So folks here we are again in Salt Lake City. Tomorrow I am have and IV Port implant surgically installed. I'm pretty curious on how this port thing will work. Interesting concept for now. I'm sure in time it will either bug the shit out of me or that I might even just forget about the little bugger. Time will tell, and I will be sure to inform you in the usual and most dramatic manor that I can while on pain medication. Speaking of pain meds, I am grateful for spell checker...LOL.
When we left home there was quite a bit of snow on the ground. The South Pass road was pretty dry. I-80 was pretty good to. Kind of a shocker after the snow storm the area had. So a huge thanks goes out to the Plow Truck Drivers. Without them we would all get stuck, either on the road or in an area that we would just love to haul ass from!
My son took his mother and I to the second part of the Hunger Games movie tonight. We saw it in an IMAX theater. The seats were comfy, comfy, and squishy. The movie was good. He even did a little Christmas shopping for some folks back home. Steven has such a big heart. Most of the day he kept checking on me, making sure that I was OK.
I talk about my experiences in life as a YouTuber, a Cancer Patient, and many other things that affect my life. In 2019 I'm setting a goal to post at least once a week. If you have any questions for me feel free to ask, I'll attempt to answer as many as possible.
November 29, 2015
November 25, 2015
Learning the ropes
When my wife and I came to Salt Lake City, we began to learn our way around. Not only did it take a few wrong turns to decide that my wife would be a better driver in the city, but we also learned the (HCI) Huntsman Cancer Institution layout as well. The process of learning what is what began.
We found out that my type of cancer is called Esophageal Cancer, and that mine is in the third stage. It has spread to other organs and to the abdomen areas lymph nodes. My abdomen has been hurting a lot lately and now we know why. It is still hard for me to eat or swallow, and the reason behind that is that the tumor is bigger than I thought it could be and that when it hurts to swallow; it is because the tumor is agitated and swollen. I do not have to keep on a liquid diet (Thank God!). I can eat what I want, just in smaller amounts and more often.
With the chemo treatment that I will be taking (FOLFOX), I need to maintain a 3,000 calorie diet just to keep at the weight I am currently at and possibly gain a few pounds. I shouldn't loose any hair, not that I had much to loose. I thought that the chemo therapy would at least mean I wouldn't have to shave my head for a while. I may be wrong on that. According to studies on this type of treatment; the first three days isn't all that bad. It's day seven through fourteen that should suck major ass crack dilemmas.
We found out that my type of cancer is called Esophageal Cancer, and that mine is in the third stage. It has spread to other organs and to the abdomen areas lymph nodes. My abdomen has been hurting a lot lately and now we know why. It is still hard for me to eat or swallow, and the reason behind that is that the tumor is bigger than I thought it could be and that when it hurts to swallow; it is because the tumor is agitated and swollen. I do not have to keep on a liquid diet (Thank God!). I can eat what I want, just in smaller amounts and more often.
With the chemo treatment that I will be taking (FOLFOX), I need to maintain a 3,000 calorie diet just to keep at the weight I am currently at and possibly gain a few pounds. I shouldn't loose any hair, not that I had much to loose. I thought that the chemo therapy would at least mean I wouldn't have to shave my head for a while. I may be wrong on that. According to studies on this type of treatment; the first three days isn't all that bad. It's day seven through fourteen that should suck major ass crack dilemmas.
November 16, 2015
Diagnoses Day
The day that I was told that I have cancer was a day that I'll never forget. Watching the tears well up in my Wife's eyes as she sat there trying to be strong; hurt like hell. Hearing the joy of a Friend's voice, that I hadn't talked to in a while, drain and turn into sadness; just plain sucks. Seeing the pain in my Family's eyes as we sat there talking about it; well let's just say that I haven't found a word to describe it yet.
That day will be etched into my memory forever. Not because the doctor told me that I have cancer, that my friends is something that I can live with. I kind of have to. I will never forget it because of the pain it brought to those I hold dear. It was also the day that I realized that I am truly blessed. Blessed to have the people in my life that I do. I realized that I have a lot to live for and that giving up is not an option. Is it weird to find peace and comfort on a day that your loved ones found sorrow? For me, I found peace within because I knew that I was loved; I found comfort because I knew that I was surrounded by those that actually cared about my well being.
That was on November 6th, 2015.
I know that the near future will be tough. I'm not a fool, I know it will be hard. Not just for me but for them even more. I may be the one that cancer is trying to kill physically, but it is also trying to kill my loved ones emotionally. I believe I can make it through the treatments, getting sick, and feeling Death's cold hand on my shoulder. I don't know how my Family will be able to do it, but I know that they will. I have faith in them. They are some of the strongest people I have ever met. They have always pulled together in times of need. When times get tough, they put aside their petty differences and reconnect to find a passage through the dark woods ahead. They may shed some tears along the way. I know that there will be laughter, that's just one of the ways my Family and Friends deal with hard times. Together, I know we can make it through this.
That day will be etched into my memory forever. Not because the doctor told me that I have cancer, that my friends is something that I can live with. I kind of have to. I will never forget it because of the pain it brought to those I hold dear. It was also the day that I realized that I am truly blessed. Blessed to have the people in my life that I do. I realized that I have a lot to live for and that giving up is not an option. Is it weird to find peace and comfort on a day that your loved ones found sorrow? For me, I found peace within because I knew that I was loved; I found comfort because I knew that I was surrounded by those that actually cared about my well being.
That was on November 6th, 2015.
I know that the near future will be tough. I'm not a fool, I know it will be hard. Not just for me but for them even more. I may be the one that cancer is trying to kill physically, but it is also trying to kill my loved ones emotionally. I believe I can make it through the treatments, getting sick, and feeling Death's cold hand on my shoulder. I don't know how my Family will be able to do it, but I know that they will. I have faith in them. They are some of the strongest people I have ever met. They have always pulled together in times of need. When times get tough, they put aside their petty differences and reconnect to find a passage through the dark woods ahead. They may shed some tears along the way. I know that there will be laughter, that's just one of the ways my Family and Friends deal with hard times. Together, I know we can make it through this.
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