Well, well, well......

Well, well, well.  Here we are again with little new to report except good news.  I last updated my little journal just before Christmas, and have actually had two CT scans since.  The first was just four days after the Clemson Tigers beat Alabama for the national championship.  I just mention that in case you hadn’t heard….  And the second was three weeks ago Friday.  Both indicated further shrinkage of my tumor and no evidence of any additional activity.  My oncologist actually used the term “remission”, which sounded pretty good to Ellie and me.

I’ve actually been pretty busy over the last two months, first rehearsing for and then performing in “Guys and Dolls”.  We did six shows in five days after 50+ days during which we rehearsed frequently and long. I have to admit that the schedule was a bit much for me physically, but the show was a big hit in our little town, so the reward was worth it.  With a cast of approximately 40, I played a supporting role, Harry The Horse, a gambler and hoodlum, so I didn’t have to work too hard to develop my character.  Last spring when auditions were held, I wasn’t sure that I would be able to participate at all, so I feel truly blessed to have been a part of things.

Ellie threw a surprise party for me on my 80^th birthday, and it really was a surprise.  She is, and always has been, a master of deception!!  And on March 10, midway through our show schedule, we celebrated our 50^th anniversary.   This week, Kathy and Joseph are treating us to a weekend at the Grand Floridian Resort at Disney World to truly celebrate in style, so we’re really excited about that.  Then, we’re off to DC to visit Kathy in her digs, one last time before she transfers to Washington state for her next assignment.  Somewhere along the way we hope to get back to SC to enjoy some Spring weather, but who knows when. Our Florida house is on the market, so our schedule obviously has to remain flexible.

Boca Grande is just a small town, but it’s part of a small world.  Recently, Ellie and I were having breakfast with a friend and Ellie noticed that the couple at the next table were sporting Cliffs logos.  Anne was wearing a floppy hat and Larry had grown a full beard since I last saw him, so it took me a moment to recognize the Scheidlers, who had come to Boca by boat with friends.  That was their first time here and our first time ever to have breakfast at that restaurant on a Monday!  For those of you who don’t recognize the names, Larry and I sing in the same small choir when we’re in SC!!

So with an open-ended lease on life, I’ve decided to go ahead and get a haircut.  I sure do need one.

Be blessed and keep us in your prayers.

Bob

Merry Christmas to all

As 2016 draws to a close, Ellie and I want to wish all of you a joyous Christmas, filled with peace, love, joy, and hope.  This year has had its ups and downs, with good days and some not so good, but in the end here we are, still chugging along, and looking forward to 2017 which will be a year of milestones for us.

The first will be my 80th birthday on January 15.  Then on March 10 Ellie and I will celebrate our 50th anniversary, to be followed in July by Ellie's 75th!  That's a lot of celebrating to look forward to, and looking forward is exactly what we're doing.

I don't know if my cancer is officially in "remission" or not, but it hasn't spread or enlarged since my chemo treatments began in April and my hair has returned!  My latest CT scan disclosed no new news as of last week.  So, we continue to count our blessings and will stay with the clinical trial of the immunotherapy drug for as long as they'll have me.  My oncologist tells us that I am one of the "lucky" ones who respond very favorably to this therapy.  I can live with that.   (Literally)😊!!

So, life goes on...the Clemson Tigers are ready to win the national championship in Tampa next month, for which we already have ordered our tickets!  That should come as no surprise to anyone who knows anything about anything!!!  My condolences in advance to Buckeye fans everywhere, who have waited so long to share the national spotlight with some really good teams, only to wind up having to face Clemson, who roughed them up pretty good the last time they met.

I managed to get in a few rounds of golf this fall, resulting a handicap of exactly ten strokes higher than it was before I started treatment....perhaps the most fortuitous outcome of this little adventure....one which could pay big dividends in the year ahead.

All kidding aside, thank you all for your prayers and concern for us.  We have felt the love and truly appreciate your good wishes.

No News is Good News

Well, since last time not much has changed regarding my tumor.  I had a scan on September 10 which disclosed a slight shrinkage and no signs of additional activity.  That, according to my oncologist, is positively good news.  So far, the immunotherapy drug is working for me.  No negative side effects from these treatments, which I receive every third week.  I am experiencing no symptoms of lung disease and have been successfully off of pain meds for several weeks.  My legs and feet are still feeling the effects of the chemo and I could use some more energy, but I feel good about my hair returning.  I have to admit that being bald has its advantages.  Like never having to search for a comb when you're in a hurry, and using soap instead of shampoo in the shower!!  Bottom line: I'm feeling pretty good.

I told Ellie earlier this year that I had some goals for 2016:  To play in our Member/Guest tournament, to attend Clemson's home games, and to Christmas with family.  Well, I managed to play 64 holes of golf over three days in September. My partner, Frank Kenny, was nursing a really bad knee and I was pushing my limits, but we had a great time and we didn't finish last!!  I won't talk about how my feet felt over the following few days.

As for the Clemson games, many of you no doubt saw us in the stands at the Louisville game last Saturday....we were the couple dressed in orange....and what a time it was!! These Tigers are good; life is good; God is good.

We're looking forward to visits with my brother, Dave, and his wife DD,  as well as with Kathy, Joseph, and Cindy, and to the ACC Championship game in Orlando in December, and the national championship game in Tampa in January.

I'm not out of the woods, to be sure, but I've found that life in the woods can be good once you learn to appreciate the trees around you.  There's one giant oak that I lean on every day, and I don't know what I'd do without her support and love.  I don't know when or if I'll post another update, but I do want to thank all of you for your support and prayers.

