Road to recovery

Now this posting finds me in better shape. I've been out and about with Molly's help. Long stretches at a couple of different malls. It was tiring, but the controlled conditions allowed me to push on and get some much needed excercise and change of scenery. The Dr's at NIH confirmed the tumors are shrinking. We've noticed an even greater shrinkage over the last couple of days. To the people who have been praying for my recovery, it's coming and the vast number of prayers said on my behalf have not gone in vain or unnoticed. Thanks to all my friends and family. After the last one, this week is coming along nicely and just waiting for my hair to grow back in; just kidding. The pain is leaving, the tumors are getting smaller daily, and my energy level is coming back. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Chris

Well yesterday was no walk in the park. We started out with an Apheresis, flitering my blood. I spiked a 102F temp and everyone got real anxious over that. Then I did MRI, CT scan, and Occular appointment, where they dialated my eyes. NIH is thorough, I got to hand it to them. So they determined that something was wrong with the catheter and it could have been infected, so they had it taken out. Well it took about 2 hours to cut it out, with a pint or so of Lydocaine. So I started out at 7A and didn't leave until 7P. The Dr. who pulled the Catheter said he looked at the MRI's they took yesterday and there was a definite reduction in the size of the tumors. The downside is it feels like I've been shot in the chest with a 22; man is that sore. Well this afternoon, we go in and review all the tests we did yesterday and compare them all to previous tests and see what the next steps are, if there are any next steps. It took me 6 months to get this way, and will probably take me 6 months to get rid of all of it. Here goes nothing.

One week is behind me from having been released from NIH. There have been some great strides. You know, behind every great man, there is a great woman ...with a huge butcher knife. So diner had better be on when she arrives at home. Just kidding folks, getting Mollly something ready, as she's almost at teaching year's end is exhausted herself. The taste buds are still out of whack. Cherries started to taste bad, stopped right there and said this is a taste you enjoy, so keep eating; and pretty soon they started to taste better. As for the weight loss program, we should get our money back. See if we ever recommend this to anyone. Ha! Went from 215 down to 180 and feeling there may be another 5 lb more to lose.

It has been 5 days at home and I've never been so joyous to be somewhere as home. Saturday, Molly took me to an Arts and Crafts Festival over in W. VA. What a spectacular day. I walked up the hill to a tent with picnic tables and let her walk while I sat under the big to tent and allowed the breeze flow over me. Molly waited for me to finish the hill, where we discovered that standing for long periods is just not possible, but walking is OK. My signature now is a big billed hat, walking cane, compact back pack, sandals and Sunscreen, UVA/B.

YOOHOO! The Dr's came by today and said there was no reason I could not leave NIH today, so long as I was willing to take it easy and adhere to their requirements. Of course I return in 2 weeks for a thorough exam with apheresis, MRI, CT Scans, and X-ray. I can do that; Fuzzy Wuzzy escapes NIH. I have not noticed a dramatic reduction in the size of the tumor for now, but the intense pain has dramatically reduced, to which I am so grateful. It got to a point that I could not concentrate at all without being heavily medicated. I am so happy today that I will be able to get that hospital smell out of my nose.

It's one step forward and one back; I've done worse. I saw the glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel and it was not an oncoming train. Sunday, they unplugged me all day and walked the confines of NIH. Molly's been bringing decent food; however singing Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Bear was not kind and we both laughed. Yes folks the hair is going rapidly. The mustache is gone and cutting my hair before this started was a blessing. Having clumps of hair would be most unsettling; rubbing fuzz off the top seems to be OK. They gave me 2 units of blood today, which knocks me out for 24 hrs. Platelets seem to holding steady. They are talking Friday at the latest for departure from NIH...maybe.

NIH is a really nice place. I can see this courtyard from my room. Yesterday, they sent me down for a chest X-ray. It was just before giving me a couple of units of blood and I escaped. The door opened so easily, the courtyard is mostly shade with beautiful plants surrounding you and a slow moving water fountain. The plants had just been watered and it was in the cool part of the day. I just took in the smell of being outside of the hospital. That helps with the lack of taste and smell; re-booting the system. They gave me a couple of units of whole blood and plateletes daily; again, re-booting the system.