The second chemo treatment went very well. We got to MDA early for blood work and an echocardiogram. The heart thing is an example of how thorough MDA is. During routine processing they did an EKG and it showed something they didn’t expect. We went back to the cardiologist with a bunch of old EKG’s and low and behold they think it was just stress from the cancer – it was back before treatment started and before I’d seen the doc. Anyway, I got a clean bill of health yesterday.
The chemo started about 0915 and finished about 2:00 p.m. Verva went to lunch with our doctor neighbor and I dozed and read. We were home by mid afternoon. Not much in the way of aftereffects that I can see. I’m pretty sleepy but I have no nausea or any other issues.
Pretty cool. The best part is Verva is now qualified to take off the pump tomorrow night so we don’t have to go back downtown for 2 weeks.
That’s two treatments down and ten to go.
3 comments:
Hi Bob,
I thought you might be interested in today's 2/10/07 Contra Costa Times front page article, a cancer survivor's story, "Diagnosis sets harrowing jounery in motion." It's a series of another man's journey through cancer treatment.
The rainy season has finally come to California. I guess I should be happy since there will be snow in the mountains. But I was kind of liking 60-70 degree weather in the Bay area for February.
We are going to sell the Austin Healey and buy another sports car that doesn't have to have the fuel pump changed 4 times before the end destination. It was always an adventure with never knowing we'd get to where we really wanted to go but it was fun going. We're "discussing" a replacement but not there yet. We're going to see what you get.
Take care, we keep you and Verva in our prayers. Hope to see you in March.
Maryo (and Sam)
Hey Dens !!
I'm not much into dedicating races and such but going into the Surfside Marathon, I decided that if / when times got tough, I'd lean on your strength to help pull me through. After all, you owe it to me. Going back to the Adkin's diet days, you showed me (and a lot of other people) what a major difference one can make in one's life if we only dedicate ourselves to changing. Your example got me started down the track of self improvement. Let's see, I'm down 50 pounds, stopped a 3 pack a day habit (that would be about 76,000 cigarettes I haven't smoked and counting), joined a track club, coached the accelerated training program, completed 8 marathons, one ultra marathon, will complete the Texas Marathon Challenge (5 in one season) next month in Seabrook, bought a bike and am re-learning how to swim with an ultimate goal of completing a Half Ironman Triathlon next year in Lubbock (hometown).
Surfside was a tough run and someplace around 15 miles I was toast and looking around for some encouragement / inspiration from somewhere. Now Surfside is a small race and it's all on the beach so there isn't much around to turn to except the birds, sand, and water -- and thoughts of a man who has THE warmest smile I have ever seen. For the next 11 miles, I thought a lot about that smile, your lovely family, your gentle and helpful nature, and marveled at how the fairly simple acts of an individual can multiply so quickly.
You showed me how to wake up and turn my life around and I can see the same thing happening around me. This year I know of 6 people in the MOB who started running and completed their first long races. Best example is Rob Hutchings who is doing 10 miles a week, ran the Company Cup, and is down a little over 35 pounds. Even have Tom Hanks talking about joining the gym. And the membership of our little running club has grown to over 450 !!
I also did a lot of talking to you during that last half; willing that you would smell the salty breeze and feel the cool wind in your face the same way I was.
That's because it was in the high 40's, a stiff 20 knot wind right in my face, and raining.... Ya know, sometimes the tests life offers us really hurt. It's tough, but that's when the Light at our Core really shows. That's when I will always think of you.
Somebody said, "Choose to live your life as a shining example or you might well serve as a horrible warning." I'll never be the brightest but thanks to your examples, I'll always choose to shine !!!
See ya around !!
-- Bob McGehee
YO DENNIS.........
YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYERS AND EVEN OU SUNDAY SCHOOL CALLED THE MIXED NUTS HAVE YOU ON THEIR PRAYER LIST AT SAGEMONT.. I AM GOING TO MOVE IT UP A NOTCH, EVEN THOU I KNOW GOD KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON. IT'S THE HUMAN FACTOR THAT GOD ENJOYS HEARING FROM US PERSONALLY.. i BELIEVE THAT IS WHY HE CREATED US, TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP.. SO IN THE GOOD TIMES AND THE ROUGH TIMES HE HAS AN OPEN DOOR POLICY TO HEAR OUR PRAYERS WHERE TWO OR ARE GATHERED AND EVEN IN OUR OWN PRAYER CLOSETS...... HOPE TO SEE YOU SOME TIME AT THE PLATELETE ROOM OR SOME WHERE OUT THERE.
MARK MARCHI
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