S.O.L.E Survivor: A Cancer Journey through a Cop's Eyes

By Nate Boggs

This is a real-life account of a cancer journey through the eyes of a police officer. It is no secret that law enforcement officers view the world through different eyes than general society because they are shaped by an environment of hypervigilance and the need to control situations to mitigate safety concerns. This book contains an inside view of a law enforcement family's spiritual journey in the face of a life-threatening disease.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9781644683835

Book preview

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A Cancer Journey through a Cop’s Eyes

S.O.L.E. Survivor

Nate Boggs

ISBN 978-1-64468-382-8 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64468-383-5 (Digital)

Copyright © 2020 Nate Boggs

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Let’s Get to Know Each Other

A Storm on the Horizon

The C Word

Finding My Faith

Hospital Incarceration

The Next Round(s)

The Crazy Piper

About the Author

Preface

It’s important to note that law enforcement officers view the world through different eyes. There are many reasons for this. Emotions of police officers are shaped by the world in which they live and a constant state of hypervigilance. Similarly, you see the emotional effects of this among military personnel, which isn’t surprising because a great deal of the law enforcement community is formed by a paramilitary mentality.

With that being said, when police officers are affected by a personal crisis and/or a serious sickness, they deal with it emotionally very different than the average citizen.

This book will give you an honest view point of a police officer’s personal life along with a spiritual journey. Anything out of the realm of normal explanation is typically taboo in the law enforcement community. Any paranormal event that defies rationale will get you labeled as a nutcase. All of my experiences are honest and open, allowing you to derive your own conclusions. I’ve learned that

all

things are possible through God, and He so often defies human logic.

My goal is to provide details of my journey to assist others as they, or their loved ones, have to battle a terrible disease. By grasping hold of faith, family, and friends, there is nothing that you can’t overcome!

Acknowledgments

Thank you!

I would like to thank God and my family, more specifically my wife, Jean; my daughter, Rozlynn; and my mom and my dad. Without the support of these, I don’t think I would’ve made it through. I’d also like to thank my coworkers, past and present. Also, a special thanks to Sheriff Rick Wells and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

1

Let’s Get to Know Each Other

We won’t let history define our future. Our actions will do the talking. Our determination will turn doubters into believers.

—Andrew McCutchen

Before I tell you about my journey through this horrible disease, it’s important to know where I came from and my general makeup. A police officer sees the world through different eyes than most people.

My name is Nate Boggs, and I’m a forty-one-year-old white guy from Scotch-Irish descent. I was born and raised in the Bluegrass State, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio River, a stone’s throw from Cincinnati. My mom and dad divorced when I was young, so although I lived in the city (Covington), I would travel to my dad’s house on most weekends. He lived on a multiacre farm in South Central Kentucky in a small town you’ve likely never heard of, but it’s one of the country’s hidden gems—Mount Vernon. A small town reminiscent of days long gone that makes you want to revisit some Andy Griffith Show reruns.

While growing up there was never any doubt that my mom and dad both tried their best to raise me right, and most importantly,

they always got along

. In hindsight, I find that is a rarity among divorced parents. Most act more childish than the children they squabble over. I was brought up in church and was taught to love God at an early age. My entire family is considered blue-collar, and nothing was ever handed to anyone. Everything my family (both sides) obtained, they earned through the sweat of their brow and calluses on their hands. Both of my grandfathers were coal miners and worked hard to provide for their families. My mom’s father died in a coal mine after he was crushed by a cave-in when my mother was two years old. I take great pride in this lineage of work ethic, because it is what defines our family, and I feel like families such as ours are the backbone of this great country.

My father joined the Marines at an early age and served four years. After serving in the military, he joined the Kentucky State Police as a Trooper. To this profession he dedicated his life, mind, and body. Kentucky State Police is the supreme law enforcement agency in the State of Kentucky, as most Sheriffs in the rural areas depend on the state police to provide a law enforcement presence within their jurisdictions. My mother began her career working for EMS, frequently driving an ambulance in the same jurisdiction where my dad was assigned. She later moved on to a career in nursing via nursing homes and in-home nursing.

Nate and his Dad, Ernie

As I went through high school, I found myself shying away from the life of a law enforcement officer. I enjoyed animation and artistry. I also enjoyed playing guitar and was in and out of several bands with genres ranging from rock to punk. I went to college at Northern Kentucky University as an art major, and I worked part-time for Comair—The Delta Connection at the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati International Airport.

I’m sorry if I just blew your mind.

Yes, the Cincinnati Airport isn’t in Ohio, it’s actually in Northern Kentucky. More specifically, Boone County Kentucky about thirteen miles from the city of Cincinnati.

I started on the ramp, working as a baggage handler. I was responsible for loading baggage into the aircraft, fueling, lavatory dump/refill (

ew

!), and ensuring an overall on-time departure while braving Cincinnati’s unpredictable weather. After some time, I was given more and more responsibility, eventually assigned a radio to communicate with coordinators that worked in the tower and the gate personnel. In the wintertime, I helped with deicing procedures. My supervisors found that I had a knack for communication and excelled with coordinating, leading, and work ethic. They soon asked if I would assist with coordinating the deicing procedure by going into the control tower and monitoring radio traffic with the personnel in the deicing trucks. I jumped at the opportunity to get out of the cold weather and away from the glycol. I soon found that I