Day four started out real good. Took shower, much needed I even shaved. I don't know why I wasted a razor on that, hell their gonna fall out in three days, but man did it feel good. I ate some of Teresa love in a muffin. Teresa did it right, just popped in left her snacks and left, Thanks Teresa.
Emily tells me over 800 people have already read this blog. I don't even know over 800 people, who are you people???? Read a book, get life. LOL.
Lets talk about visitors for a minute. I understand your need to do something, I appreciate the love you wanna share but I need time to heal. A 15-20 minute visit shows me you care without taxing my health limit.
Jimmy came but forgot the cooler- thanks a lot brother.
The doctor tells me I have to lay off liquid embellishments through this chemo period, that's a loooooooooooooooooooog dry spell. I'm counting on my special brothers (you know who you are) to help me achieve the the high I need in my life.
Diner just came Ill sign out for the night.
This is Chemo Bob, Ill see you on the radio.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
The Beginning
It all began last Tuesday when dad woke up with a softball size tumor under his right arm. No pain, no discomfort just the confusion and fear that 13 years of living on borrowed time was about to come to an end.
You see in 1999 Dad was diagnosed with Non- Hodgekina lymphoma but after a very short 3 months of radiation treatment life continued on as normal. A simple blimp in the road. Nothing to it.
This time felt different. The tumor was larger and its apperance came so sudden. For ever the ostich dad grabs his golf clubs and heads to the golf couse, while mom grabs the phone and beigns to take care of business. Within minutes she had secured dad a doctors apointment. " I got the message on hole 12 on Long Run golft couse to be at the doctors in 20 minutes ( "I would of pared that hoe"). The eyes of my short phillipono doctor, Doctor Tobias, lite up at the site of the mass. "O you need surgeon". I was immediatley suffuled over to your typical daytime soap opra doctor- silver hair, square jawl, perely white teeth, and a twinkle in his eye. Doctor Darnell agreed with Dr. Tobias diagnoses, "you need surgery" he said. So far nothing has been mentioned about Non- hopskins lympoma, the 800lb elephant in the room. But that would be short lived. And we better get a biopsy the good docotr said. I felt it begin at the base of my spine, slowly crawling up my back and raising the hairs on the back of my neck. Hey 13 years of borrowed time was a pretty good gift. The surgery to remove the tumor went just fine. Hell I thought this was going to be another easy ride. The following morning I jumpped out of bed and went to school. With a plastic drain attached to my body to take the excess poision out of my body. I obviosuly live in a delusional world, cause by noon my system went sideways, heavy chills, and high fever. The good people at Eastern drove me home and thats when I began to come to the realization that this was more serious than it was before. Becky worked with me for the next 6 hours to combat this fever and by 9o'clock it was managable. So managable in fact I choose to go to my neices wedding in Owensboro, KY. And what a beautiful wedding that was. With the fear of something serious looming behind my consciousness I was so happy to be involved in such a glourios ceromany. Amy and Robert gave me hope. That Saturday night in the hours that followed the wedding my neck and ears and face began to tingle. Tingled like a funny bone tingle. I woke up Sunday morning and it was as if someone pours acid on my face---- shingles. The pain was horrfic not to mention the psychological pain of waking up looking like the phantom of the opera. This caused another trip to the surgeon.
Monday morning "you need to go to the hospital NOW", hold on I was just dancing with my neice two nights ago, "its a serve case of shingles and we think its associated to your lymphoa", and there it is that unspoken word, lymphoma, the big C- CANCER! All aboard, the roller coaster is leaving the station. The thrills of the highs and the heart pounding depressions of the lows, this is gonna be a long ride.
There are over 60 types of Non- hopkins lymphoma seperated in three catorgeries, "or three hits". Thirteen years ago I was a "one hitter", we got through it without a hitch. Not so lucky this time. Im a two hitter, one step below leukima. Multiple tumors thoughout the body, including the spleen, kidney and liver with evidence in my bone marrow and spinal column. Aggressive chemotherpy is the only answer. I was immedialtly admitted in Suburban Hospital which is where I call home sweet home for the next six months.
