Truly Blessed!

I am just sitting here trying to find one thought, one momment, or one happening from this past few days to focus on and write about. It's impossible. My family and friends, the circle of people around me was just so energized these pat few days that it was incredible. If you read this blog much, you will notice I use the word lucky or blessed a great deal. Well I am. There just isn't a way to sum up the activities, the highlights, the main events, the emotions and the fun that we all had. My days began with a smile brought by the first words of my grandson Andrew as he ran in to hug me saying "Hey Grandpa, show me your cancer?". Andthen ended 4 days later at the end of a long day, sitting quietly with my dearest friend's warm hand on my head sending God's energy to me in loving and healing prayer. Sandwiched between those two magnificent moments were 4 days of pure heaven enjoying the wonderful gifts I have here on earth. Happy Birthday Bill! Thanks for the awesome pies ladies! Really glad you came, Matt! I love you Mike, Steve, Carrie and Laura (probably in that order too ha ha). So glad to see you Maria! What I realize most as I sit and enjoy the pleasant and peaceful thoughts, is that it really happens because I'm in the hands of the best nurse, grandma, mother, caterer, cook, chauffeur, and wife anyone could have. Thank you Cindy! I am truly blessed.

What a day!

It was the best day ever. MammaCou outdid herself with a meal fit for kings and queens. We just had fun, true family fun. The day started with radiation and the doc had good things to say and some not so good. Here I thought I might be beating some odds with side effects of radiation but she told me honestly it is too early and to be prepared. Oh well! Then a great breakfast that stayed down with Steve and Carrie. The house was full of laughter and anticipation of a meal of meals. And it appeared just like promised. Everyone moaned and dug in and enjoyed. Then the evening included a bon fire, "S'mores", movie watching and your choice of hot apple pie or my favoirite, Lemon Marangue. We won't talk about it , but dad had to miss some of the later activity due to some hand to hand combat with one of those "side effects" we don't talk about. But I made it thru, and here I sit, late at night, everyone sound asleep and once again I realize what an incredibly lucky man I am. Gotta love that popsicle and pain pill. God Bless my family and all of yours too!

Some of us have 2 days of Thanksgiving!!

I heard from many that Thanksgiving was a great day. For us, we get a special treat today, that our kids (minus Mike's San Fran Family) will all be here for our big dinner. We took yesterday to just clean house and cook and get ready. We even worked Nina pretty hard too. It is always fun when the exchange kids find out about Thanksgiving for the first time, no school, new family members, the multitudes of food, the endless eating, and great family cheer and all have the same comments year after year. They love it and never saw so much food. Tesja, Nina and I decided yesterday that it wasn't fun to be a turkey in the USA. Yesterday was a good day, full of friends and laughter which I have decided is some of my best medicine. And I hope for many more. It ended later than normal for me with a very special visit from a very old friend. Opps the "old friend" thing again, is he old, has he been my friend for a long time? Well both! Mike Brookbank stopped in to see me and rekindle a friendship that started many, many years ago. A friendship with him and his family that I have always cherished. He hadn't seen Carrie, "Happyfeet" (a name he gave her from birth, well before any slippers or movies) or Steve or Amy who also had arrived, so it was so much fun to end my day with just another reminder of the many blessings I have to be thankful for. Today I will celebrate Thanksgiving with many of those close to me and I'm already taking extra medicine to make my stomach not know what I'm about to ask of it. Radiation starts again today. Steve and Carrie both want to take me over there, so that will be fun too. I think it's going to be a great day. I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving too.

Everyone have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving Day!

Who needs luck.

