Doctors apt & Adrienne update

Adrienne made it through her bi-lateral procedure but had some bleeding and was put on the ECMO to allow her heart and lungs to regain their strength and adjust from the procedure (note: lung transplant is a dramatic procedure). She is progressing nicely though, I hope she continues to show such good signs as she is showing now.

My first doctors apt. of the year, I think I will break my record from last year....I think I will be over the out of pocket limit (money I have to spend) by mid February this year; verses the end of March last year.

Adrienne got the call (2 new lungs)

Adrienne my lung cancer bud here in TX just got the call for her transplant at UT Southwestern. I will be up all night just like with my bud Bo when he got his transplant I was like an expecting father. Glad I don't have to go to work on Friday.

Sad news

I was saddened by a Christmas card I got the other day. The card was from the family of one of my cancer homiees in Palo Alto, CA. It told me about how the family was doing and informed me the Sharron had passed away several months ago. Sharron was a great friend I really enjoyed her and her family they really helped me out during my time in CA. Sharron showed me the ropes of how to deal with cancer she will be forever missed.

This is a picture of the LSLW "live strong live well" group at the Palo Alto (Page Mill Rd.) YMCA. This was my cancer workout group, the picture was taken Sept. 2006. That is Sharron front row center.

Roll Tide Roll

To all those die hard UT fans over at UT Southwestern I just have 3 words for you "Roll Tide, Roll".

Return to Work

Well on Monday I will happily return to the salt mines although it will be vastly different as I try to transition so I can get to work early. Butt early, O dark hundred early (i.e by 6 AM CST) so that I can pick up the girls, get their homework done, and shuttle them off to their extra curricular activities. This transition will be hard, I think Ravyn summed it up best (we are not morning people, like Rhonda and Raegan) she commented one December morning that Raegan uses too many words in the morning.

Happy New Year

football, football and more football

I hope I stay out of the Spa this year as my health care has undergone a dramatic change for 2010.

New Years Eve

It is new years eve and not a creature is stirring..... we are staying in out of the cold away from germs and enjoying each others company (I'd rather be watching bowl game re-runs, my skin is itching I am going through my yearly 12 stages of football withdrawl).

Merry Christmas

CT results today

This morn. I will head out to UT Southwestern to get the results from my last CT scan. We shall see what new mysteries the camera will /or/ will not reveal. All I have to save is it the results are less than favorable I will be like a Spider Monkey all over that cancers A**; (I had to work that in after watching Talladega Nights last night).

CT scan(s) showed nothing remarkable (my version of medical speak) they looked all clear, they only noted that they could see scaring from the last surgery. My day still continues though I have more diagnostic test today and to see the skin doctor just to make sure that skin cancer can't pop-up since I am immune suppressed.

The Home going for Bo Johnson

Bo Johnson has his home going service today. A celebration of his life, loves and accomplishments with family, friends, colleagues, fellow advocates, medical professionals, and anyone with a pulse. Bo and his two leading ladies have had and will continue to affect lung cancer survivability for years to come.

"I know, I gotta go, I gotta go, and I got one last thing and I said it before, and I want to say it again. Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever."

March 4, 1993, Jim Valvano ESPY Speech

Out of the closet

It seems that Bryant Gumbel has come out of the closet to reveal that he too is a cancer survivor and is battling LC (lung cancer) none the less. I wish him well in his battle and applaud his courage in making it public knowledge. There are several internal battles one must first deal with when facing such a horrific diagnosis. You have your classic anger, denial, confusion, seclusion, clandestine behaviors, openness, anger coupled with the "never give up" attitude.... Again I wish him well in his fight.

I am disappointed that the American Cancer Society for the irresponsible, insensitive statement they made about lung cancer prevention. They just feed the beast with such careless statements like the one they made in reference to lung cancer. The stigma is the beast, it is the ignorance associates smoking with cancer IT IS IRRELEVANT WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON SMOKED NO ONE DESERVES CANCER, NO ONE DESERVES LUNG CANCER SO STOP ASKING, STOP LOOKING FOR A REASON TO BLAME, START EMPATHIZING WITH YOUR FATHER, MOTHER, BROTHER, SISTER, FRIEND, COUSIN, TEACHER, PREACHER..... IN SHORT CANCER IS AN EVERYMAN EPIDEMIC IF YOU DON'T THINK SO READ MY STORY OR FOLLOW THE LINKS I HAVE HERE... YOUR IGNORANCE WILL BE ERASED


CNN.com "Bryant Gumbel reveals lung cancer surgery" December 8, 2009

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States, but it's also the most preventable, according to the American Cancer Society. Gumbel said he and his doctor are hoping his treatment is complete.

