Living the Good Life in Paradise
 Think sun; viewing sunsets over the Pacific Ocean while sitting under a huge Hau tree; beautiful handmade leis; alohas; warm ocean breezes in February; tropical fruit year-round; life on islands with active volcanoes, world-class surfing and some of the freshest fish you’ll ever taste; serious golfing two days a week; an active life among a thriving arts community. Got the picture? Meet Jim Egan, 10-year transplant survivor who has certainly made the most out of his new lease on life.
Born in Connecticut in 1934, Jim began commuting to art school in New York City at the age of 17. He later landed a job with a major Madison Avenue advertising agency and was transferred to Hawaii in 1980. “That honeymoon lasted five months,” recalls Jim. “When they asked me to come back to the East Coast, I decided, instead, to strike out on my own in Hawaii.”
Jim’s decision to give up alcohol and tobacco and to join a Honolulu fitness club prepared him, he believes, for life’s next big challenge: a diagnosis of myelodysplasia that would shortly evolve into leukemia. In 1996, at the age of 62, Jim underwent a stem cell transplant with stem cells donated by his 56-year-old brother, Harold.
“Jim and I first became aware of leukemia in 1948 when our brother Robert died of the disease,” says Harold. “It was very difficult, in 1996, for me to accept that lightning was about to strike twice. But it is seldom in anyone’s life that a person is not only invited to witness a miracle, but is invited to participate. I am truly blessed that I could simply donate a little ‘V8 juice’ to make Jim’s miracle possible.”
After his transplant, Jim resumed his work in digital fine art, producing images of exotic flowers which can be viewed online at www.eganinc.com/orchid. He also became interested in “this mysterious thing called the Internet” and began offering his three vacation rental properties for rent online. The revenue from the rentals has enabled him to pursue his passion – art – and his favorite hobby – golf.
“I belong to two golf associations and play twice a week,” says Jim. “Very competitive, playing USGA rules to the max – as in don’t touch the ball until it’s on the green! No gimmees – ever. Hole out every shot.”
Jim’s current artistic interests are in printmaking. Last year, one of his beautiful aquatints won the Hon Blue purchase award at the Honolulu Printmakers 77th annual juried show. Jim has volunteered to produce the cover art for BMT InfoNet’s Celebrating Life Calendar in 2008.
This year, a rare opportunity enabled Jim to meet other transplant survivors who volunteer to help those facing a transplant. A bone marrow transplant conference in Honolulu provided the chance for a half-dozen survivors, including BMT InfoNet Executive Director Sue Stewart, to enjoy an evening with Jim.
“I was stoked to sit down and have dinner with the group,” says Jim. “All of us at the table either survived the same shipwreck or have been helpmates to those still in the water,” says Jim.
“It was a memorable evening,” says Sue Stewart. ”Dinner on a patio, under a Hau tree, with the sound of the ocean at our back – it was a rare opportunity for us to share in Jim’s new lease on life in paradise.”
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