Ken Collins

Well Dear ones,
It gets a bit complicated. I'm being treated for two stage four cancer diagnoses, the first diagnosed in 2014.  We actually missed catching the second one, which snuck up pretending it was the first one and we didn't notice.  It grew last fall and then metastasized while we were trying to figure out what was going on.  

 I started a second round of chemo the first  week of January. I've had more fun, but I'm doing pretty well and able to still keep up with my work, which is really important to me. I'm hoping to get through this phase by May, but we'll see.  They delayed the second cycle last week because my blood counts weren't high enough to permit a good dose of chemo.   But there's fight in the old dog yet and by Tuesday 1/30 everything was good (or good enough). So I'm writing from the chemo infusion suite at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka.  Six hours of drip drip today, three tomorrow and Friday and then three weeks of recovery so we can start again. 

This is an interesting balancing act.  If I don't stay strong enough, we won't be able to fend off the cancer with chemo.  Or the chemo could do more harm than good.  I lost a bunch of weight with the first cycle in early January, but gained most of it back.  So nutrition, rest, important work and the amazing, loving care from my partner, Coralia, are keeping me going.  

Thanks for checking in on this site.  That means you care, and that's important to me right now.  And I care for you, too.

Much love, Ken