Dear Mr. President and Madam Vice-President...

 Dear Mr. President and Madam Vice-President -

Congratulations! Let us start there, my sincere heartfelt congratulations to you both on your successful campaign, election, and inaugurations today.

You don't know me, there's no reason you would. I'm just one of the 328 million people you now lead and represent. Moreover, Mr. President, you are now my Commander-in-Chief as I am one of the roughly 42,000 Coasties under your command. But today, January 20th, you have given me a new reason to look forward to this date in the future, and to not be afraid of it.

I say "to not be afraid of it" because for the past 6 years, this has been part of an anniversary I dread. "Part of" because it's part of a larger event, one spread out over the course of 4 weeks (or 7 years and counting...) so it never really goes away. Because this time 7 years ago, I was lying in a hospital bed at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, awaiting brain surgery.

January 17th the symptoms started. January 19th I told my wife, then 6 months pregnant with our second son, and she dropped me off at the ER at WRNMMC. January 20th, 7 years ago today, a doctor told me "You have a brain tumor."

I know that you are all too aware of just how frightening those words are. A year after me, when news of your son's diagnosis came out, I listened and hung on every word. I was in the all-too-unfortunate position of recognizing what "glioblastoma" actually meant. I knew that Beau was being treated at WRNMMC, and very quite likely by many of the same doctors who treated me.

But his outcome would not be the same as mine. And that is tragic, and 6 years later, I am sorry for your loss. A father of 3 little kids, I cannot imagine the pain.

In the 7 years since then, we have added to our family. Nicholas was born 3 months later. And then 3 years later, Madeleine came into the world.

So it is on Madeleine's behalf, Madam Vice-President, that I write to you. Because while a lot of other dates around this time of year will always be associated with that terrifying time of my life - the onset of symptoms, the diagnosis, the two brain surgeries I had to endure - I can now take the 20th off that list.

Because now, today, January 20th will be remembered not for the words a doctor said to me. January 20th is the date I looked down at my daughter, pointed to the TV screen, and said, "See Madeleine? You can grow up to be Vice-President, too. Or President, if you want that job instead."

Good luck in your coming term. We have a lot of challenges to face, but I trust in you, and the American people, that we will see them them through. Better days are ahead. 7 years ago I was able to beat Sylvia. We can do this.

Sincerely,

Benjamin M. Atkins