A man diagnosed with the same form of brain cancer that led Brittany Maynard to kill herself last weekend says he chose a different path because of his faith in God.
Thirteen years ago, David Williams of Newport, Arkansas was told by his doctors that he had a progressive brain tumor called glioblastoma multiforme, and that he had 6 months to a year to live.
Williams told WMC TV that although he trusted his doctors, he refused to believe that he couldn't fight the disease and live. As a result of his determination he's undergone surgeries, chemotherapies, takes daily medication, and refuses to give up.
He credits his faith in God for prolonging his life and giving him a unique perspective from which to spread a message of hope through counseling others who find themselves in similar situations.
“There's nothing else I could think of that I could even start to give credit to except for my faith in God,” said Williams.
“We look at things that happen as bad, when we can actually look at them as a blessing. I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing without the cancer,” he said. “Without me going through what I've gone through, I don't think I would be able to reach people the way I reach people.”
He tells those who seek him out at his church in Newport, “I'm going to make it through it. You can make it through what you're going through too.”
Williams said he wishes Brittany Maynard had not chosen to kill herself.
“That's a life you're taking, that life that can mean something,” he said.
“There is more than one way to help the problem that you've got. You need to find what it is that is going to help you,” said Williams. “The best is always yet to come!”
