A Message from Timothy Pickett

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My health is excellent. I am physically strong, have great endurance (I am a cold-water distance swimmer.) I’m very hard to kill. Well, I have cancer, but I’m not dying of it and maybe I never will. You see, I had kidney failure when I was 24 (1986). Dialysis for a year, then a live kidney transplant donated by my older brother Jeff. We were in the same operating room, side by side. He also writes music, so check him out – don’t you think he deserves it?

Although he was a near perfect match, it’s still a foreign kidney to my body. That means I must take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of my life. So, the doctors said to me, “At some point later in life, you’ll have to deal with cancer.” That’s why I have chronic skin cancer.

It started 22 years ago (2004). At first, little stuff. Then in 2012, I got 3rd stage melanoma. Never good news. You know the drill, lots of surgeries: a few big, some medium, lots of small ones. I’ve had about 100 surgeries to date, but it’s not as bad as it seems. My doctors are watching it constantly, so now it’s detected very quickly, before it has time to spread. What can I say? It’s a way of life.

Oh yeah, after my transplant I started developing PTSD and OCD, which as you can imagine, creates mental and emotional suffering. People have told me I’m bulletproof, which comes in handy, seeing as the bullets keep coming.

Now, it’s not as bad as you may think. Thanks to my brother, I’ve had four decades of a productive life, and I’ve been happily married for 31 years. Emotionally speaking, as the decades have gone by, I’ve simply gotten used to it. At least I don’t suffer from depression. I’m a highly self-motivated individual. I even motivate other people.

Here’s a shout out to others who suffer from OCD and/or PTSD: you can live with it. If you haven’t already, find your purpose in life and go for it. Therapy works. I’ve always known my purpose life- and that has made all the difference.

Unfortunately, I suffered from these mental problems for 20 years before they were diagnosed. Like other things in life, I thought these issues would eventually blow over. But they got stronger. 

I got diagnosed by a psychiatrist in Vancouver, BC while perusing a doctorate in musical composition. The stress of the degree pushed me over the edge. During conversation, she asked me, “Didn’t you ever think of ending it all?” I said, “Are you crazy? Why would I want to kill such a great composer and I’m happily married. Let’s solve this damn problem so I can get on with my life.”

I am here to win. Don’t get me wrong, it’s always sad when it’s in your face. The diagnosis, the surgeries. Some sad days. It’s ok. You heal. That’s it.