My apologies for not writing this entire month! I got caught up in that living thing again... I get so caught up in living that I sometimes forget that I have brain cancer. :) Oh isn't that just too bad! :)
Seriously, I have been feeling great! I bitch and moan about allergies, but my Mom and my Wife just write that off to me being a whiner...which could be a little true..."Big Damn Baby" I think is the term often used about me. :) And last time up to Madison, they even got Dr. Robbins in on the act...He asked my Mom if "I whined alot" and after my Mom stopped laughing, she informed him that I have a "low threshhold for pain"
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Talbott Time Machine circa 25 yrs ago, aka the "Jello Brain" years
Now the story on this goes back to middle school and AYSO Soccer games. My parents were convinced that I was a Drama Queen and every time I would get hit, I would fall to the ground and writhe with pain...In reality, it is because it probably hurt. Now granted, my father is allergic to all pain meds and in addition to walking up hill barefoot both ways to school, only gets to bite on a silver bullet for pain...in otherwords...he has a very high threshold for pain. Both my Mom and Kim fight Migraines and can function with headaches, etc... Me....HELL NO...GIVE ME DRUGS AND KNOCK MY ASS OUT! Hence...I accept it...I have a low threshhold for pain. :) Now back to your regularly scheduled program.
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Ok...back to current day. Things have been going great. I was just matched up by Jonny Imerman (Imerman Angels) with a young woman who at 36 was diagnosed with a GBM and her husband. They are just beginning the Chemo phase with Temodar and Jonny thought I would be a match to connect with. I am really looking forward to being able to share my experiences, my attitude, and the perspective that each of you have helped me to develop! She is just beginning the fight with this disease and I hope that I am able to help them both through this challenging time!
So, although I haven't written lately, and I keep getting myself all caught up in this business of living...realize that all of you collectively known as the "Talbott Support Group" have created something special in me that I fall back on often to guide me through dark times.
Thank You all again!
PEACE OUT!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Dr.s and Angels
After every MRI, I am supposed to meet with my Neurosurgeon, Dr. Crute. These meetings as I have blogged before are always uplifting. I met with her on Monday and this time was no exception. First and foremost, she pointed out the Hippocampus and I was shocked that it wasn't a little guy in a furry costume (see last 2 entries to get the joke. :) )
Dr. Crute was fantastic as usual, she explained that she was late getting to our appt because she had to spend so much time looking at the MRIs, she is still just amazed that I am as stable as I am considering the tumor that I had. She looked and looked and couldn't find any changes...how cool is that! We talked about the future and that future keeps getting further and further out. Yeah! I like the sound of that.
As an added bonus, I was finally able to see Michelle, Dr. Crute's surgical nurse/PA who I haven't seen since I left the hospital. Now there is significance to that fact. I have not really blogged about Michelle before, but let me tell you she was a savior of mine. She was the one person who consistently checked on my several times a day at the hospital. She was the first person who told me NOT TO BELIEVE THE BULLSHIT that the house resident gave me about "getting my things in order" and I had 6-18 months. For that, I owe Michelle alot. She helped get my head around my diagnosis (no pun inteneded). So it was really cool to see her. I ran up and gave her a great big hug! I get emotional just thinking about it. Thanks Michelle!
That emotion was met with more emotion as I had the opportunity to connect directly with Jonny Imerman. Jonny is a mid 20's 6+ year survivor of testicular cancer and the founder of Imerman Angels, which is an organization that matches one on one cancer fighters with cancer survivors for mentoring and support. As I relived the story of my quest through cancer treatment, I got emotional as I told him about the "night to remember" event that you all through for me with Marky P at Cliffbreakers. I explained to him that I don't know how I would have every made it to the point I am at now without the love and support of my amazing wife Kim, my family, and my support group...YOU!
Jonny started this organization to help people who don't have that love and support. Jonny has added me to the list to help another Brain Tumor patient on a one on one basis. I can't wait to pass on the learning that I have had, the inspiration that I have received from Dr. Crute, and Michelle, and most of all the love and support that I have received from each and every one of you! It's now time to Pay it Forward.
PEACE OUT!
For those of you reading this that may have been touched personally by cancer in your lives, I encourage you to reach out to Imerman Angels, they can match you with someone that has survived your cancer and can help you do the same. www.imermanangels.com or call Rynell Cook at (312) 274-5529. There is no cost, just help.
If you want to help in another way, please consider donating, and donate in honor of your loved one who is fighting this horrible disease called cancer.
Dr. Crute was fantastic as usual, she explained that she was late getting to our appt because she had to spend so much time looking at the MRIs, she is still just amazed that I am as stable as I am considering the tumor that I had. She looked and looked and couldn't find any changes...how cool is that! We talked about the future and that future keeps getting further and further out. Yeah! I like the sound of that.
As an added bonus, I was finally able to see Michelle, Dr. Crute's surgical nurse/PA who I haven't seen since I left the hospital. Now there is significance to that fact. I have not really blogged about Michelle before, but let me tell you she was a savior of mine. She was the one person who consistently checked on my several times a day at the hospital. She was the first person who told me NOT TO BELIEVE THE BULLSHIT that the house resident gave me about "getting my things in order" and I had 6-18 months. For that, I owe Michelle alot. She helped get my head around my diagnosis (no pun inteneded). So it was really cool to see her. I ran up and gave her a great big hug! I get emotional just thinking about it. Thanks Michelle!
That emotion was met with more emotion as I had the opportunity to connect directly with Jonny Imerman. Jonny is a mid 20's 6+ year survivor of testicular cancer and the founder of Imerman Angels, which is an organization that matches one on one cancer fighters with cancer survivors for mentoring and support. As I relived the story of my quest through cancer treatment, I got emotional as I told him about the "night to remember" event that you all through for me with Marky P at Cliffbreakers. I explained to him that I don't know how I would have every made it to the point I am at now without the love and support of my amazing wife Kim, my family, and my support group...YOU!
Jonny started this organization to help people who don't have that love and support. Jonny has added me to the list to help another Brain Tumor patient on a one on one basis. I can't wait to pass on the learning that I have had, the inspiration that I have received from Dr. Crute, and Michelle, and most of all the love and support that I have received from each and every one of you! It's now time to Pay it Forward.
PEACE OUT!
For those of you reading this that may have been touched personally by cancer in your lives, I encourage you to reach out to Imerman Angels, they can match you with someone that has survived your cancer and can help you do the same. www.imermanangels.com or call Rynell Cook at (312) 274-5529. There is no cost, just help.
If you want to help in another way, please consider donating, and donate in honor of your loved one who is fighting this horrible disease called cancer.
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