Gift Star

I didn’t notice it at first. In fact, I wouldn’t have noticed it at all except I decided to go outside early in the morning to go to the overnight store for eggs and berries. It was 2:30, you know.

Most humans don’t venture into the dark at 2:30 am. You know why—ravenous coyotes; car-jacking-criminals; gun-toting-ticket-giving-in-the-bushes-hiding-police and such things are out there waiting for unsuspecting citizens on their way to the store in the darkest hours of the early morning.

All that aside, I determined that this morning was to be different. I was on a mission because the boss needed her eggs and berries for next day lunch, even though she hadn’t asked for them.

I knew we’d eaten up our stash, and worse, forgotten to go to the store earlier. She needed to leave at 5:30, so there was no time to go to the A&P like normal people. So, I decided it was my job to go for supplies.

Outside the night was cold as usual for this time of year. But the sky was clear—I could see stars. Now, that was unusual for our S.E. Michigan sky.

That’s when I noticed the star. It was bright and beautiful.

There must be a reason for my seeing that star, I thought.

Later that morning I found the reason.

Researchers may have discovered a safe way to kill pancreatic cancer tumors.

Several of our friends have died a very painful death due to pancreatic cancer. Once diagnosed, they all had precious little time left on this Earth—nearly every minute of it overflowing with terrible pain and suffering.

I decided that star, so bright and beautiful, was a Gift Star... there for those who have passed and those who will not now suffer death by pancreatic cancer. No one can tell me I'm wrong. Right?

Here’s the story:

Pancreatic cancer: Chinese tree compound helps destroy tumors, Ana Sandoiu, medicalenewstoday.com, 22 Oct 2018.

“A new study, published in the Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, finds that a synthetic analog of a compound found in a rare Chinese tree can be used to tackle treatment-resistant pancreatic cancer.”

“New findings may drastically improve the outlook for people who have pancreatic cancer.”

“The American Cancer Society (ACS) report that around 55,440 people will develop pancreatic cancer in 2018 and around 44,330 people will die as a result.”

“This cancer is particularly difficult to both treat and diagnose.”

“A lack of specific and accessible screening methods means that specialists often find the disease in its later stages, which can impact the patients' outlook.”

“The ACS estimate that 12–14 percent of people with early-stage pancreatic cancer go on to survive for 5 years.”

“New research offers much-needed hope; scientists have found that a derivative of camptothecin — which is a Chinese tree bark compound whose anticancer properties were discovered over half a century ago — can effectively kill pancreatic cancer tumors.” -more-

Starbright - Jim Brickman - 2015