The simple act of grooming his horse is different these days for Shae Buchanan.
"They say I'm a miracle."
At 22 he has faced death at an age when most folks are looking forward to a long life.
"Everything has a new meaning in life...everything has meaning just waking up and opening my eyes."
"Hearing the hoofs on the grass it all has meaning now...you know I almost lost it."
Shae went into the hospital for a biopsy, and was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. It was a tumor the size of a loaf of bread in his chest.
His mother Mary Christi remembers getting bad news following the surgery.
"The only thing I remember them saying is 'things aren't going well.'"
But it was a horse named Texas that inspired Shae to live to ride another day. Shae considers the horse his baby.
"He's taught me a lot and I've taught him a lot."
While Shae was in the hospital he almost lost Texas because he couldn't afford to care for him plus the mounting medical expenses.
NewsChannel 3 viewers and people in the horse community took action and raised a little money to help out.
"The caring and the thoughtfulness - I just can't thank these people enough," says Shae.
Shae and his horse may be back on their feet together, but his oncologist believes this just the beginning of Shae's journey toward recovery.
"Well, he still has a long way to go with his treatment. He's only finished about 3 treatments right now we're going to do six to eight treatments."
The treatments have taken a toll on his mind and body but not his spirit.
The young man known for his infectious smile, and the love of a horse named Texas, refuses to measure his life by the odds of his survival.
"Everyday is a new challenge but I face it with a smile sitting around. Crying isn't going to get anything done except make other people cry and thats not a happy world to live in."
"They say I'm a miracle."
At 22 he has faced death at an age when most folks are looking forward to a long life.
"Everything has a new meaning in life...everything has meaning just waking up and opening my eyes."
"Hearing the hoofs on the grass it all has meaning now...you know I almost lost it."
Shae went into the hospital for a biopsy, and was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. It was a tumor the size of a loaf of bread in his chest.
His mother Mary Christi remembers getting bad news following the surgery.
"The only thing I remember them saying is 'things aren't going well.'"
But it was a horse named Texas that inspired Shae to live to ride another day. Shae considers the horse his baby.
"He's taught me a lot and I've taught him a lot."
While Shae was in the hospital he almost lost Texas because he couldn't afford to care for him plus the mounting medical expenses.
NewsChannel 3 viewers and people in the horse community took action and raised a little money to help out.
"The caring and the thoughtfulness - I just can't thank these people enough," says Shae.
Shae and his horse may be back on their feet together, but his oncologist believes this just the beginning of Shae's journey toward recovery.
"Well, he still has a long way to go with his treatment. He's only finished about 3 treatments right now we're going to do six to eight treatments."
The treatments have taken a toll on his mind and body but not his spirit.
The young man known for his infectious smile, and the love of a horse named Texas, refuses to measure his life by the odds of his survival.
"Everyday is a new challenge but I face it with a smile sitting around. Crying isn't going to get anything done except make other people cry and thats not a happy world to live in."
