We Are Starting to Roll

Sara and I are making the trip to San Francisco again this week to knock out a couple more assessments – Opthalmology exam and Echocardiogram.  Both exams are scheduled for Thursday, January 21, but we are going down to SF during the evening of Wednesday, January 20.  So, we will order Garibaldi’s again on Wednesday night when we get there and hopefully this time they haven’t run out of lamb tenderloins, my favorite.  Last week they ran out, so I had to go with my second favorite there, chicken Milanese, which is also amazing and very filling (you can share it as an entrée).  Also, the Garibaldi’s Salad is huge and you can probably share with another.

The other news that we received today is that I’m in for the trial.  We were hoping to get my Liver Biopsy done (the last assessment) the week of January 25, but they don’t have any openings (they only do 2 per day).  That said, they have an opening on February 1 for the Liver Biopsy and we will start the trial (with infusion in SF) the next day on February 2.  So, we are in, we are rolling, and Sara and I will get a 2-night stay over in SF the week of February 1.  I am very excited for all of it.

Cancer is Still Winning, But We Will Turn the Tides

All of that said, based on my last CT scan, cancer is still winning.  But I am patient and waiting to fight back with everything I have.  It’s still the early or middle innings in the game and I will continue to hit all of the curve balls thrown my way.  I am stronger each day that I am away from chemo.  I’ve developed a strong nutrition plan, work on my mind and spirit every day, and am now moving to the next phase which includes a targeted exercise regime.  I believe with the combination of a targeted cancer treatment regime, a strong, targeted mind, body and spirit plan, and the help of all of you, my army, I will win this battle.

Cancer has not seen my total best yet.  As I have mentioned previously, I respect cancer as a worthy opponent, but we are in the early to middle innings and we will retake the lead as the game progresses.  I will stand up, step up, face cancer, and crush cancer like a bug.  I will drive it out of my body, whatever it takes.

Parting Thoughts

As Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (I can’t pronounce it either) said, “The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times…. The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.”  Well, I am stretching my mind and body to its limits to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.  I see nothing more worthwhile, then living a long, healthy, happy life surrounded by people who genuinely care about me. 

Or as Mark Twain once said, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s about the fight in the dog.”  I’m gonna fight like a junkyard dog until we are victorious.

Thank you for listening.  Until next time.

In love and gratitude.

D