Category Archives: Family

3/16/2018 Oncologist Update

18 Sunday Mar 2018

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Oncologist Update: Because of some miscommunications with the insurance company, go figure, I have not been approved to be on my new medicine yet. I may end up walking the paperwork to the department myself if they keep losing it. Anyway, it’s been six weeks or more since I’ve had any CML meds and we, more so me than the doctor it seems, are starting to get a little concerned that my numbers might get a little high. If the insurance company approves the meds, it could take up to three weeks before my meds arrive. Nothing to do but wait. But, as luck would have it, the representative for the new drug was there in his office. He gave my doctor a card for a free 30 day supply which should arrive by Tuesday of next week. This should give my insurance company time to process my approval for this drug.

Bloodwork. It’s been six weeks since my last lab. My last one wasn’t good at all. Every one of my numbers was either very high or very low. Yesterday’s numbers were normal for the most part. This was in large part the effect of the drug I was on. The side effects just made my daily life impossible to deal with.

New Drug: Bosulif is the name of the new drug. Right now I’ve been on two of the most common and there are only a few left that is approved by the FDA. Thanks to Karen Davis-Hudson she eased my mind about some of the side effects that were mentioned in the insert. However, Karen, I think you mentioned that 1/10 developed fluid retention, my doctor said 4/10. Not that much of a difference. The other side effects I think I can handle.

The Good News: The doctor and I both agree that the fluid in my lungs is gone and we’re going to have a positive attitude that it will not return and that this medicine will be the last one I have to be on because this one will work. I can breathe, my color is back and most importantly, I feel good. So much so, that if the weather holds, I’m going to try to get my bicycle out one day this weekend.

This is all due to all the prayers that have been lifted up for me and my family. Thank you so much.

2018 Pinewood Derby

12 Monday Mar 2018

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I remember going to these things when my boy was in cub scouts. I would always end up working on the car because he would never do it the way I wanted him to do it.  We had fun working together anyway.  It was a good time for us.  He was at the, what I would like to call, the fun age.  We would always find something to do together.  He loved the scouts as did I.  This gave us a wonderful opportunity to be together plus it gave him an opportunity for him to be around kids his own age.  I really miss those days.  He’s grown now, moved out of the house not long ago and into an apartment not far from here.

Boy Scouts has changed somewhat since I was a boy scout those many years ago.  One thing that hasn’t changed is the program and what they have to offer.  You may not like what’s happened within the past few years, neither do I in some aspects but there’s one thing they still offer, and that’s a program that keeps the boys out of trouble and in doing so they have the opportunity to learn something.

I digress.  This article was supposed to be about the Pinewood Derby which was held yesterday.  Eighteen cars were entered from all over our district.  Nearly all the boys won some sort of trophy.  They had to win their division just be able to race their car in this race so they had to win something before they got there.  Everyone had a great time.  Hope you enjoy the video.

Another One Got Their Wings

11 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by in Cancer, Family, Photography

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Today I got the news that a co-worker passed away.  We were kind of expecting it but still, nonetheless.  He’s had kidney problems most of his adult life and has had two transplants.  This wasn’t what he died of though.  He had a stroke during Christmas and never really got over it.  He’s had several mini strokes since then.  He left his daughter of 21 years.

This was the third one in about a month.  My 80-year-old aunt died from complications from diabetes, my bothers mother in law died from bone cancer and now my co-worker.  I hope this will be the last one for a while.

Update 2/19/17

19 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by in Cancer, Cycling, Depression, Family, Leukemia, Twins

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My health has steadily improved over the past several months with the exception of a sciatic nerve pain issue in my right hip.  I’ve been dealing with it since right before Christmas.  It has gotten better but I did end up getting a pain block this past Friday.  Not sure if it worked or not.

A couple of nights before Christmas, one of my daughters and I had a fallen  out.  Because of my health there were some changes made with my job.  One of which was a huge pay cut.  This daughter of mine loves to go out and shop when ever she’s home.  I’ve tried talking to her about my job status but it still didn’t matter.  I cut lose on her, which I now regret.  I left the house upset, jumped into my truck and didn’t make it far before I parked into a parking lot and lost it.  I guess it had been building up for a long time and I just couldn’t hold it in any longer.  I’m doing better now I guess.  I haven’t had an episode like that since but I do miss my girls tremendously when they’re away at school.

Got plans to start riding my bicycle next week.  Found a couple of small groups that don’t go too far and are easy rides.  I think I’ll do better riding with someone else verses riding by myself at least till my health really improves.

That’s it for now.

 

 

Update 12/17/2016

17 Saturday Dec 2016

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It’s been over a month since I’ve been in the hospital.  I count that as a good thing.  I’m still very fatigued, short of breath, these nitro patches are giving me headaches and I get fairly dizzy when I stand up from a sitting position but other than that I’m feeling pretty good.  I have all my kids home at least for a little while so that’s making me real happy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

Improving? Not so Much.

28 Sunday Aug 2016

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I started back on my CML meds last Monday and to be honest I think my breathing has gotten a little worse. I’ve started climbing the steps at work a little more and trying to maintain at least 10,000 steps in a day. I spoke at length to my oncologist last Monday the day I started back on my Sprycell and he told me that the majority of the people who end up with water retention will do better at a lower dosage.  I’m now at 80 mg instead of the 100mg that I was once on.

I’ve decided not to just sit at home waiting to see if my lungs will fill back up with fluid.  I don’t really feel like getting out and doing anything but I feel that I’ve at least got to try  and get what little exercise that I can get.  I think it could only help matters if I get off the couch and do something.

Yesterday, my wife and I met our son at the university where my daughters are attending.  They’re both in the band, one plays the sax and the other is a band manager.  Yesterday was their parent preview show.  It was awesome seeing my daughter’s perform. I got to meet one of their roommates and enjoyed going out to dinner afterwards.  As usual it was hard for us to leave after visiting with them.

Today I went to my parents house to check on them as well as my bees.  It’s been at least two months since I’ve done either one.  The bee yard was grown up with weeds and it took everything I had to use my weedeater to chop down the weeds just so I could get to the beehive.  After about an hour of cleaning up I went and sat with my parents for a couple of hours.

It was hard to leave my parents. They are both getting up in age and their health is not as good as it used to be.  My mom had to have more surgery a couple of weeks ago on her diaphragm due to finding a hole where her colon and her intestine were coming through.  The doctors seem to think that this was caused by the accident they had back in February.

The above picture is of the band managers.  The young lady is my daughter.  What a  trooper.

I Feel as Though I’m Losing My Kids

03 Sunday Jul 2016

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My oldest just graduated college and my two daughters just graduated high school. My son is currently looking for a job while my daughters are working at a local water park from 9am until 8pm.  Both my daughters will be attending the same college where my son graduated and they will leaving sometime this month to start school.  Where has the time gone?  I was hoping that my daughters would spend some time at home before going off to school but they want to earn some money before leaving out.  I can’t blame them for that.  It’s just going to be harder on mom and me when they do finally move out.

I guess that’s part of being a parent.  Time for the kids to leave the nest.  I had my doubts about my son but he turned out pretty good.  My daughters are another story.  They will be sharing the same dorm but I feel that neither can live without the other.  They depend on each other so much. Both have separate majors so each will have their own classes.  They will just have to work it out on their own I guess.  Mom and I will be basket cases before it’s all over with.

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