Post by Marc LeVine on Oct 24, 2006 8:51:06 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Just came acoss this in Press' Archives. This should demonstate to ALL that there can be good life AFTER cancer. This terrible disease has inspired me and should inspire anyone with a similar diagnosis.
Marc[/glow]
October 13, 2005
Former councilman returns after cancer
EDDIE HOLLOWELL/STAFF WRITER
STAFF
`It really diverts my attention from the bad times I had to go through." Councilman Marc LeVine Freehold
To Marc LeVine, the opportunity to serve on the Freehold Borough Council again means more than another chance to give back to his community. It's a chance to put the last year of his life behind him and look ahead to the future.
"It really diverts my attention from the bad times I had to go through," said LeVine, a former councilman chosen to complete the unexpired term of Michael Toubin, who resigned Sept. 19 for personal reasons.
In November 2004, LeVine was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. During the past year, LeVine has undergone chemotherapy and had a surgery his doctors told him was "the most complicated and dangerous surgery anyone can go through." Also, he dealt with complications from that surgery and then underwent a long, difficult recovery.
So far, the treatments seem to have been successful, and the cancer appears to have been removed from his body.
After being sworn in at the Oct. 3 meeting, LeVine expressed gratitude for having the ability to accept the mayor and council's offer to return.
"Finally, I need to thank God for allowing me to experience this special moment in time," LeVine said. "Most might take this statement for granted and think of it as an obligatory statement and something everyone in my position says on an evening like this, but for me there is a very special meaning."
In the eight years since he has been on the council, LeVine said he has kept up with the issues. He has served on the Human Relations Committee since its inception and is the founder and past chairman of Pressing Elected Officials to Protect Our Living Environment (PEOPLE), a local quality-of-life forum for residents.
"I think it was the feeling of the governing body ... that at this juncture in our history we did not need a neophyte sitting on the governing body," Mayor Michael Wilson said. "We wanted someone to come back here with the experience that Marc obviously has."
During the meeting, LeVine showed that he was up to speed, explaining some of the resolutions on the meeting agenda to the public and voting on all but one of the items. He abstained from the approval of bills because he did not have a chance to look them over thoroughly, he said.
"Though I last served on this council in 1997, I just want to let everyone know that I am not at all rusty," LeVine said, crediting the mayor with keeping him informed over the years. "In actuality, the needs of our residents really haven't changed that much since I left. We all still want the best bang for our tax bucks."
LeVine will serve the remainder of Toubin's term, which ends January 2007. As for whether he plans to run next year for a three-year term, LeVine said that is still "premature."
"That will be discussed during the year," LeVine said. "For now everyone has an opportunity to try me on for size."
Marc[/glow]
October 13, 2005
Former councilman returns after cancer
EDDIE HOLLOWELL/STAFF WRITER
STAFF
`It really diverts my attention from the bad times I had to go through." Councilman Marc LeVine Freehold
To Marc LeVine, the opportunity to serve on the Freehold Borough Council again means more than another chance to give back to his community. It's a chance to put the last year of his life behind him and look ahead to the future.
"It really diverts my attention from the bad times I had to go through," said LeVine, a former councilman chosen to complete the unexpired term of Michael Toubin, who resigned Sept. 19 for personal reasons.
In November 2004, LeVine was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. During the past year, LeVine has undergone chemotherapy and had a surgery his doctors told him was "the most complicated and dangerous surgery anyone can go through." Also, he dealt with complications from that surgery and then underwent a long, difficult recovery.
So far, the treatments seem to have been successful, and the cancer appears to have been removed from his body.
After being sworn in at the Oct. 3 meeting, LeVine expressed gratitude for having the ability to accept the mayor and council's offer to return.
"Finally, I need to thank God for allowing me to experience this special moment in time," LeVine said. "Most might take this statement for granted and think of it as an obligatory statement and something everyone in my position says on an evening like this, but for me there is a very special meaning."
In the eight years since he has been on the council, LeVine said he has kept up with the issues. He has served on the Human Relations Committee since its inception and is the founder and past chairman of Pressing Elected Officials to Protect Our Living Environment (PEOPLE), a local quality-of-life forum for residents.
"I think it was the feeling of the governing body ... that at this juncture in our history we did not need a neophyte sitting on the governing body," Mayor Michael Wilson said. "We wanted someone to come back here with the experience that Marc obviously has."
During the meeting, LeVine showed that he was up to speed, explaining some of the resolutions on the meeting agenda to the public and voting on all but one of the items. He abstained from the approval of bills because he did not have a chance to look them over thoroughly, he said.
"Though I last served on this council in 1997, I just want to let everyone know that I am not at all rusty," LeVine said, crediting the mayor with keeping him informed over the years. "In actuality, the needs of our residents really haven't changed that much since I left. We all still want the best bang for our tax bucks."
LeVine will serve the remainder of Toubin's term, which ends January 2007. As for whether he plans to run next year for a three-year term, LeVine said that is still "premature."
"That will be discussed during the year," LeVine said. "For now everyone has an opportunity to try me on for size."