The Courage to Finish What You Started: From Startups, to Ironman, to Fighting Cancer by Alex Cooper
BY FLORENCE WETZEL
In the world of glioblastoma memoirs, Alex Cooper’s The Courage to Finish What You Started is a unique read. While most GBM memoirs are written by loved ones, Alex offers a rare firsthand perspective, sharing a poignant account of the 2½ years he lived with GBM before passing in July 2024.
Up until his GBM diagnosis at age 60, Alex led a full life with varied pursuits. He was a mindset coach, an entrepreneur who started three businesses, and a participant in ten (!) Ironman competitions, an intense endurance race consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon.
Alex was also a dedicated family man with a warm home life that included two beloved children. In addition, he came from a family of Holocaust survivors and endured the devastating death of a cherished girlfriend in a bicycle accident. All these experiences gave him a deep understanding of both love and loss.
When Alex was diagnosed with GBM, he drew on his rich background and earlier life lessons to face each phase of his GBM journey. This book skillfully weaves together his life before and after diagnosis, illustrating how he navigated emotional and physical struggles. His realistic optimism and zest for life will undoubtedly inspire anyone whose life has been touched by GBM.
Both parts of Alex’s story are rich with insight and sage advice. One example is this powerful quote from Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
About this quote, Alex says: “Fighting cancer is no different. I can’t change the facts surrounding my brain tumor nor direct its course. I can only change my attitudes and beliefs about how I choose to live my life.”
By generously sharing his story, Alex offers the unique perspective of a highly athletic man with a deep spiritual side. His exceptional grit and perseverance shine through, including his resolve to complete this book while battling GBM. Remarkably, the book was published in June 2024, just a month before Alex’s passing. He had the gratifying reward of seeing his story in print and knowing his legacy would endure.
Although this book is especially valuable for those with GBM and their caretakers, its wisdom and insight will resonate with anyone facing life’s obstacles. Alex’s words offer a welcome beacon of hope, reminding us that even with its fragility, life is a gift.
Alex’s book is available both in paperback and eBook:
Florence Wetzel is the author of Sara My Sara: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss, about her dear friend Sara’s struggle with GBM. Amazon.com: Sara My Sara: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss eBook : Wetzel, Florence: Kindle Store
