Hustle and Bustle of the Holidays

Has hit us like all others.  The babe is getting ready to leave me today and get some Christmas done.  I have to get a package up to the Post Office, give them a little money to support their efforts.  She is meeting the daughter for lunch while out on the town.

I'm doing most of my shopping online this year.  It comes right to your door, no fighting to find a parking space, no traffic, no people rushing you, loving it.  I ordered some stuff from Walmart on Sunday and 2 out of 3 boxes were delivered yesterday on Tuesday.  I know UPS will be busy this week and next.  Then for 1 week we will be looking for things to do.  That's the week between Christmas and New Year's.

I'm feeling fine, do not worry about me at this time, just the overall healing process is still needed, but I do not act nor feel like I have cancer.  I'm working just fine, strength is ok, ribs are almost healed.  We just pray for total healing from above.

Love you all a lot, thanks for all you do.  God Bless, Captain

I Must Write Something

Something.  Looks like a warm up for this week.  Maybe I'll be a weatherman when I grow up.  Can miss the prediction with out any fall out from the boss.  Viewers understand. Money should be good. 

Ok, back to life as it is.  All things are proceeding on the good side of anyone having cancer.  This week is off and chemo free.  I go back to the Oncologist on 12/23, and chemo afterwards.  Have more ???? to ask him.  I'm feeling fine, yesterday I didn't have much energy, and laid around, and kept falling asleep.

Today is our daughter's "42nd" Birthday, where does time go?  It seems like just yesterday I was spanking her for something or the other.  I've pushed her in the fishpond once trying to get her to straighten up.*  They just won't listen.  Always asking for something, heck, I got a call this morning.

Anyways,  " Happy Birthday Honey, may you have a great day and many more..." What else can I do but post it on the web for all to see.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, God Bless, Captain

* The fishpond incident was incorrect as posted above, she fell in the fishpond and I was there to save her life.  Like she still gets the story wrong.

At chemo

All is well, blood work is all good. Alk phos #117, platelets 196, drip, drip as we speak. Going out to eat lasanga tonight with old friends.

Feeling good, probably going to work tonight. Have moved to job with much lighter work. Did I say I have 2 cracked ribs? On the road to recovery, working thru the pain.

Did I say I'm gaining weight, drs. r happy, babe is happy, I moan getting on the scales. I'm really joking here, as I'm only 7 #'s up, not like I've gained 25 pounds.

Thanks for the prayers, its working, God Bless, Captain

Do You Love me.............

Got you there............  Hey I just found out about this site, Sue is a friend of mine fighting this same deadly cancer.  She posted under comments a couple of days ago and I just found out she is having a fundraiser for Cholangiocarcinoma cancer.  On April 14th, of 2012 we're bowling for her, and ME and all the others fighting this rare disease, that gets so little research dollars.  All the money raised goes to the foundation, none to Sue, none to me or anything else. 

I know you all can't be in Indy to bowl, but here is a website that has been set up

Fundraiser for My Cancer

Please consider this option as a way to help us all fighting this disease.  As Jimmy V says, it may not save my life, but it may save the life of my children, grandchildren, friends and others.  

" Cancer may take away all my physical abilities, but it can not take away my mind, it can't take away my friends, and it can't take away the love I have for you all as I and others battle this disease. "

Thanks in advance, God Bless you all, Captain/Grover

Good Week End

Feeling fine, Sunday felt chills and just sore legs, today all gone.  Saw the grand kids both Sat. and Sunday.  Got a new car on Saturday, I think I was in some coma after spending 2-3 hours with them, yeah, yeah that's the story, and I'm stickin to it.  At least with the babe. 

Got a 2012 Honda Accord on lease.  Zero down, no money at signing, 35 monthly payments, then do it again.  Last Monday we sold the Impala.  You know how hard it is to have 2 drivers and only 1 car.  We had to really plan and hustle to get things done.  And that was only 1 week.  No new tires needed, no battery, just 4-5 oil changes for the next 3 years.  I'm sure that in 3 years, some auto company will be offering zero down again. 

