"Fully removed, clear margins and no adverse features, no lymphatic invasion."Following surgery, Valentine would have regular three-monthly check-ups, including positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to monitor his oesophagus.Valentine was thrilled to still have his oesophagus and joie de vivre and so began what Joanne likes to call his "year of living gratefully".Nothing could overcome Ruby and Roy's deep sadness after learning in June last year that their father's cancer was back and he was terminal.But it's helped them to know Valentine lived that last year with as much gusto as he could muster."He was ecstatic just to have his life back and a second chance," Ruby said."It was probably the happiest he's been, maybe ever "Everything about how he's gone about this process has brought community together and in just the most beautiful way."Not many people have the power to do [that] and so I think it's very weird, it's very surreal, it's horrible in so many ways, but it's really beautiful as well."On his final day at the station in June last year, Valentine told Australian Story he always knew the cancer could recur, although he admitted to being surprised by the ferocity of its return