Peaceful Journey (Bo)

Brother Bo has gone on to heaven, he no longer has to struggle with the ills of cancer and the highs and lows of being a transplant recipient. He was with his two favorite ladies to the end; may he rest in peace, and pray that Christi and Addi find peace and comfort in the legacy and Impact Bo (BJ) has had on us all. BOvsBAC

Bad News

I just read Bo's most recent blog post, the was so courageously written by his wife to keep us all informed about his progress. If you get a chance read it and leave a message for CJ, BJ, AJ (Christie, Bo, Addi) cancer is a long and difficult emotional battle with many peaks and valleys. By the way CJ describes BJ's current situation it sounds very, dire even. If you get a chance stop by his blog site and leave the family words of encouragement to cover their household in warmth and fend of the cold cruel circumstances cancers brings. Bo vs Bac
The recent developments with his health really worry me. There aren't many of us; by us I mean Lung cancer patients that received a life extending bi-lateral lung transplant. Understand you have to be considered medically terminal to receive this experimental treatment but you have to be healthy enough to recovery from this procedure too.
Leave the family comments, they warm the soul, but be respectful of those of us who are immune suppressed we know you care but care from a distance as it is the cold and flu season.

Pictures (Snow & Fort Worth Parade of Lights)

Snow in TX, in December, what is that all about

Fort Worth Parade of Lights

day after turkey day

Enjoyed my Turkey Day, I ate in moderation I have to start my training table in order to be ready for the transplant Olympics this summer. I am thankful for those special people around me and to still be alive upright and vertical raising heck and embarrassing the girls with my air horn (at soccer games, dance recitals, spelling bees, basketball games well maybe not the basketball game too much echo, swim class....)

week in review

• I got my swine flu shot on Monday
• The CT scan on Monday was not too bad, no IV contrast sickness thanks to my NAC pills; I will get the results 12/14/09
• No black Friday for me unless you count the darkness the grayish / black I see (or don't see) when my eyes are closed and I am asleep.
• The Parade of Lights in downtown Fort Worth was pretty exciting the girls had a fun time, they got so excited when they saw Santa at the end of the Parade.

CT scans today

Getting ready to head out to Dallas, TX in all this fog. Bad weather is not good for people used to the heat and sun. A couple of Dallas doctor visits ago when driving in bad weather on a bumper to bumper highway parking lot I was tailgated and rear ended. How the HECK do you run into someone when the traffic is moving 5 mph??? Oh well we shall see what today's trip brings. I do however feel nauseous already, I wonder how bad I will feel after going through multiple failed IV attempts and ingesting all those shell fish (i.e. contrast dye) for the CT scan.

At the lg txp doctors in Dallas, the CT was painless today and I tolerated the IV contrast; however I am disappointed to know that a member of the post transplant team is leaving it is hard to train new doctors to what your medical condition is and to understand your unique personality.

PFT's were good I am 60% of a normal health person with two good lungs; I think I would be about 67% or maybe 73% if I had two full lungs.

My testosterone was in increased, I am mixing it with the steroids; it is not having much effect on me, I am still green, very green although I want to argue with everyone I even had an argument with myself on the drive over to Dallas today... I think I won the argument

Lab Work Day

I had my lab work today (normal stuff for the transplant team) with an extra tube drawn (for the endocrinology team). They are checking my Testosterone levels (side effect of too much chemo Rat Poison).

The cocktail of steroids and testosterone is turning me green.

wfaa news story

A story of hope and perseverance, fighting cancer, surviving a bi-lateral lung transplant, and beating back the swine flu. This story was well done by wfaa news 8 in the DFW. The reporter was Shelly Slater and her videographer Alan.

http://www.wfaa.com/home/Miracle-Man-overcomes-cancer-swine-flu-69900182.html

I might one get a SAG card (screen actor guild);....
"What chew talking 'bout Willis"

Spam or What...

I gave of potted meat (i.e. spam) along time ago even when I was a starving college student....(side note to self I am still a starving college student remember my back pockets look like a cute young couple all hugged up together).... Anyway I always get this spam / these comments captured below which is why I filter my comments. I don't understand it translate please.
I think it is an automated computer program that got a hold of my blog address and randomly sends out spam to e-mail addresses and comment accepting websites throughout the Internet.

