David was a young man in his early 30s and seemed to have everything going his way. He was a successful businessman. He owned a sales and service-oriented business. He owned an entertainment business and he owned an apartment complex. Besides being successful in business, he was happily married. He had a wife, two children and a big Irish setter that had its own pet chicken. Wherever that Irish setter went, you would see people stop and stare because there would be a Rhode Island Red riding on his back.

David seemed to have it made in life. He was successful in business. He had a happy family life. He had everything going his way. Then, a routine medical examination turned up something very serious -- a brain tumor. I went to the hospital to see him shortly before his surgery. We talked a…