I am learning to uncover some of the hidden gifts. Many are the thousand little things that used to pass me by, unnoticed, and now I hold my small cup with amazing grace and gratitude overflowing.

If there is anyone who might come across this letter and knows of someone who is struggling with cancer, please feel free to call me.  I would be glad to share my ongoing journey.

In gratitude,

Joe Goodrich

Eastsound