Its been awhile since I last posted anything.. I've been back to work now for a good stretch and combined with the gleefully bustling schedules of 10yr old twins, I guess I've been sidetracked a bit... Moreover, there hasn't been too much to report. For the most part, treatment has been treatment and we have "stayed the course", as it were.. Unfortunately, I recently had a couple of setbacks..
I had a lingering cough over the winter, nothing too concerning at first, it just seemed to be enduring for a drawn-out stretch. It started getting to the point where it was affecting my sleep at night and I eventually hard-coughed myself to a partially collapsed lung. It turns out, one of the tumors on my lung started gallivanting in a location that was provoking the cough and thwarting my ability to take a deep breath without coughing.. It got to the point where I couldn't speak for very long without having a coughing fit.. I've been known to be a loquacious fellow, so anything impeding my penchant for garrulous drivel is a straight up drag... For weeks, I have tried to limit my talking as much as possible during the day, to try and save it up to ask the kids how their day was when they came home from school. Throughout this whole journey, my paramount concern has been to limit the kids to any of my side-effects or moments of discomfort. I don't want them to think Dad can't keep up, can't be at every game, can't be strong.. Its been a rough stretch. Honestly though, the kids have been troopers.. We have been honest with them and Doreen has covered for me and shielded when I needed shielding .. To help my voice heal a bit, she took them on a trip for a few nights up to Crystal Springs for indoor waterparking, so it was just me and the pooch for a couple of days.. Masha is a sweet dog, but a tad leaky in the brains dept - I don't know, maybe asking her to understand my pseudo-sign language for 2 days was a little much, but we managed.
I've felt guilty not picking up phone calls from friends over the last month - I hope they all understand - I've been trying to text as much as possible to save the voice / avoid the coughs.. I feel like I turned the corner a bit this week.. The docs mixed up some new meds and gave me some steroids that seem to be helping.. I'll be back to breathing and talking normal in short order.. just need a little time
The other minor setback was confirmed earlier this morning in NYC after a brain MRI.. I have 2 more spots that need to be addressed with Gamma Knife Surgery.. One is in a more perilous location than any previous, so we are going to tackle it asap. The other is barely a concern, but the Doc said we may as well handle "while we are in there "... Geez Doc, this is my brain we are talking about ;) ... the good news is that both spots are easily treatable with the Gamma, so Im not really that concerned, to be honest.. So long as we are fighting to get the rest of the disease under control, Im going to be susceptible to these brain blips..I get it, and Im not discouraged..
Any journey down a road like this is going to have potholes and detours.. Im game for this ride.. My team of Docs have a lot options for my treatment, and I have a few tricks up my sleeve yet.. My lead Doc at Sloan was so happy with how I am doing physically, that he was set to offer me an extended break from the chemo ( before the lung issue ), so I view that as a good sign... My day will come for an extended chemo break , soon enough .. Im patient and resilient .. I have folks in my corner who are keeping me afloat .. The warm breezes of spring are here to supercharge me.. Don't doubt on me and don't count me out ..
I greatly appreciate all the cards, letters, calls, and well wishes... Im so unequivocally and emphatically blessed
Onward - always forward - full steam..
LOVE LOVE LOVE