Howard Gordon is a long time cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in October 1995. "Some days it seems like yesterday. Other days it seems like a life time ago" he recalls.

The Buffalo school teacher chose to have his treatment at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. His physician, Dr. Meir Wetzler, told Howard that a blood and marrow transplant would not cure his cancer but would extend his survival. "My doctors did not pull any punches. I liked that. I wanted to know exactly what was happening. He presented the options and I decided to have the transplant."

Howard received his transplant in the old Roswell Park hospital while the new hospital was being constructed just a few feet from his window. "In the old days, you couldn't leave your room after the transplant. It was a way to protect patients with compromised immune systems. I watched that new building go up brick by brick."

Howard is well past the average survival rate now and is looking forward to many more years of retirement. The former history teacher shares the lessons he learned as a patient by volunteering once a week in the Roswell Park surgical waiting room, helping other families cope with the uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis. "It's my way of giving back to Roswell Park. This hospital saved my life. I want everyone to know that Roswell Park is not a place to come to die but a place to come to live."

Howard says because Roswell Park focuses only on cancer, treatments are available here that are not always available elsewhere in Western New York. He says that makes a difference every day in the lives of patients.

Howard's message of hope for the holiday's: "A positive attitude is the only kind of attitude to have."