As of Monday 2/10/2014, I am officially 100% cancer free! My blood is clean. My bones are clean. My organs are clean. I'm clean. Psssst! Was that the sound of a beer can opening? Pop!! Was that the sound of a bottle of campaign?
Now it doesn't mean the struggle's over. Not by a long shot. I'm still horribly weak. Walking with a cane to the corner is a monumental feat. My hands are truly worthless. I can't even open a bottle of water. Becky bought me some peanuts in a shell to work on my dexterity. I can crack maybe three, using both hands before I give out. Tying shoes or buttoning a shirt is beyond my comprehension.
BUT IT'S OVER!!! NO MORE POISON!!! NO MORE NIGHT SWEATS OR TREMORS RUNNING THROUGH MY BODY!!! IT'S OVER!!!
Becky and I were talking about how I can repay all those people that prayed until their knees bled, that thought of me every day of the last 6 months. How do I show my gratitude to those that hurt and cared for me? How do I touch people that have touched me so deeply with their silent love?
The answer -- go to work! Don't just hobble to the corner - hobble around the block! Don't just crack 3 peanuts - crack a dozen. Don't walk to and from the basement just once a day - do it 3 times a day!! Work harder than I ever worked in my life. This is the way I'll show you all how much this gift means to me.
You all have given me a second chance! How many of us wished we had that!?! I'm going to make the best of it to prove that your love was not misplaced. My golf swing is not only coming back - but it'll be better than before. (I plan to take Tim Raque down on the golf course this year!!) I know this will all take awhile but it will happen. One thing I do know -- IT'S OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Molly, Jimmie, Aunt Emma and Uncle Irving, Mary, Jim Adams, Tommy - these people, beyond Becky, Luke and Emily, are the rocks that I leaned on when I couldn't stand by myself. (Not the least of which were Adam and Wayne as my spiritual advisers. These two saw more of my tears than anybody else did!) But there were so many more than I can't begin to name. The entire Eastern faculty and student body for their pep rallies and chants. Craig (I saved every e-mail you sent me!) and Clint. The list is endless and my brain is quite finite. To everyone know that I love you and thank you for everything you did for me and my family. I am indeed humbled!
Stay cool,
Chemo - no no - just Bob
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Happy New Year
01/09/14 Good day to all:
I loved that -"The Polar Vortex descended upon us" it sounds so science fiction. Like the end is near or something. Good time to be sick!
I've been home since the 23rd of Dec. Gathering strength. Last week was my worst of them all.The nurse said I reached my "nadir" last week. That is my absolute lowest of the lowest point! I truthfully could not walk from the den to the kitchen without help! I couldn't tie my shoes or even zip up my zipper. My blood count was down to like a 5 and my blood pressure us at 84. For those that don't know, your blood count is 15 and your blood pressure is about 123. It took three trips to the infusion center to get blood blood and more blood, not to mention platelets (what ever they are -but they stopped my three day old bloody nose) (I'm telling you guys I was a hot mess!)
Since the infusions my counts have held steady, blood at 10, still low, but manageable. If it's true and I've reached my nadir then things are only looking up from here. I've begun to push my walking. I've even begun, again, the daily crossword puzzles. I'm in a hurry to stop feeling like shit! Soon I'll be strong enough to drive!! My fingers still are not working. Becky called it neuropathy, or something like that. She says it'll eventually go away. But please ignore the typos.
Christmas came and went. We didn't have a family Christmas this year, that's unusual. But I guess as we grow older, growing families and friends get in the way. Besides that, Chemo doesn't lend itself to a lot of gaiety. Becky and I put our arms around each other and remembered when we pledged ourselves to one another, through richer or poorer, through sickness and in health, some 38 years ago. We've tested them both and found we had more fun in the richer and health portions of the equations! But the rich always feels richer when you've been poor, and the health always seems healthier when you've been sick. And we hold each other hard and close through the bad times in order to laugh, hard and loud, together, through the good ones.
I'll have a PET Scan at the end of the month. This will tell us where we are in the treatments. Have we killed them all (cancer cells) or have some escaped? So today I work on getting stronger and await the Scan. Once the results are back you all will know immediately. The Cats are playing good and the Cards are rebuilding - both programs. Really Bobby Petrino??????????? I know, he'll pledge is love and fidelity to you - until the next $50 comes along. "I love you long long time!"
I'll let you all go. Stay cool! Happy New Year. Chemo Bob.
I loved that -"The Polar Vortex descended upon us" it sounds so science fiction. Like the end is near or something. Good time to be sick!
I've been home since the 23rd of Dec. Gathering strength. Last week was my worst of them all.The nurse said I reached my "nadir" last week. That is my absolute lowest of the lowest point! I truthfully could not walk from the den to the kitchen without help! I couldn't tie my shoes or even zip up my zipper. My blood count was down to like a 5 and my blood pressure us at 84. For those that don't know, your blood count is 15 and your blood pressure is about 123. It took three trips to the infusion center to get blood blood and more blood, not to mention platelets (what ever they are -but they stopped my three day old bloody nose) (I'm telling you guys I was a hot mess!)
Since the infusions my counts have held steady, blood at 10, still low, but manageable. If it's true and I've reached my nadir then things are only looking up from here. I've begun to push my walking. I've even begun, again, the daily crossword puzzles. I'm in a hurry to stop feeling like shit! Soon I'll be strong enough to drive!! My fingers still are not working. Becky called it neuropathy, or something like that. She says it'll eventually go away. But please ignore the typos.
Christmas came and went. We didn't have a family Christmas this year, that's unusual. But I guess as we grow older, growing families and friends get in the way. Besides that, Chemo doesn't lend itself to a lot of gaiety. Becky and I put our arms around each other and remembered when we pledged ourselves to one another, through richer or poorer, through sickness and in health, some 38 years ago. We've tested them both and found we had more fun in the richer and health portions of the equations! But the rich always feels richer when you've been poor, and the health always seems healthier when you've been sick. And we hold each other hard and close through the bad times in order to laugh, hard and loud, together, through the good ones.
I'll have a PET Scan at the end of the month. This will tell us where we are in the treatments. Have we killed them all (cancer cells) or have some escaped? So today I work on getting stronger and await the Scan. Once the results are back you all will know immediately. The Cats are playing good and the Cards are rebuilding - both programs. Really Bobby Petrino??????????? I know, he'll pledge is love and fidelity to you - until the next $50 comes along. "I love you long long time!"
I'll let you all go. Stay cool! Happy New Year. Chemo Bob.
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