Please keep Ellie and me in your prayers. We are living proof of their power.

Bob

So, what else is new?

The answer is, thankfully, not  much.  Nothing, in fact.  After six weeks of receiving just the trial immunotherapy drug, my tumor has shrunk another 20% and is now down to 1.7 cm compared to 5.1 cm when I began chemotherapy.  And there are no signs of additional tumor development.

I'm feeling much better and even played a few holes last week!  So, all things considered, I'm feeling blessed and am anxious to get back into fighting trim.  To that end, we're trying to walk daily, gradually increasing our range and degree of difficulty.  I really need to be able to play in our Member-Guest tournament just six short weeks from today, so I've got some work to do.

Thanks to all of you for your continued prayers for us.

Bob

No Más!!!

I remember those words of Roberto Durand, the great Panamanian middleweight boxing champion, who simply dropped his gloves in the middle of the eighth round of a title fight with Sugar Ray Leonard and walked back to his corner.  He later returned to the ring and held nearly every boxing title during his career, but at that moment, he knew when he'd had enough.

That's where I found myself last week regarding my chemotherapy.  I was feeling so bad  (I even spent Father's day in the hospital getting a blood transfusion). that I knew I'd had enough.   Fortunately, my oncologist agreed, and so this was the first week in thirteen weeks that I haven't had poison pumped into my veins.  The big question, of course, was how well the chemo had worked, and we found out this Tuesday.  The CT scan shows just minor traces of the tumor on my lung.  My doctor was ecstatic. Ellie and I were ecstatic.  

It will take weeks for my immune system to fully recover, and I will continue to receive the experimental immunotherapy drug every three weeks until further notice. Ellie and I look forward now to returning to a more normal routine.  Praise God!!

The outpouring of support and prayer and love we've received has been beyond my imagination.  Thanks to all of you and thank you, Lord Jesus, for your mercy.  I truly believe that the prayers of so many warriors have been heard and answered.  It's not over, of course.  I'm still a cancer patient, so keep praying that the experimental drug works as hoped.

Ellie and I are planning to travel to SC sometime in late July to try to salvage something of the summer.  I haven't swung a golf club since November, and at this point I'm not sure that I can lift my driver, but I'm sure going to try.  As for the Clemson Tigers, look for them in the top 5, maybe even #1 again.  We hope to make some of their games.

I Remember Mono

I came down with mononucleosis during the spring of my senior year in college, and how well I remember those few weeks!!  I'm sure I'm not the only one....they used to call it the "kissing disease", and most of us were at high risk, I reckon.  Anyway, I can remember the feeling of exhaustion after walking up a few steps, or even more dramatic, the time I thought I was over it, but wasn't.  That particular afternoon, my fraternity had an intramural softball game which I was watching, and for some reason decided to take a turn at bat.  Well, I hit the ball well past the left fielder....a home run in any ballpark.....except for the fact that I made it only as far as third base before running completely out of gas.... and that's pretty much what I'm dealing with these days.  Whether it's the disease or the treatment, I'm not sure....probably both....but let me tell you that stamina is not currently in my repertoire.  So, it;s with great satisfaction that I can say that I am now halfway through my chemo regimen, looking forward to regaining some strength in the weeks ahead.

Last time, I recounted the incident I had with my right eye.  It went completely dark for a minute or so and then returned to normal.  After a brain MRI, ultrasound of my carotid arteries, an echocardiogram, visits with my oncologist, optometrist, an ophthalmologist, my primary care physician, and a cardiovascular surgeon, I am happy to report that I will not need carotid surgery, as I had been led to believe.  What a roller coaster ride!! They initially told me that my right carotid was blocked as much as 79%, but a second ultrasound at the cardiologist's office showed a lesser blockage.  I sure have met a lot of interesting and pleasant people over the past few months.  I just wish that they weren't all physicians, nurses, and medical technicians.

Anyway, it's nice to be loved and cared for.

Next major checkpoint is three weeks from Tuesday, when my next CT scan will disclose whether I've made progress as significant as that of the first six weeks.  Keep on praying!!

Take That, you dirty rotten recklefreck

Went to the oncologist today, having completed some tests last week, and came away with encouraging news.  The CT Scan I had on Friday showed that the primary tumor is less than half the size it was when I began chemo six weeks ago!  The secondary tumor on my rib cage has been shrunk by the radiation, as well. How's that for the power of prayer and modern medicine?  The doctor was surprised and delighted at my progress.

I had an incident with my right eye last week, as well.  To make sure that there was nothing going on in my brain, I had a brain MRI yesterday and that showed nothing new has developed there.....but most of you could have testified to that over the past few years, right?  I will see an ophthalmologist to determine what might have happened to cause my right eye to go black for a couple of minutes, but at least it wasn't a tumor.  Probably nothing more serious than a stroke!

I even got a week off from the chemo because my white blood cell count is too low right now, so I'll probably be feeling better all during the time that Kathy comes to help celebrate Mother's Day this Friday.  That's a good trade-off for the postponement of the celebration of my last treatment in July.

I also learned to pace myself better this week.  Had a treatment on Tuesday, which always includes a bag of steroid "goodies" to make you feel gooood.  On Wednesday, feeling like a million bucks, I spent four hours working in the sun in the yard....digging and raking and hauling dirt and generally overdoing it.  The price was paid on Thursday to the extent that I had to be rehydrated via IV on Friday!!! Won't do that again, believe me.

Thanks to all of you who have emailed, called, written and prayed for me.  It's really uplifting for both Ellie and me to hear from you.

Blessings.

Bob