Sitting here enjoying my raspberry popsicle and waiting for Mr. Pain Killer to kick in isn't that bad after all when I think back about today. The little book that Laura bought me, warned me that every day for a cancer patient will be different. So true. But did they really mean on the good side too. Jim and I enjoyed the ride to Radiation this morning and I felt pretty darn good most of the day. But the doorbell brought the best surprises. The UPS man brings us a box of goodies from our "die hard" friend and colleague, then the mailman brings wonderful cards that even included artistic humor. Then a group of visitors from work with beautiful flowers and extraordinary gifts and of course I can't leave out two beautiful young ladies very close to my heart carrying 3 chocolate milk shakes. All of this just to help me deal with that notorious approaching holiday called Thanksgiving and me with NO appetite. OH well, that will just simply help me focus on a more important part and that is the THANKS part. Cindy and I have so much to be thankful for as Thursday approaches, and it's just that much more apparent now.
God bless you all!.

Start of Week 2 - Learning about HOPE

Went in Monday to get all hooked up and it was painless, then on to radiation and it was painless too, then went to see Dr. Bechhold and was surprised to have her reaction be one of good cheer and happiness after evaluating my lymph nodes. Seems she liked what she felt. So I came home and realized I wanted to re-read a card that I got from a dear lady in our church, Inez. I want to share it as well with all of you. In it she shared a passage, in her own words that has always comforted her. It struct me the first time I read it, and now even more after a simple day.

Suffering produces Endurance
Endurance produces Character
Character produces Hope
and Hope never dissapoints us and is everlasting.

There are so many people and things involved in my cure, so many skills, so many tasks, so many facts and figures, so many machines, so many chemicals and doses, so many technicians and plans and schedules. Yet for us, there is HOPE. Sounds like a great plan to me! Thank you Inez, and good night all!

Just like Sunday should be.

Even if I didn't have the physical energy to go to church, I still felt the true value and peace of having a church community to support me. Pastor Tom and Bonnie came over, sharing personal insights that they have been thru with their son, Teddy, that really do help someone new to this game like me. Then it seemed all day long, folks called or stopped by with soup, good cheer, and of course, Milk shakes. My nerves were a bit edgy today because I know i go back to radiation and Chemo tomorrow and still wondering what the unknown has in store for me. And most of all it was a day that made it very evident how good my wonderful wife is taking care of me. I spoke to a number of the kids in Europe and that was hard for them yet so uplifting to me. I just can't get over what a lucky man I am. Thanks all for a wonderful Sunday! You too Carrie!

Unhook me for one day and you just can't trust me!

So here it was, Saturday morning, no Chemo pump and I wanted to travel. i had all the ingrediaents of a real excursion. I had a willing daughter and son-in-law, a place to go, a few bucks and mom had even prepared me my little survival bag so that I could make the trip. So off we went to Columbus, Ohio to witness the festivities of the Ohiio State Michigan game. We went to hear the bands play since tickets for the game were going for around 1500.00. Well we found a free parking place and hiked to the arena, through all the crazy kids ( I certainly don't remember it like that in my day) took a few pictures, and got to the areana only to find out that every entrance had a guy standing there with signs saying all sections closed. Now we didn't drive 2 hours just to be turned away so we searched for that one secret staircase that didn't have anyone blocking it and sure enough we climbed. Half way up we saw some crazy oung people jumping over to another staircase and gong higher so we did the same. Well, it worked because there we were on the top deck. I used my pity card so the guy woulnd't make us leave and we later were able to find some seats and enjoy a terrific band show. It was just incredible and so worth the trip.
After the show we enjoyed the crowds and had a GYRO and then came home. We did, however, stop in Dayton to bring Marion's pizza home for supper. I don't that that was a good stomach day for me. Oh well, it was a great day anyway. Ohio State won the big game, Laura is probably still crying over her loss and then to top it all, later last night, little UC beats unbeaten Rutgers for the biggest upset of the year. Here are a few pictures of the day. Now my pill is kicking in so Im off to bed. Keep life on HIGH, love out in front, and care for everyone! God bless you all.

