It has been a while since I posted, so quick health update -
Now that I am post-treatment, I only have to go up to Madison once every three months for MRI & Check-up. I had another MRI in early June and they continue to be clean! I am feeling great and am probably in the best shape that I have been in 20 years. Kim is good, business is good...Life is groovy.
This morning, I woke up early and while enjoying my coffee, I started thinking....
2 days ago (6/29/09) marked 18 months post surgery for me. Doesn't seem like a big anniversary or anything, but deep down it has always been something that I thought about.
Let me explain...A couple days after my surgery, the doctor from the floor and I had a conversation about my Tumor...not one of my main doctors, just one covering the floor at the hospital. I can't remember his name, but I will never forget what he said when I asked "How long do I have - really"?
His reply, "6-18 months at most, I recommend that you get your stuff in order" - I guess I kind of deserved that for asking such a dumb question don't ya think? :)
However, 18 months and 2 days is here and my stuff is still a mess. :)
18 months and 2 days later and I still wake up every morning and smile cause I have "one more day".
I hope you all have a beautiful & blessed day today...I know I will.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Brain Tumor Walk 2009
Today, I joined 5000 others in the 4th annual American Brain Tumor Association 5K Run/Walk for brain tumor research. I did it as a SURVIVOR! It was an amazing day, with emotions that ran the spectrum. I don't even know where to start to explain the emotion.
So instead of trying to put the emotions into words, I built a little video montage. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tarW-emqRcM
So instead of trying to put the emotions into words, I built a little video montage. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tarW-emqRcM
Friday, March 27, 2009
ABTA Walk as a SURVIVOR!!!
As you all know, 2008 was a trying year for me both mentally and physically. With your amazing support, I have made a remarkable recovery from a Glioblastoma IV Cancerous Brain Tumor surgery and treatment.
On March 7th, I celebrated the end of my Chemo Journey and my OFFICIAL post treatment Cancer Survivor status. On April 25th, I will participate in the 4th Annual Path to Progress 5K Run/Walk to raise money for the American Brain Tumor Association's research and patient/family education and support programs.
As you can imagine, this event and organization is very near and dear to my heart. To even be here today is amazing, but to think that I will walk with thousands of others as a Survivor...brings tears to my eyes.
I realize that the economic situation is not ideal to ask for donations, and I will understand if you are unable to give. I have set my fundraising goal at $5,000 and ask you to support my efforts with a donation of whatever amount you are comfortable with. You can do this easily by clicking the link at the bottom of this message. Just select my name from the list of Fundraisers. There is a link to my personal page below. Just click on the link or copy it into your browser.
I appreciate any donation you give!
Thank you.
PEACE OUT!
Steve
Founded in Chicago in 1973, ABTA was the first national, nonprofit organization dedicated solely to brain tumors. Today, ABTA is a leader in research, education and support. In 2008, ABTA awarded more than $2.6 million to brain tumor researchers searching for better treatments, and ultimately, a cure, and more than 1.3 million services and resources to brain tumor patients and their families.
To learn more about ABTA, please visit www.abta.org.
Click here to visit my personal page.If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:http://hope.abta.org/site/TR/ABTAEvent/PathtoProgress?px=1783251&pg=personal&fr_id=1290&et=63mbVB5z5C1J8W-ehpjR8g..&s_tafId=6291
On March 7th, I celebrated the end of my Chemo Journey and my OFFICIAL post treatment Cancer Survivor status. On April 25th, I will participate in the 4th Annual Path to Progress 5K Run/Walk to raise money for the American Brain Tumor Association's research and patient/family education and support programs.
As you can imagine, this event and organization is very near and dear to my heart. To even be here today is amazing, but to think that I will walk with thousands of others as a Survivor...brings tears to my eyes.
I realize that the economic situation is not ideal to ask for donations, and I will understand if you are unable to give. I have set my fundraising goal at $5,000 and ask you to support my efforts with a donation of whatever amount you are comfortable with. You can do this easily by clicking the link at the bottom of this message. Just select my name from the list of Fundraisers. There is a link to my personal page below. Just click on the link or copy it into your browser.
I appreciate any donation you give!
Thank you.
PEACE OUT!
