Each day more than 1500 people die due to cancer in the US. On October 29, 2008 we lost our beloved John Shemenski to a brain tumor. John was a husband, son, brother, cousin, uncle, friend, colleague and lover of life. His death was not different than others who suffered the same fate, but the way he lived his life before and during cancer was. John never lived for someday, he always lived for RIGHT NOW. He is a story of inspiration.
John was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March 2007 at the age of 32. From day one he showed hope, courage, and determination to beat the tumor and not let it run his life. During his entire battle with cancer he lived everyday like he had vibrantly lived the previous 34 years. He let nothing stand in his way of pursuing dreams, enduring interests, and running with his passions.
John was an extremely fun loving, light hearted person who had a soul as bright as the sun. He was known to family and childhood friends as “Jasiu” and to college friends and many others as “Johnny”. Every single person who knew him could feel a wholesome ‘goodness’ in his presence, and we truly felt like better people just being around him. John left us with a legacy of how we should appreciate life, no matter how long or short, and with an example of what kind of people we should try to be. Our lives are so much darker without him, but if we learned anything from John, it would be to face your challenges no matter what it takes.
We share this with you because we want the way John lived his life, even in moments of despair, to inspire you to live the same way. Treasuring family and friends, being thankful for the things we have, and living life to the fullest each and every day. We ask for your help in fighting cancer, creating awareness of cancer, and supporting those who are living with cancer. By supporting the Shemenski Foundation, you are joining us in sharing the “Hope, Courage, and Determination to live RIGHT NOW!”
John’s Personal Testimony, written May 1, 2008
“Oh, by the way, I registered the car last week. My plates should be delivered any day. I ordered vanity plates. My plates say: “RT NOW 1”. I wanted “RIGHT NOW” but it was taken so this was the closest I could get. Ok, you want to know what that means …………. Right Now is a special song for me. Corny as it sounds, it’s been my favorite song and became my Theme Song when the cancer hit.
Right Now is by the band Van Halen. The song is basically about: living for today (Right Now), live your tomorrow today, don’t put anything off that can be done today, overcome life’s hurdles that try to slow you down, determination to get back on track when you’ve been derailed. So the idea is Right now is my tomorrow.
Something else significant about the song is this was the song that was played over the loudspeaker at the very start of the Chicago Marathon I ran years ago. Even then it was my favorite song and was very excited to hear it played. It pumped me up for the entire race. So, for a number of reasons, the song is special to me and has become my personal theme song. It’s to me, what “Eye of the Tiger” was to Rocky. So because Chevelle is a result of long time dream that took a lot of hard work and focus to realize while working through life’s hurdles, its a symbol of living for right now.
OK, here are the lyrics to the Right Now song. Maybe it helps a little more. I underlined parts that are important to the meaning.”
Don’t wanna wait til tomorrow,
Why put it off another day?
One more walk through problems,
Built up, and stand in our way, ah
One step ahead, one step behind me
Now you gotta run to get even
Make future plans, don’t dream about yesterday, hey
C’mon turn, turn this thing around
Right now, hey
It’s your tomorrow
Right now,
C’mon,it’s everything
Right now,
Catch a magic moment, do it
Right here and now
It means everything
Miss the beat, you lose the rhythm,
And nothing falls into place, no
Only missed by a fraction,
Slipped a little off your pace, oh,
The more things you get, the more you want,
Just trade in one for the other,
Workin so hard, to make it easier, whoa,
Got to turn, c’mon turn this thing around
Right now, hey
It’s your tomorrow
Right now,
C’mon, it’s everything
Right now,
Catch that magic moment, do it
Right here and now
It means everything
It’s enlightened me, right now
What are you waitin for
Oh, yeah, right now
(Solo)
Right now, hey
It’s your tomorrow
Right now,
C’mon, it’s everything
Right now,
Catch that magic moment, and do it right,
Right now
Right now, oh, Right now
It’s what’s happening?
Right here and now
Right now
It’s right now
Oh,
Tell me, what are you waiting for
Turn this thing around
