A couple of years ago, David “Grouch-O” Acosta, my friend and co-worker was diagnosed with lung cancer.  Cancer had snuck up on him, and disguised itself as asthma symptoms.  At the time, my friend was a few months short of receiving health insurance coverage and did not seek immediate medical attention.  His symptoms worsened and by the time he went to the ER, the doctors discovered he had stage IV cancer.  The few times I visited him at the hospital, Grouch-o, as we had nicknamed him, smiled.  He kept his head up high and at 26 years of age, this young man never lost hope.

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