Robert Brams and Michael Lichtenstein
The Story
Robert Brams
Robert Brams
Bethesda, MD
@robertsbrams
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: We all face hardships, but after going through what I did, I truly believe we all have the capacity to rise above any personal crisis with the right mindset. We’re stronger than we think. I believe that we all can rise to the occasion when we need to.
Here I was at age 55, living the life I had always dreamed of, but now It seems I’m fighting for my life. At the worst of it, I was given only a 1% chance of survival, I was the sickest person in the neuro ICU, and I was described as a “catastrophic loss.” The medical math had essentially given up on me. The statistics showed that I should have been dead years ago. But my family and friends never gave up on me, and I surely didn’t. Unfortunately, I’m at the final stage of my brain cancer, but I truly believe it’s not going to beat me. Blissful ignorance — maybe? My friends tell me I’ll be the last person standing!
Over seven years after my first surgery, I’m still feeling and seeing the effects of radiation and chemotherapy. I was essentially off the planet for the winter of 2015. I still have the cancer and will have regular MRIs for life, but I am truly grateful to be alive! We can dwell on how unlucky I was to be diagnosed with such a deadly cancer, but I prefer to focus on how thankful I am to have survived.
For 35 years, my passion was my family and my legal career. While family remains my passion, I had to retire from my law firm and have replaced that void with a new passion: that is, to help in the battle to beat brain cancer. I have an incredible medical team behind me from Hopkins, UCSF, and NIH. I’m proud to say I’ve received many best lawyer awards, but I now want to help the world in a more meaningful way. Feeling as though I’m doing something meaningful in the world is how I deal with having brain cancer!
Surprisingly enough, despite all that’s happened, I still feel happy. More than ever, I appreciate every sunrise and the blessing of every day. Trying to help the world in a meaningful way has given me purpose and has helped me to feel fulfilled. Feeling a sense of purpose is key. As we get older, we’re forced to take on new challenges. Life is not easy. While there may be some initial frustration over a challenge, ultimately, that frustration drives me to find the best path to the right solution. I appreciate that there is no such thing as failure; it’s just another opportunity to learn.
Hug your family members and your close friends because hugs spread warmth and energy, and we could all use more of that.
Bethesda, MD
@robertsbrams
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: We all face hardships, but after going through what I did, I truly believe we all have the capacity to rise above any personal crisis with the right mindset. We’re stronger than we think. I believe that we all can rise to the occasion when we need to.
Here I was at age 55, living the life I had always dreamed of, but now It seems I’m fighting for my life. At the worst of it, I was given only a 1% chance of survival, I was the sickest person in the neuro ICU, and I was described as a “catastrophic loss.” The medical math had essentially given up on me. The statistics showed that I should have been dead years ago. But my family and friends never gave up on me, and I surely didn’t. Unfortunately, I’m at the final stage of my brain cancer, but I truly believe it’s not going to beat me. Blissful ignorance — maybe? My friends tell me I’ll be the last person standing!
Over seven years after my first surgery, I’m still feeling and seeing the effects of radiation and chemotherapy. I was essentially off the planet for the winter of 2015. I still have the cancer and will have regular MRIs for life, but I am truly grateful to be alive! We can dwell on how unlucky I was to be diagnosed with such a deadly cancer, but I prefer to focus on how thankful I am to have survived.
For 35 years, my passion was my family and my legal career. While family remains my passion, I had to retire from my law firm and have replaced that void with a new passion: that is, to help in the battle to beat brain cancer. I have an incredible medical team behind me from Hopkins, UCSF, and NIH. I’m proud to say I’ve received many best lawyer awards, but I now want to help the world in a more meaningful way. Feeling as though I’m doing something meaningful in the world is how I deal with having brain cancer!
Surprisingly enough, despite all that’s happened, I still feel happy. More than ever, I appreciate every sunrise and the blessing of every day. Trying to help the world in a meaningful way has given me purpose and has helped me to feel fulfilled. Feeling a sense of purpose is key. As we get older, we’re forced to take on new challenges. Life is not easy. While there may be some initial frustration over a challenge, ultimately, that frustration drives me to find the best path to the right solution. I appreciate that there is no such thing as failure; it’s just another opportunity to learn.
Hug your family members and your close friends because hugs spread warmth and energy, and we could all use more of that.
Michael Lichtenstein
Rockville, MD
www.mjlartstore.com
“Bob’s Bay View”
Acrylic on canvas
48” x 36” x .75”
$1,200
Artist Statement: My match, Bob, has an inspiring story. As a high school and college wrestler and then a successful international construction law partner at a big law firm, with a beautiful wife, Kim, and two children, life was good. Then, at age 55, after a minor fender bender, an MRI revealed the presence of brain cancer. After two lengthy surgeries, a seizure, a coma, and a stroke, Bob was given a 1% chance of survival. Almost ten years later, Bob is still fighting and making good use of his time as a retiree. He traveled to the Rio Olympics, has written and published a book (“Forever Optimistic”), produced his song (“A New Day Today”), and fundraises for various charitable causes, all the while maintaining a great, positive outlook and a sense of humor.
Bob and Kim enjoy spending time at their vacation house on the Chesapeake Bay and love being out on the water. In my painting, I tried to capture a view from the house on the bay while conveying the tranquility that engulfs Bob as he looks out over the water. The blues in the water and sky are his favorite colors, reminiscent of the Caribbean.
www.mjlartstore.com
“Bob’s Bay View”
Acrylic on canvas
48” x 36” x .75”
$1,200
Artist Statement: My match, Bob, has an inspiring story. As a high school and college wrestler and then a successful international construction law partner at a big law firm, with a beautiful wife, Kim, and two children, life was good. Then, at age 55, after a minor fender bender, an MRI revealed the presence of brain cancer. After two lengthy surgeries, a seizure, a coma, and a stroke, Bob was given a 1% chance of survival. Almost ten years later, Bob is still fighting and making good use of his time as a retiree. He traveled to the Rio Olympics, has written and published a book (“Forever Optimistic”), produced his song (“A New Day Today”), and fundraises for various charitable causes, all the while maintaining a great, positive outlook and a sense of humor.
Bob and Kim enjoy spending time at their vacation house on the Chesapeake Bay and love being out on the water. In my painting, I tried to capture a view from the house on the bay while conveying the tranquility that engulfs Bob as he looks out over the water. The blues in the water and sky are his favorite colors, reminiscent of the Caribbean.