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I'm Gary Morgan and I'm suffering from Stomach Cancer, Still undergoing treatment and I've had my entire stomach removed, Parts of some internal organs and I'm continuing with Chemo at the moment.but that's not important here.in this story so I'll skip over the physical problems if you don't mind as I don't feel it's important in my case.

It's been a real struggle for me personally recently, I've undergone several sessions of Counselling from Macmillan Cancer Support and found it invaluable, i don't' know where my physical and mental state would be without guidance from them and God.

I've felt it an important part of my of my emotional recovery to remain positive and active by investing all my time and effort into doing good for others by projecting my message that you can move forward after suffering from this dreadful disease. but i must admit to slipping into a pit of despair at times.

In my case the physical scaring, (I'm  a very lucky man compared to other peoples struggle) is insignificant in comparison to the mental scaring that cancer can leave you with. (i had no idea it was going to be this powerful in mine or others lives) Support from Macmillan have helped me through this difficult stage so much, I cannot thank them enough.(Anne).

Although I've received direct support from Macmillan I feel it also important to look around at other members of my support team and consider their needs for counselling too, it's sometimes difficult for any family member or friend to cope or deal with seeing a loved one suffer in this way. (there are two of us in my immediate family with Cancer).

Recently and only due to being exposed to this new world, I've found many people in a similar position to myself crying out for help, alone and feeling isolated like i do from time to time, some of them in a dreadful mental state.

I can tell you all that before i talked to the Macmillan team I had considered the worst. Now i look forward to a new chapter in my life.

I therefore now realise importance of supporting a charity based organisation like Macmillan Cancer Support who receive no government funding for their invaluable work, And now i also realise that they are there for all your support team and help us all live normal lives again. A long way from where i was a few months ago.

Now to Footprints...

Myself and Sarah Hildreth have set-up "footprints in the sand" website to provide cancer related videos from Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK, as well as providing a home for video diary's for those who wish to show the world their journey through cancer to a normal life.

The story of how we come to choose the footprints name is quite interesting, I was visiting a second hand shop in Holywell North Wales ealry one morning after visiting the doctors for further tests and spotted the original footprints print in a tatty old frame looking sorry for itself laying on a battered settee, I looked through it and at it for ages reading it over and over, I thought about how it related to my own struggle and how god had somehow carried me through these difficult times, I stood there thinking of buying it for Sarah for a while, but changed my mind as i realised my pockets had only the contents of an old tobacco pouch left in them. 

Later that day Sarah the Priest of St Marys in Bagillt visited me and we were talking over a coffee and pineapple lolly ice about the bible, She said can you help me?, These words have been ringing in my head all morning and i'd like to know what you think of their meaning!, She continued, There's a section within a passage in the bible that often gets overlooked, It relates to when god parted the red sea, the section within the passage says "god left no footprints". (See the image of footprints picture and words up on this page).

I looked at Sarah and said, The very same thing has been ringing in my head all day since i saw a picture i was considering buying for you, but didn't!.

I explained my story to Sarah and we both looked at each other in amazement as if we'd had some form of mental connection that day, I do get these all the time I said, and more so since I've felt turmoil within.

As we were talking about the cancer related website name later that day, Sarah wondered about the significance of our earlier connection and said what about "footprints" as a name?. We both agreed it had significance in the story of what we wanted to do with the website and named it such, Within hours the website had been kindly donated and supported by Andrew from PHP-SUGAR http://www.phpsugar.com/ and the website was born within days. (Thank you Andrew).

Sarah's support and spiritual guidance has been a big part of my recovery. Thank you Sarah for putting up with my pot noodles and dodgy home made ice lolly's and of course I cant thank you enough for praying to god to give me strength to get through this stage of my life.

The Wilson Story:-

The new Wilson name for my videos comes from my best friend of 20years Alan Selby, We were talking on the same day about my video diary's and I asked Alan what his thoughts were on why I was making and showing the world my inner feelings, He thought about it for about 1.5nano-seconds as he does and gave me a very deep analysis, I'll give you the shortened version, he said:-

Do you remember the film "Castaway" with Tom hanks where he's stuck on a deserted desert island alone?, Yes i said, Well i think you're talking to Wilson the ball. Alan's point is , When you're going through turmoil we all need someone to talk too, someone to share your inner feelings and doubts with, many of the diary's i make are only for me on my shore. When you look at your support team around you, you may consider some of your team not being strong enough to cope with the constant pressure or worries that go on in your head, You end up reducing their exposure to protect them and in return isolate yourself with pent up emotions and worries, This is not good, We all need someone to talk too about any fears we may feel. Later that day i named my camera Wilson.

This brings me back to Macmillan, I found i could expose my inner worries and doubts to Anne from Macmillan and within seconds of listening to my problems she reduced the worldly weight on my shoulders to a few simple issues that needed addressing quickly. Such clarity i thought. After these sessions i felt light and relieved. 

http://www,footprints.me.uk

We are hoping that you make donations to our page in memory of or support of those who have or are suffering from cancer, and to help Macmillen to continue their support for people like me and those in a much more serious condition. 

All proceeds will go directly to Macmillan Cancer Support , Our website receives no funding and is sponsored by us and PHP-SUGAR, The website alone was a significant investment by PHP-SUGAR

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Gary Morgan and thank you.