Steve
Founded in Chicago in 1973, ABTA was the first national, nonprofit organization dedicated solely to brain tumors. Today, ABTA is a leader in research, education and support. In 2008, ABTA awarded more than $2.6 million to brain tumor researchers searching for better treatments, and ultimately, a cure, and more than 1.3 million services and resources to brain tumor patients and their families.
To learn more about ABTA, please visit www.abta.org.
Click here to visit my personal page.If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:http://hope.abta.org/site/TR/ABTAEvent/PathtoProgress?px=1783251&pg=personal&fr_id=1290&et=63mbVB5z5C1J8W-ehpjR8g..&s_tafId=6291
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Latest MRI...40...and the future.
Happy New Year everyone!
Been a crazy month already...GOOD, but crazy!
1. My latest MRI was on the 6th of this month. No change. Two words that I have come to love. Had a chance to talk with Dr. Robbins about the future. Feb 3rd, I go to Madison to pick up my LAST round of Temodar (Chemo)!! 12 months of treatment complete! After that round, I will only have to go up to Madison every 2 months for MRIs...no change continues to be what we want to see!
Doc wanted to assure me not to get worried about regrowth when I stop treatment. He says I am doing remarkably and I have received Temodar twice as long as it was originally prescribed. So I am going to take Dem Smart Docs advise and focus on the positive....I will be officially OUT OF TREATMENT and A CANCER SURVIVOR. I can deal with that!
2. I turned 40 last week! I can not tell you how good it felt to turn 40! I feel younger and better than I have for years! I am looking forward to turning 70!!!
To celebrate the occasion, my wife created a fabulous day for me! She started the day by taking me for a suprise Massage at a local spa, followed by a nice lunch. To top the day off, she set up dinner with Jeff and Mendy. She told me about the dinner, but omitted that she had set up a limo to come and pick us up and take us into Wildfire in Schaumburg, one of my favorite restaurants!! We had a great night, a great meal, great company, and a styling ride to and from!
Just to prove to me that my body was 40 and I was officially an OLD Man, I fell asleep on the drive home!! :) Would have slept all the way, but my Snoring was bothering our companions. :) I would use my standard...."it sucks to get old", but IT REALLY DOESN'T!!!
3. On the business front, things are getting crazy as well! Our business is helping companies do more with less, which tends to fit well in this economy. To show for it, Jeff and I are "On the Road Again" doing training for a big client of ours is keeping us gone all week during the last two weeks of January and most of February and March! Business is staying steady, but, I can honestly say that I am excited about the change that has come to our Country. I will leave politics out of this blog, but our economy can use all the help it can get right now.
Talk about life getting back to normal...I am in better shape physically, and in a better place mentally than I have been in a really long time! When I lose sleep now a days, it is over business issues, and not "the Cancer Switch", and most of you know by now that me losing sleep over business issues is who I am and my minds way of telling me that life is truly back to normal.
To that end, I will keep this blog open and will post when the wave strikes me, but it will only be occassionally. The purpose of this blog was to chronical the journey that was my Brain Tumor surgery and treatment process. Now that I am entering the "Post Treatment" phase, I have chosen to focus on living every minute. I have found a new outlet in Facebook, and anyone that wants to stay in touch is free to look me up!
Thank you to everyone who has followed this blog and me during the past year. I truly believe that it is in your thoughts and prayers that I found much of the strength that helped me make it through the last year. Thank you.
Just to stay true to this blog and darling Miss Ava...
PEACE OUT!!
Been a crazy month already...GOOD, but crazy!
1. My latest MRI was on the 6th of this month. No change. Two words that I have come to love. Had a chance to talk with Dr. Robbins about the future. Feb 3rd, I go to Madison to pick up my LAST round of Temodar (Chemo)!! 12 months of treatment complete! After that round, I will only have to go up to Madison every 2 months for MRIs...no change continues to be what we want to see!
Doc wanted to assure me not to get worried about regrowth when I stop treatment. He says I am doing remarkably and I have received Temodar twice as long as it was originally prescribed. So I am going to take Dem Smart Docs advise and focus on the positive....I will be officially OUT OF TREATMENT and A CANCER SURVIVOR. I can deal with that!
2. I turned 40 last week! I can not tell you how good it felt to turn 40! I feel younger and better than I have for years! I am looking forward to turning 70!!!