A Two Milk Shake Day! YeeHaw

It didn't start as a very good day today but it sure ended as a great one. Went late today for radiation because of the mix up with my pump. They took my pump off for the weekend and that jurt a bit. Also found out that I will have the "Chemo to Go" pump each week from Monday to Friday for the entire 6 weeks of the radiation. Oh well, if it works they can pump all they want into me. So by the time I got back from the clinic i was getting hit with some nausea pretty bad and felt really lousy. But then the doorbell rang and there was Tesja and her host mom Kathryn with Panera soup and yes!! a chocolate milk shake. It was so good to see that red headed Holland girl again. Well we had just sat down to the table when the doorbell rang again and to our great surprise was Katie Wright, our most favorite red head, standing there with yes, you guessed it, another Chocolate Milk Shake! It's so good to be loved. Katie drove from Penn State to visit Laura and others but stopped in to see us first. What a blessing. We all had a great visit and a fun evening. Now here it is, middle of the night pill time and I feel pretty good. I think I'm going to do somthing crazy tommorrow morning and go with Bill and Carrie to the Ohio State and Michigan skull session in columbus to hear the "Best Dam Band In The Land" and the Michigan Band play their free shows before the game. We have room for one crazy person if you can be at my house at 10 o'clock to leave. It's a great spectacle of band music performed by the two best college bands in the country. I also wanted to show you one of my motivating pictures that should keep me going thru all this. It kind of represents the beginning of my treatment plan.

A mixed up day 2...

It started not so bad. My dear friend Jim picked me up and drove me to the Enterprise to take get my full photon tube attack on Mr. Tumor. That part was easy. In the machine, fire one, two, three. Make is so Captain. And I’m back to earth in minutes. Got home and felt pretty good,, took a nap or two, answered the phone 5 times, (God I love that part) and commented on how I wasn’t feeling too many ill side effects yet. Then late in the afternoon, Whamo, there they were. Had a rough evening but Cindy’s chocolate milkshake sure did do the trick to help m off to bed early. Now my regular middle of the night pain pill is setting in so I can write these silly words. But I’m so excited about the blog, 3 comments today, one from my lovely niece and her beau, who we really enjoyed having her visit, and my daughter the coolest cou, and our lovely friend Inger, from Norway, who makes the best Jam and Apple wine in the world and fills me with good spirits and hope of enjoying those treats in person some day soon. Well tomorrow still promises to be another day. And I’m ready for it. Tonight we found out my Chemo pump was only pumping half the amount so they let Cindy change it over the phone. Now I’m getting twice as much and don’t feel worse so that is a blessing. Good night to all of you, keep life turned on HIGH. I’m going to try a picture on this blog tonight so I can add some if I want to. Here goes..

Here we are , the perfect island couple!

The big drip day!!!

Wow what a day.  8 am to 4 am sitting in a nice big easy chair watching about 8 plastic bags with my picture on them dripping down into my new “spigot”.  Okay, port!   It started with the first of many compassionate, and very nice medical people giving us pages of side effects to get ready for, and not one of them mentioned anything about increased bank accounts, new urges to play classical piano, or even younger softer skin… darn.  So I sat like a model patient and took my drips.  A big bag of Chemo, then a few bags of flush and other “don’t get sick stuff” and then my special “Chemo to Go’ bag.   A pump, my very own pump that is sitting here buzzing and pumping away right now.  Then after Mary, my very own “Home Infusion Nurse” (since pump nurse just doesn’t give her the respect she deserves) hooked me up, I went into my first Radiation treatment.  Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock would have been challenged by the coordinates and adjustments and scientific figures that needed to be input to the computer before it took over and began full scale attack on the Klingon Tumor.  And then it was all over for today and I get to go back tomorrow, and the next day for 6 weeks.   The machine really does look like something on the Enterprise so my trust factor went way up.  Tonight my phone rang often with so many who care and again I just have to tell you all how much that means to me.  Them my wonderful men’s group came over and with them, a LARGE chocolate milk shake from UDF.  Oh what a great bunch.  They all know how much their prayers and visit meant to me.  So far I don’t feel so bad and hope that my attitude and all this preventive medicine will help keep the Alien  Crud out of my future.  Tomorrow is another day, so until then, God bless you all and know that I love you.  

