Something to be "Thankful" for

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Yes I do have reason to be thankful as I have learned that I am getting healthy again . I met with Dr. Greenberg on Friday and he assures me I am in complete remission from my cancer. He added that I should be the poster boy for lymphoma as my recovery went remarkably well considering where I was at from the beginning. While I am thankful for the news please understand I accept it with guarded optimism since my sister Nancy, who lost her battle with this disease, also went into remission quickly only to suffer a second battle she could not overcome.

I know I'm fortunate and we need to stay on top of this thing. For now I will be screened every 3 months but my prognosis is excellent. Nancy was treated differently than I, not nearly as aggressively as I have been. That was 1993-1994 and much progress has been made in this field therefore my confidence is strong as always. I owe much of my strength to all of you whom have supported me throughout. My team, my unit of strength. All of you who have stood by me are a part of my success and I am grateful to you all.

So in a season of "Thanks" I say thankyou beginning with Wendy and Zill who were by my side during chemo and the real bad days and saw me at my worse. Wendy never wavered when I was beat up and battered....but never broken. I can't thank her enough and I know that. I am thankful for my many friends who wrote me, emailed and sent cards. I'm thankful for the poker game and fund raiser that got me through financially when my commissions disappeared. I'm thankful for Ellen making the trip frpm Point Pleasant just to watch me shake while I was getting chemo. I'm thankful for Domenica from Sloan Kettering for reminding me that there's things worth fighting for and that I could beat this thing.

Back in April when we found the cancer I set a personal goal to be healthy by Thanksgiving and together we've reached my goal. Never alone, all of you by my side, I'm getting stronger every day. So yes this will be a Happy Thanksgiving for me, one to remember for sure.

Happy Thanksgiving you guys.

So it begins again

Everyone been asking so here's what's new. My next appointment is for November 21st and another petscan. This is the radioactive test I enjoy so much when they insert the dye into my vein and I sit in a dark room for an hour before they put me into the scanner. This will tell us if there's any sign of tumors. As of now we're somewhat in limbo not knowing for sure but all signs look good for now. Life is less stressful these days for sure now that the "Jersey Boys" have returned from sunny California intact. Tony "synthetic" has continued to cleanup on simulcasting and lets us know about it. If he keeps it up he may retire soon although many claim he's retired already.....living the dream. He's actually had an impact on my recovery by covering my hours at the healthclub and keeping tabs on me for which I'm grateful.

Wendy has our juicer motoring every morning making yummy drinks, mostly fruit. Juicing is alot of work and constant cleanup but she does it anyway. We're learning different mixtures of fruits and veggies and so far so good. The deer enjoy what is left over from scraps. I think we've lost Buck one of our regulars from spring till now. He made the mistake of growing up and having large antlers. I'm sure he's on some sissy trailer park no teeth fagboys mantle with a dirty hess station cap hanging off his antler. My beautiful Buck is gone now but I'll always hope he made it.

Maybe my perspectives are off but I love the animals and I'll always believe here should be a place for them....all of them. I say give them the arrows and let em shoot back then we'll see how tough these guys hiding in the woods are. Too much? That's just how I feel.....more to come I promise!