Derek Laurie was working as a tow truck driver, living in a suburb outside Rochester, New York, and supporting two small children. It was tough work. He climbed under wrecked vehicles, or swam into ponds. So he thought the pains were pulled muscles. Maybe he was drinking too much beer. He stayed in denial until the tumor was pressing against his spine and he couldnāt walk. When he finally went to an emergency room in Rochester, he was told he had stage IV cancer and a year or two to live.