Terminally ill Hong Kong Stories founder David Young talks about living life and facing death

Boy scout I grew up in a tiny town on the outskirts of a small city in an insignificant Canadian province. I had a normal boyhood and, like a lot of Canadian kids, I loved the outdoors. I was terrible at hockey but won a “paperboy of the year” award. I was a piano-playing choirboy, but I wasn’t great at schoolwork and I barely managed to stay out of trouble. I was an enthusiastic member of the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Air Cadets (winning a “best all-round cadet” award) and I took the mottos seriously, too. “Do your best” and “Be prepared” are good guidance for almost anything you face in life, but not everything because, while I was learning to camp and canoe and fly, there was a mutated gene waiting in my DNA. No amount of preparation or best effort could stop it from eventually presenting itself. Doctors call it SOD1. I call it The Beast.

From top gun to taxes When I left high school my grades weren’t good enough to go to university or be a pilot but, after a few years of odd jobs, I talked my way into the Air Force. When I applied I had no intention of being a pilot – I thought that dream was dead – but an aptitude test and a sharp recruiting officer said otherwise. A few years later I was learning to fly jets and helicopters. Unfortunately, I failed too many flight tests and was taken off the “flight line”. I was given a golden handshake on my way out the door and I used it wisely.

With all my military and aviation experience, I did what anyone would do – I went back to university and became an accountant. I had to go to night school first, to upgrade my high school maths courses, but it was worth it. I like telling people I was a pilot but I’m still a bit embarrassed about being an accountant. Imagine the lifestyle change! I went from flying military jets and chop­pers – a job they make Hollywood movies about – to sitting at a desk calculating your taxes payable. I did not fit in. I’m naturally assertive and aggressive, and I’m always ready to argue. I did OK for a while but I eventually left the industry.

Bake off My resume was starting to look a bit patchy, so, with two sons to look after, my wife and I decided to swap traditional roles. I say “we decided” but in reality, she informed me. She accepted a position in Denver and, after moving our boys from Canada to Colorado, I became the not-so-typical stay-at-home dad. It was a good decision. My wife has been our family rock and I appreciated that she trusted me enough to wash the dishes and do the laundry while she pursued a career. She didn’t trust me to do the baking at first, but I eventually learned. I’m as good as her at making cakes and cookies but I’ll never bake bread like she can.