Chemo

 

Friendship

 

a. Och was his right hand. He was the best support for Armstrong because of his experience with cancer. Och could understand what Armstrong was feeling and thinking. It is incredible for me that type of affection that Armstrong’s friend demonstrated to him. I don’t have American friends; therefore, I can’t make that comparison.  (Flavia, 02/17/07)

 

b. I think Armstrong is so lucky that have a friend like Och.  I remember a proverb: "A friend in need is a friend indeed."  Och helped Armstrong when he was in distress. I am a liitle bit surprised by their friendship.  In some cases, friends may help us when we are in need; however, it is not easy to make a friend like Och.  In my experience, if you make an American friend, he/she also will help you when you express your difficulty.  In my opinion, this depth of frendship can happen in everywhere, in every country.  (Jennifer, 021807)

 

c. I think that Och is a good friend and advisor becasue he knows what to do for Armstrong and how to help him. His father had cancer. He can well understand Armstrong's situation. I can make American friends, but making really close friends in the U.S.A. is very hard. There are many problems; language barrier, different life style and ideas, and so on. (Dae Gun Kim  Feb/18/2007) 

 

d. Och was like a parent that he never had. This kind of friendship is made on time together, sharing lives and experiences. One harvests what it has planted. From American friends I can’t expect anything less. (Felix, 02/19/2007)

e. I was surprised of their good relationships. Och is a good partner as a mentor and friend. I have some American friends who are my officemates. Sometimes, we went to club in Washington DC and watched American football. In my opinion, I think they do not hesitate to help, if their friends need a help.  (Jinwoo Kim 02/22/07) 

 

f. I think Och is a person who is very thoughtful and gave all he could give to his friend. This is a very sincere and unselfish frienship. (Hsingchuan 02/25/07)

 

g. He was a real friend because he was there when his friend needed him. Actually, I was surprised because I didn't imagin that the relationship between a coach and a player could be like this. I didn't have a special idea before about American friendship; I think in everywhere there are some true friends and others who doesn't even deserve the word "friend" (Aziz)

 

Staying in Shape

While undergoing chemotherapy, Armstrong "craved air and exercise" (p. 142).

 

a.  The importance of riding his bike changed. He used it as a way to forget his problems for that moment, and he tried to demonstrate to everybody that he is better. (Flavia, 02/17/07)

 

b. It's a good way for Armstrong to reduce his distress and to encourage himself to face the suffering because he always did very well in each race, and achieved his goal.  I think that if people can have a habit of something, when they are in a bad mood or going through a hard time, they can enjoy their habit and shift to his/her idea.  (Jennifer, 02/18/07)

 

c. Actually, his doctor doesn't recommend that he ride a bike. It is because his body cannot stand heavy stress. If he stresses his body, his condition could become worse. However, I think that only riding a bike can give him strong purpose in life. (Dae Gun Kim 02/18/07)

 

d. Quite sincerely, in my opinion “keeping himself” riding was just a foolish attitude. He was lucky not to have any complications; his body just wanted to rest at that moment. (Felix, 02/17/2007)

 

f. I think it is the best way to get rid of his stress and his fearfulness. However, he should follow doctor`s direction and recognise that excessive exercise can give him negative effect. (Jinwoo Kim 02/22/07)

 

g.How ever his bodies need to rest, but riding a bike helps him to cover his illnesss and it can give him a confidence. ( nazanin, 02/23/07 )

 

h. When people get sick, their spirit get sick too. I think it is good to continue ride a bike for Amstrong but in a reasonable "ride." Riding bike for him make he belive that he can getting better and also let his friend belive he can getting better too.  (Hsingchuan 02/25/07)

 

i. I think the most important thing was to improve for others and for himself that he still can do this bike thing. (Aziz)  

 

Business Ethics

Cofidis dropped Armstrong due to his illness.

