Person of the Week: Leroy Sievers Battled Cancer

Aug. 22, 2008— -- News veteran Leroy Sievers, former executive producer of ABC News' "Nightline," was used to reporting first on important issues like the Iraq War. But in August 2001, Sievers didn't expect this news: He had colon cancer.

"After that day, your life is never the same," Sievers wrote. "'That day' is the day the doctor tells you, 'You have cancer.' … It's scary, it's sad."

But Sievers was diagnosed early, had surgery and was cancer free for four years.

But in November 2005, Sievers' cancer returned, having spread to his brain and lungs.

Seven months after the relapse, Sievers started a blog called My Cancer, on National Public Radio's Web site and did a weekly podcast. He sought to start a "real dialogue," speaking truthfully and candidly about his life with a terminal diagnosis of cancer.

"I am going to be talking about my experience and hope many of you will write in with your own stories," Sievers wrote.

It was a warts-and-all blog viewed more than 2 million times.

"It's a lot like being trapped on a roller coaster -- a really good one with lots of twists and turns and huge drops, the kind that make your stomach turn over," Sievers wrote. "'It' in this case of course is life with cancer. In some ways the life of a cancer patient becomes a little predictable. But then every once in a while they change the ride.  New drops, new twists, new fears."

He wrote about things people don't want to hear. In a blog on Sept. 18, 2006, Sievers raised a question on the minds of many: "Does cancer hurt?"

He answered: "You bet.  It hurts in ways that you can't imagine.  It hurts in ways that transcend physical pain.  That first diagnosis is like a knife into your heart.  That first bleak prognosis? That's a punch to your stomach.  Waiting for the results of a scan?  Water torture, slow, agonizing, excruciating. … So to answer the question does cancer hurt?  I haven't felt a thing except for when it hurts so badly you can barely stand it."

It wasn't all grim, though; his journey was hopeful, too, and inspired others to believe in themselves.

"I think that even in the darkest hours when things seem the bleakest we need to hold on to a little optimism. Here's my request to all of you," Sievers wrote in a Sept. 13 post. "Do something optimistic today.  Do something that says I believe that I have a future.  Start reading a really long book. Put off something that you should do today until tomorrow."

The blog was more than just Sievers' honest musing, it was a conversation. He appreciated what his readers had to say.

"The eloquence, courage and intelligence of what you have said is truly inspiring," Sievers wrote.

Laurie Hirth, whose fiance died of lung cancer, was one of the thousands who not only read the blog but posted comments daily.

"I'm so grateful that Leroy put that out there for people like me, because I know I'm not alone," she told ABC News. "It became a family. It became Leroy's garden. We were all his flowers. He would just cultivate it with his wisdom, his wit, his humor, his love."

Through her sorrow, Sievers' wife, Laurie Singer, has continued the blog for now, sharing her grieving process and seeking support.

Sievers died Aug. 16, 2008, at the age of 53. His legacy is exactly the one he wished for.

"I would like to be remembered as a good friend.  Someone who fought for what he believed in.  Someone who spoke for those who couldn't speak for themselves," he wrote in his blog. "And I'd like to be remembered for being much slimmer than I really am and with more hair. I would like to be remembered for who I am: the good parts and the bad parts too.  As another person who tried to do his best. That's enough."