Couldn't even pick my own color!

Had my “spigot” put in yesterday.  Non medical term for a “Port”  Spigot sounds better to me, since no ship is ever going to dock there.  Oh well, it went well, a bit sore, but I always like it when they juice you all up and you just don’t care.  Another bunch of very nice people took care of me.  Then we spent the evening with so many phone calls, and visitors and signs from loved ones.  We are so lucky and so blessed.  I attempted to get out of the house for a while and ran up to help the “Friends of the Theatre” folks get the program going to press on time.  What a great job Steve Hackman and Lora Budke did.  It was fun to be involved again.  So now I’m up once again in the middle of the night, worried about my first day of Chemo and Radiation.  Silly worries, like growing a third eye or glowing in the dark.  It’s that fear of the unknown that takes us down.  But I know I’m in good hands, His and some awful good doctors so let the fun begin!  Many thanks to Lynn and Bob and Karen and Bill for special reasons. We will see how the first day goes and hopefully I will be able to start my two new focus activities, playing my new Ukulele and learning German.

Now the fun part ... Hawaii

So off we went, Cindy and I to the beautiful isle of Oahu to our gorgeous room in the Waikiki Marriot overlooking the beach. It was just beautiful and breathtaking. The ride there wasn’t too bad on me thanks to a good regiment of pain pills. Eating was still a hard experience but hey, I’ve been doing so well at it for so ong, I was up for the challenge. We went on a huge catamaran ride on the ocean, enjoyed a tremendous luau full of good food and terrific cncing, rented a car and traveled around the island enjoying our time together. We watched surfing competitions, found hide-a-way beaches, swam in a beautiful water fall, ate the biggest fish sandwich I had ever seen, and just plan had a wonderful day. We also enjoyed a breathtaking helicopter ride around the island which was just incredible. We hated to leave. We spent lots of time shopping and walking on the beach and just enjoying the gorgeous, relaxed atmosphere of such a beautiful place. Thanks to some of our generous mad money gifts, we did more thatn we normally would have and I even bought a real Eukelele. It was a sentimental purchase, remembering that my mom, Lucy, bought her first one there and later taught me to play. She was tremendous at it so now I’m committed to learn. The trip was just wonderful!

Too much time since the last post.

And by waiting all this time, I now have reason to post that I don't really care for. A reason tht really stinks, but I do want everyone to know about. And since those that are the closest to me want me to start journaling, I guess it would be right to let it all hang out so to speak. Near the end of Tall Stacks, my dream job of last year, I started hving swallowing problems. right away I told Kevin Budke, my doctor and friend who suggested an upper GI series, wondering if a potassium pill that I had been taking might have burned the inside of my Eshofagu (okay so I can't spell medical things). Well anyway the xrays showed that I was a heavy drinker (NOT) and the my lower Eshofagus was enlarged. Well, Kevin didn't care for that diagnosis so he immeditely ordered a specialist to go in my throat and look. On the next Thursday, down they went and to our surprise he discovers this big ol'e tumor residing in the lower third of my Eshogagus and into my stomach. It was late thrusday so we had to wait til monday for any biopsy results and sure enough when we met with Dr. Tarshis on Monday in his office, in the evening, he did tell us that it was indeed cancerous. It was a hard wekend for the kids since we chose not to wait for the results to tell them. Well now the fun part. Cindy and I had been awarded a free trip to Hawaii for the next week and it was a trip of her dreams. The doc mentioned not cancelling it too fast so we didn't. The next day he rushed me into a full CT scan so that my radiation doctor and Chemo doctor would have pictures to see and meet with us on thursday and concur that we can go to Hawaii and then get right back to to an agressive treatment plan. The next day the news got worse when they found it to be stage 4 in my lymph system as well. So now the ladies told us to enjoy Hawaii for sure, since they needed at least that week to adjust the treatment plan. The are two highly recommentded porfessionals and work well as a team and Cindy and I are very confident in their skills. So off to Hawaii we went!!