If any of you acutally go to the cancer page that I posted on Saturday, I post under the name of Grover, FYI.

I just don't want anyone to know who I really am.  Now if I just hit the lottery, I'm already set up living anonymously  ....lol.

Thanks for your prayers, God Bless, Captain

Sorry, I missed yesterday

Liver is functioning great, Alk Phos number was 111, still within the normal range, platelets, and all else were good.  Chemo went fine, got to sit and talk with Cindy from Monrovia who is battling the same disease and we're both using the same Dr's at IU.  Both diagnosed about the same time so we're like buddy's fighting this together to conquer and win against this evil disease.

The Dr's ( Oncologist and surgeon ) have discussed my case, looking at past CT scans and have decided that once again I'm not normal.  First to even get such a rare disease, and now my insides are put together in such away that the Liver pump is not really an option.  Something about needing to place to put the pump inside the body, and the way the arteries and veins are hooked up won't allow it to operate properly.  And that is OK with me, because I really wasn't to hip on the idea at this time.  I mean the chemo is working and the tumor is shrinking why change now?

But they are cautiously optimistic on some future possibilities.  I don't want to even talk about them now, because of the chance of setbacks down the road.  We are trying to temper excitement with reality.

But know this, God is working with me every step of the way, and healing is taking place that just is not expected with this cancer.  Of course this cancer has it's own website and discussion board, I'm talking with people who have the cancer, with children who's parents have this cancer, and parents trying to help their children through this battle.  It is very emotional because we have recently lost 4 people who were diagnosed just this summer like myself.  I'm now reading about a 46 year man, diagnosed this summer and getting ready to go into Hospice.  It is not a good cancer to have.

And that is why I have to praise God and thank him for being with me and the healing that has occurred.  I truly believe we are seeing a miracle take place here on God's timetable.  I don't know why me?  But, if you sometimes have problems believing there is a God out there that works in your everyday live, think of me, and what is happening.

If you want to follow more, the website is  http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/index.htm
go to patient support and choose discussion boards.

Sorry if I got religious on some of you, but I'm here today because God is watching over me.

Thanks for your prayers, God Bless you all, Captain

Thursday of Babe's party

All things are under control, the women who are helping with the cooking will be here starting around 1 PM, then the house will start smelling wonderful.  The floors have been mopped and tables dusted, I think we are ready.  I must remember to start a fire in the fireplace for the girls.  I'm ready to spend the night in the bedroom with a TV and a book.  Hopefully the book is good.

How about them Indiana Hoosiers ( IU basketball team for you out of state'ers )  Beat NC State last night, I know they will lose soon, mb Kentucky, but it is exciting again to see them starting their comeback.

I know I said I was fine yesterday, and I am with the cancer and all.  You know an article I read this AM said that my cancer strikes 2 out of 100,000 people, and ain't I special, 1 of the 2.  It is also 99% fatal, but the treatments are getting better and are encouraging to us 2 people. lol, ( about the 2 people not the better treatments. )

But I'm having trouble with my ribs.  I smacked them good about 2 weeks ago, of course it was on the right side right above the liver.  But then on Thanksgiving I was carrying in some firewood and really had a ligament or something snap out of place and then back into place, but it was so painful.  I can only imagine that these ligaments lay side by side, kind of like tightly holding your fingers side by side, and then one finger slips up and across the next one beside it, then returns to it's position.  It just tears up that area with soreness for a while.  To all those thinking the worse, it has happened before and I'm really sure that it has nothing to do with cancer spreading somewhere else.  So no panicking please.

I went to work Monday and Tuesday nights and on the second night had really re-injured the ribs again by lifting heavy stuff.  I took last night off, and tonight and Friday because of chemo.  Hopefully with 5 days of resting Monday will be OK again, or I will push for light work.

After getting this disease, it was really hard watching Jimmy V week on ESPN and hearing his speech again.  My eyes were definitely tearing up, actually for some reason, this week has been emotional anyways.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers, will talk again tomorrow from chemo.

God Bless you all, Captain