The "No One Will Live Forever, But They Can Sure Try!" Story

Alex Trebek, ill with pancreatic cancer. 

It was an ordinary day.  Watched all my favorite quiz shows on CBS; "The Price is Right" with Drew, "Wheel of Fortune" with Pat and Vanna and then Alex hosting "Jeopardy".  My day wouldn't be complete with out watching at least one of these shows.  But, last evening while watching Jeopardy, my wife, who was checking out stuff on her iPad, said, "Listen to this...Alex Trebek has stage 4 pancreatic cancer.  Wow!  She read the notice that he had posted for his fans which went like this:  "I have some news to share with all of you, and it's in keeping with my longtime policy of being open and transparent with our Jeopardy! fan base.  I also wanted to prevent you from reading or hearing some overblown or inaccurate reports regarding my health.  So therefore, I wanted to be the one to pass along this information."  She continued reading to me as I was watching Alex interview the three contestants for the evening during a break from the first, or Jeopardy round.  "Now, just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.  I'm going to fight this, and I'm going to keep working.  And with the love and support of my family and friends and with the help of your prayers also, I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease.  Truth told, I have to!  Because under the terms of my contract, I have to host Jeorpardy! for three more years!  So help me.  Keep the faith and we'll win.  We'll get it done.  Thank you."  According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the U.S. and about 7% of all cancer deaths, claiming more than 45,000 lives each year.  The odds are certainly against him.  I can still remember years ago when I worked with a young photographer, Ken Long, who helped me with photos for the Manheim Township High School yearbook for which I was advisor.  He told me one day that he had pancreatic cancer and within a few months had died.  But, Carol and I had a good friend, Sharon, who was our age and who also found she had pancreatic cancer.  She searched for treatments that extended life a few years.  Alex has his work cut out for him!  I wish him the best and will say a few prayers for him, but will that be enough?  It seems like just yesterday that he was receiving an award for hosting his 6,829th episode of Jeopardy and setting a new Guinness World Record for "the most episodes ever hosted by the same presenter."  Jeopardy! has been on the air since March 30, 1964 when it aired it's first episode.  Alex is Jeopardy!s second host; Art Fleming hosted the show from 1964 to 1975 and again from 1978-79.  

Pat Sajak with Alex Trebek.

Alex just signed a new contract for the 2017 season and has three years left on it, thus the comment he made about finishing out his current contract.  The Hollywood community is showing its support for Alex with Pat Sajak  from Wheel of Fortune wishing him the best.  Sajak is 72 and Alex is 78, so they are aging along with me.  You never think those who you enjoy to watch on TV or in the movies will ever die, but no one lives forever.  Alex will have the best medical treatment available I'm sure, so he may be one of just a few who ever survive pancreatic cancer.  God be with you, Alex!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.