Tough Love

Looks like I have a couple of cancer patients and transplant patient that will soon get to join the Jerrold Tough Love Boot Camp. It doesn't cost much at all. I only require these participants to have a good ear, or the ability to read lips. It would be nice if they had some back, junk in their trunk, behind, butt, hind pocks......BUT we all know that is the first thing to go when you find out you are terminal, have cancer, or need a life extending organ transplant. Remember my behind divorced me when I was diagnosed, we had a long conversation but my butt in the end said it could not stay in such an unhealthy relationship. I do get a card from my rear every now and then, my dip has apologized for allowing my back pockets to touch even though he says he has no intentions of coming back anytime soon... Sorry I digress the butt tale was just my way of saying I will be chewing on these other guys / gals ears rather than kicking them in the butt during my tough love boot camp. You have people working hard to keep you around so it is okay to mope at night for a little bit but in the morning it is game on you need to be about the business of living. I hope this boot camp is successful simply b/c the this Unhealthy highway is a rough road that could definitely benefit from some of this (Stimulus Money), it is not scenic like the Healthy Highway that intersects it.

I will need my students to stage an intervention one day, to chew on my ear and get my RearLess body moving especially when I don't want to. One day grasshopper the student will become the teacher.

There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.

Can't get the shot, Can't find the shot H1N1???

I seem to be spinning my wheels, wasting my time trying to find the H1N1 shot, and anyone to give it to me. The H1N1 vacine seems to be as illusive as big foot or the Locheness monster. I have asked many if not all the providers that I see and it seems I am getting the party answer, “if we get it, if we don’t run out, blah blah blah…..”; I am not going to worry about it my H1N1 care will be as it was before when the Type A flu loomed within my household, REACTIVE and 10 times more expensive (time, money, and pain). If I don't get the vacine I will keep staying away from large groups.

UT Southwestern, for instance, requested 157,578 doses. The state shows shipping orders for 12,050 doses. But the hospital has only received 3,500 doses, spokesman John Walls said.

Source: From
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-fludoses_10met.ART0.State.Edition1.4b515e9.html

Nov. 10, 2009

post - DFW Lung cancer walk

Raegan and Ravyn on the trail as I am running behind them multitasking (drinking water, taking pictures, trying to catch my breath, all the while reciting "I think I can.. I think I can").

The second picture is post race, we just did the 3k again this year so they could play in the bounce house and because I was really tired.

The walk was great I really enjoyed it even though I had to bribe the girls to not give me a hard time. I ran a little late for the opening ceremonies which is why I had to again bride the girls so I could make it at all. I had a great presentation to give but, it fell by the waist side once I got up to speak and start the race off. I hope to be better prepared next year if I am asked back. I got in some short burst sprints along the trail as I was pushing my youngest daughter on her bike and chasing the oldest so she would not get out of my line of sight. Katie did a fantastically awesome job along with the other Lungevity staff and volunteers.

DFW Lung Cancer walk Today

I am getting ready to head out to the DFW lung cancer walk today. It is a bit breezy and only about 67 degrees out some I am still on the fence as to whether or not I am going to take the girls bikes so they can ride them. The bike thing will be a game time decision. I am also happy that my wife has finally returned home from her business trip that lasted several weeks. Life as a single SICK parent is TOUGH.

Oh well heading out now and yes my feet hurt (HURT)... I will have to publish older blogs now that I have some time.

Me, Myself, and I

I Do exist

My off Friday

I was off today as we work 9/80 schedules on the job. For the first time in a long time I don't have to go to class, I am off, I am free, I don't have to study, the day is mine...eh not really, but it sounded good.

1. Get the girls ready and off to school
2. Take my truck and get the tires rotated and balanced
3. Pay some bills and run some errands
4. Start some laundry
5. Take my wife's car to get the tires rotated and balanced
6. Go home and make two lunches
7. Eat lunch with Raegan and DOMINATE the class during recess afterwards
8. Hurry over to Ravyn's school and listen to story time and have lunch and talk about Halloween costumes with the pre-schoolers
9. Run some more errands
10. Get some snacks for the after school day care party
11. go to the party (yes I was late)
12. Hurry home to meet the cable guy, getting some more football channels "duh duh du duh"
13. Go back to the school and pick up the cookie order (they couldn't find it)
14. Go home wash more clothes
15. Go back to the school and finally get the cookies
16. Pick up the girls
17. Bake pizzas with the girls
18. Eat, watch noggin and take it easy it is Friday
19. Get ready for the soccer game on Saturday

Need a nap