 

a. Cofidis had a legal right to do it, but it was not ethical. They just wanted to take advantage of his illness. (Flavia, 02/17/07)

 

b. For a team, they needed to consider more serious question, such as whether Armstrong can come back to race.  I think it is hard to make a drop for Cofidis, but he has to change the contract finally. They had a legal right to do it, I think. (Jennifer, 02/18/07)  What do you mean by "make a drop"? (Nina, 02/19/07)

 

c. I think Cofidis' decision is very good. It is very important to win a race, but they should take care of their team members. (Dae Gun Kim 02/18/07)

 

d. Ethical… strong enough word in public matters, but in the darkness of contracts it is the last moral issue. Yes, Cofidis had the legal right to do so, but it was an unscrupulous act. Well, this give us a real idea of business in our time. (Felix, 02/17/2007)

e. I think his decision was inevitable for him because he should consider the victory or defeat. However, I don`t agree that it was ethical. (Jinwoo Kim 02/22/07)

 

f. Yes they did, because he didn't do the medical examination.(Aziz)

 

LaTrice

Armstrong calls his nurse LaTrice Haney an angel on earth (pp. 146-49).

 

a. I agree with that description.  You can notice that she likes her job and wants to help others. She was so patient with Armstrong, and to do it is because she is a very special person, an angel. (Flavia, 02/17/07)

 

b. Yes, I agree with his words that LaTrice Haney is an angel on earth.  She talked to Armstrong in a very optimistic way.  I think that she has a kind heart with her patients.  (Jennifer, 021807)

 

c. I agree with Armstrong. Although her job is a nurse who should care for patients, there are few devoted nurses who really understand their patients. When I was in the University of Maryland hospital, I remember one nurse, although I have forgotten her name. I want to meet her again and I want to say "Thank you very much." (Dae Gun Kim 02/18/07) I think she would very much appreciate your going back to thank her! (Nina, 2/19/07)

 

d. It seems to me she was doing her job, but at the same time she was deeply attached to Lance. This kind of relationship with nurses is weird! Yes, weird, because they try to keep their feelings away protecting themselves. Some others give us one great gift “been angels”. (Felix, 02/17/2007)  Felix, I don't understand that last sentence! Nina 2/20

 

e. Yes I agree, she was like an anjel. Yes, I knew many people just like her. (Aziz)

 

f. Yes, I am totally agree with that. LaTrice is kind of thoughful person. She is not only nice, patient, and always thoughtful. I have a friend who has some characteristic similar to LaTrice. I have leared a lot from her. (Hsingchuan)

 

The Obligation of the Cured

Helping other cancer patients gave Armstrong "a new sense of purpose." He even saw his illness "as something that he was given for the good of others." (p. 150)

 

a. Everything happens for a purpose. If something bad happens to us, it is not a punishment. It is just a different way to learn a lesson. Those lessons sometimes could be tochange our ideas, our life, or it could be to help others. We just need to think deeply and try to understand the real reason of that event. Everything has a good purpose, you just need to figure it out! (Flavia, 02/17/07)

 

b. It is correct that when we see someone having a hard time, then we will treasure what we already have.  That is why if someone has a hard time, a pyschologist may suggest that he/she go to the hospital.  In the hospital, there are many people who suffer from disease, but hope to survive. (Jennifer, 02/18/07)

 

c. Before my answer, I want to ask "Why do you consider Armstrong as a real hero?" It is not important that he is a race winner. I respect him because he overcame his obstacle and becasue he helped other cancer patients. He is a role model for cancer patients. (Dae Gun Kim 02/18/07)

 

d. This was Lance's opportunity  to be a better person, a better human, not just a good sportsman. It could be his real purpose in life. (Felix, 02/17/2007)

 

 e. I'm no so sure about that, but I think he did a nice job helping the others and encouraging them. (Aziz)

 

f. I think people always find themself when they are helping people. When you are helping people, you also learn and get some benefit from it. When you are helping people, you see yourself more positive way. You realized you can also helping people. I think, helping people always make oneself happy. (Hsingchuan)