Eddie Mitchell was told he would be dead by now. But 12 years after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, and having even planned his own funeral, the father-of-five is most definitely still alive.
And while recent research has suggested that daily exercise can prolong the life of a cancer sufferer, Eddie has a different take on it.
He believes that without his wife and keeping himself active with hobbies, he would not be here.
It was a back injury that first led Eddie to go to the doctor in 2002. Blood tests were taken, but they could not discover what was wrong with him.
Fifteen months later, Eddie was finally told that he had terminal multiple myeloma – cancer arising from plasma cells, a type of white blood cell which is made in the bone marrow.
“This is quite a rare cancer even now, but way back then it was a very rare cancer,” Eddie said.
“It was mostly people in their late 60s and 70s that got this, so you can understand why they didn’t find it way back then.
“It took around 15 months to be diagnosed, during which time I had to give up my job and my house in Elgin because I couldn’t afford the mortgage. I had to give up everything.
“When I was told I had cancer, I just took it, because that’s just life.
“Somebody’s got to have it, so why not me? I don’t show my emotions much; I keep them to myself.”
THREE-TO-FIVE YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY
The news, quite understandably, was a heavy blow for Eddie’s family – wife Pat, daughters Julie, Jenny, Donna and Debbie and son Liam.
Pat, 61, said: “It was devastating and I just thought, how can I live without him? It was quite scary and I was really upset.
“I do remember thinking at the time ‘why has it got to be Eddie?'”
Doctors gave Eddie a three-to-five-year life expectancy – something that he took in his stride.
“I just thought I had better make the most of life when I heard that,” he said.
“I thought I had better start getting things in order and doing what I want to do. I’m an awful person for pandering to other people and helping them out, it’s just my nature.
“Just because you are diagnosed with cancer doesn’t mean it’s the end. It’s the start of a new journey – one most of us would dread, but you need to have a positive attitude, which I might add is not always possible with cancer.”
It’s hard to imagine how anyone would react after being told you have only a few years to live, but Eddie admits that he always tries to keep a positive outlook.
Since being diagnosed he decided to carry out some lifelong dreams, including teaching himself to paint landscapes, as well as writing a book about his experiences.
His paintings are now featured in homes across the world – including Hong Kong – and have been given to family and friends.
He has even made a special one for his youngest grandson, Lachlan, 3.
“The paintings are my legacy to my kids. I want to give one to Lachlan so that he can have it when I’m gone to remember me by.”
NOT SCARED OF DYING
Over the years, Eddie has undergone four rounds of chemotherapy as well as two stem-cell transplants. And while his cancer went into remission for a time, sadly it came back.
Eddie says he is not scared of dying; it is just “part of the process of life”.
“You are born to live and live to die and what we do in between is important,” he said.
“If you are scared of it, it isn’t going to stop it happening; if anything, it could bring it on sooner.
“Everyone has their own thoughts about Heaven and Hell and I do have my own beliefs. I believe that what you like on Earth – like my wildlife and the countryside – that’s your little bit of Heaven. That’s the way I look at it. There is probably nothing there at all, but it’s actually very comforting to think that way; it holds no fear then.”
Eddie was so prepared for his eventual passing that he even decided to plan his own funeral – something many of us might think is quite a morbid affair.
“I remember I was out on one of my walks down the Spey and I started thinking about it and thought that’s something I better sort out,” he said.
“I just wanted to make sure it was the way I wanted it.”
Eddie decided on everything, from songs that were to be played – Russell Watson’s Where My Heart Will Take Me and Forever Autumn by Justin Hayward – to being buried at Bellie Churchyard, near Fochabers.
The process was quite an emotional one for Pat.
She said: “He was speaking about using a particular song in the beginning and he was playing it and I had to go through to the kitchen because I had tears in my eyes.
“I just started thinking: what am I going to do?”
IT’S IN THE BACK OF MY MIND
Now, Eddie’s three-year “deadline” has long since been and gone. It has been 12 years since he was first told he was dying and I wondered if every day since has been plagued with a fear that today could be his last?
“It hasn’t taken over my life; I haven’t allowed it,” he said.
“I don’t tend to think about it every day because it would just drive me mad. It’s in the back of my mind, obviously, but I rarely think about it at all.
“The only time I really think about it is when I’m down and got that negative feeling – that feeling when your back is so sore and you are just not feeling that great and you wish you weren’t here, but that doesn’t happen often.”
With his added years, Eddie has been able to meet his third grandson, Lachlan, as well as see his two other grandsons, Sam and Stephen, grow up – something he describes as “absolutely astounding”.
And with his funeral plans tabled for now, Eddie is concentrating on celebrating another year on Earth – with his 65th birthday on February 7.
“I honestly didn’t think I would get to my 60th,” he said.
“My wife put on a big party for that. This year, we are just going out for a quiet meal in a hotel in Fochabers, so I think that will be nice, just the two of us.
“I’m really surprised and amazed that I’ve got this far. I’m just going to keep going.”
For the rest of his family, though, every breakdown in his health creates a worry in them that this might be the end.
But for now, they are just grateful to still have him around.
Pat added: “We just take it as it comes. I’ve accepted it now and he’s had a good 12 years and I’ve just resigned myself, but I know that he’s going to a good place.
“Our kids have accepted it as well and they are just glad that he is still here.”