Senator Frank Lautenberg

March 2, 2010

Senator Frank Lautenberg
One Gateway Plaza
Newark, NJ 07102-5310

RE: A chance for immortality

Senator Lautenberg,

Amy, my wife, was diagnosed with cancer 8 months ago. Hers is stage 3C endometrial cancer. She has been operated on using the DaVinci robotic device. She has finished 6 weeks of chemotherapy, 5 weeks of radiation both external and internal, and is at the end of her last 6 weeks of additional chemotherapy.

I don’t envy you.

There may be some good that can be wrung from your diagnosis.

Last year, at one of those town hall meetings that he enjoys, President Obama took a question about end of life situations. He said that at a certain age and with certain diseases perhaps the best treatment is pain killers.

Maybe you should consider that option.

It is said that Achilles was offered the choice by Zeus of joining him in the Pantheon or becoming immortal as the greatest warrior in History.

He chose the latter.

You have served your country well for 7 decades. More importantly, you have served your country with honor.

You can make your journey “to the undiscovered country from which no traveler ever returns” a teachable moment. 34 centuries after slaying Hector people still sing of Achilles. The choice is yours.





Kevin Smith