This is where you find me now, on day three of my chemo treatments. The docotor told me it was going to be like being hit with a mac truck, boy was he wrong, the whole fleet drove in. The pain I went through was unimaginable, a full body charley- horse for 48 stight hours. Things calmed down on Saturday morning. After nurse Becky logged every drug that has been put in her husbands body she fianlly influenced the nurses on what drugs worked best. Medications were adjuted on Saturday morning and that where we are tonight. "I took a wheelchair ride outside on the porch, watching NCAA football, had a visit with my brother Reid, and I finally feel like Im sick, not dying. "
You see in 1999 Dad was diagnosed with Non- Hodgekina lymphoma but after a very short 3 months of radiation treatment life continued on as normal. A simple blimp in the road. Nothing to it.
This time felt different. The tumor was larger and its apperance came so sudden. For ever the ostich dad grabs his golf clubs and heads to the golf couse, while mom grabs the phone and beigns to take care of business. Within minutes she had secured dad a doctors apointment. " I got the message on hole 12 on Long Run golft couse to be at the doctors in 20 minutes ( "I would of pared that hoe"). The eyes of my short phillipono doctor, Doctor Tobias, lite up at the site of the mass. "O you need surgeon". I was immediatley suffuled over to your typical daytime soap opra doctor- silver hair, square jawl, perely white teeth, and a twinkle in his eye. Doctor Darnell agreed with Dr. Tobias diagnoses, "you need surgery" he said. So far nothing has been mentioned about Non- hopskins lympoma, the 800lb elephant in the room. But that would be short lived. And we better get a biopsy the good docotr said. I felt it begin at the base of my spine, slowly crawling up my back and raising the hairs on the back of my neck. Hey 13 years of borrowed time was a pretty good gift. The surgery to remove the tumor went just fine. Hell I thought this was going to be another easy ride. The following morning I jumpped out of bed and went to school. With a plastic drain attached to my body to take the excess poision out of my body. I obviosuly live in a delusional world, cause by noon my system went sideways, heavy chills, and high fever. The good people at Eastern drove me home and thats when I began to come to the realization that this was more serious than it was before. Becky worked with me for the next 6 hours to combat this fever and by 9o'clock it was managable. So managable in fact I choose to go to my neices wedding in Owensboro, KY. And what a beautiful wedding that was. With the fear of something serious looming behind my consciousness I was so happy to be involved in such a glourios ceromany. Amy and Robert gave me hope. That Saturday night in the hours that followed the wedding my neck and ears and face began to tingle. Tingled like a funny bone tingle. I woke up Sunday morning and it was as if someone pours acid on my face---- shingles. The pain was horrfic not to mention the psychological pain of waking up looking like the phantom of the opera. This caused another trip to the surgeon.
Monday morning "you need to go to the hospital NOW", hold on I was just dancing with my neice two nights ago, "its a serve case of shingles and we think its associated to your lymphoa", and there it is that unspoken word, lymphoma, the big C- CANCER! All aboard, the roller coaster is leaving the station. The thrills of the highs and the heart pounding depressions of the lows, this is gonna be a long ride.
There are over 60 types of Non- hopkins lymphoma seperated in three catorgeries, "or three hits". Thirteen years ago I was a "one hitter", we got through it without a hitch. Not so lucky this time. Im a two hitter, one step below leukima. Multiple tumors thoughout the body, including the spleen, kidney and liver with evidence in my bone marrow and spinal column. Aggressive chemotherpy is the only answer. I was immedialtly admitted in Suburban Hospital which is where I call home sweet home for the next six months.
This is where you find me now, on day three of my chemo treatments. The docotor told me it was going to be like being hit with a mac truck, boy was he wrong, the whole fleet drove in. The pain I went through was unimaginable, a full body charley- horse for 48 stight hours. Things calmed down on Saturday morning. After nurse Becky logged every drug that has been put in her husbands body she fianlly influenced the nurses on what drugs worked best. Medications were adjuted on Saturday morning and that where we are tonight. "I took a wheelchair ride outside on the porch, watching NCAA football, had a visit with my brother Reid, and I finally feel like Im sick, not dying. "
Friday, September 27, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)