To celebrate the occasion, my wife created a fabulous day for me! She started the day by taking me for a suprise Massage at a local spa, followed by a nice lunch. To top the day off, she set up dinner with Jeff and Mendy. She told me about the dinner, but omitted that she had set up a limo to come and pick us up and take us into Wildfire in Schaumburg, one of my favorite restaurants!! We had a great night, a great meal, great company, and a styling ride to and from!
Just to prove to me that my body was 40 and I was officially an OLD Man, I fell asleep on the drive home!! :) Would have slept all the way, but my Snoring was bothering our companions. :) I would use my standard...."it sucks to get old", but IT REALLY DOESN'T!!!
3. On the business front, things are getting crazy as well! Our business is helping companies do more with less, which tends to fit well in this economy. To show for it, Jeff and I are "On the Road Again" doing training for a big client of ours is keeping us gone all week during the last two weeks of January and most of February and March! Business is staying steady, but, I can honestly say that I am excited about the change that has come to our Country. I will leave politics out of this blog, but our economy can use all the help it can get right now.
Talk about life getting back to normal...I am in better shape physically, and in a better place mentally than I have been in a really long time! When I lose sleep now a days, it is over business issues, and not "the Cancer Switch", and most of you know by now that me losing sleep over business issues is who I am and my minds way of telling me that life is truly back to normal.
To that end, I will keep this blog open and will post when the wave strikes me, but it will only be occassionally. The purpose of this blog was to chronical the journey that was my Brain Tumor surgery and treatment process. Now that I am entering the "Post Treatment" phase, I have chosen to focus on living every minute. I have found a new outlet in Facebook, and anyone that wants to stay in touch is free to look me up!
Thank you to everyone who has followed this blog and me during the past year. I truly believe that it is in your thoughts and prayers that I found much of the strength that helped me make it through the last year. Thank you.
Just to stay true to this blog and darling Miss Ava...
PEACE OUT!!
Monday, December 29, 2008
1 Year and Counting
12/29/2008
1 year and counting! Still Cancer Free, Alive and loving it!
God Bless and thank you all for your prayers!
I made it this far, I am not gonna stop now!
Talbott's New Year's RESOLUTIONS
1. KEEP ON KEEPING ON!
2. Never Forget Resolution #1 (for you NH Alums)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2009 is gonna ROCK!
Celebrate Life! I am. :)
Peace Out!
1 year and counting! Still Cancer Free, Alive and loving it!
God Bless and thank you all for your prayers!
I made it this far, I am not gonna stop now!
Talbott's New Year's RESOLUTIONS
1. KEEP ON KEEPING ON!
2. Never Forget Resolution #1 (for you NH Alums)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2009 is gonna ROCK!
Celebrate Life! I am. :)
Peace Out!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Musings and Hopes
12/21/08
Coming home from vacation, thinking too much. 7 days of sun, sea, and laughter with good friends. Christmas is coming, my health is good, and even the business is doing well.
So, what the hell? Why am I sitting here on this plane with tears flowing? Idle time is not my friend. Idle time tends to flip "the switch". Thinking about how that tumor changed my life and that of my families forever.
I didn't ask for this tumor, yet I can not complain. I look at who I have become in the last year in part due to this disease.
I am a stronger person, yet not afraid to show emotion. My fear is usually slapped away by a neverending feeling of hope that "Keeps me Keeping On"
My relationships with family and friends have strengthened. I don't take anything for granted.
So again, why am I crying? I am approaching a milestone in my life - 40 and more importantly, Cancer free for 12 months. Whatever the future brings, no one can take that away. 12/29/2007 - The day Dr. Denise Crute saved my life. The day I stopped taking life for granted and seeing it as the gift it is.
So, why the tears? This year, I have learned what the power of prayer means. I have learned that no matter what this Economy brings to never lose hope and pick ourselves up by our bootstraps and make it Happen! - Thanks to Jeff for your help on that one!
I really think the tears are those of pure joy. Tis the season, and every once in a while, it is therapeutic to reflect. Reflection shows you the past, and helps to illuminate the path forward.
So during this Christmas Season, take some time to reflect on the good & the challenges of this year. Pay attention to how those events have shaped your today. All politics aside - SHARE HOPE. Hope in each other, hope in the future, and live for today!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your families!
Peace
Coming home from vacation, thinking too much. 7 days of sun, sea, and laughter with good friends. Christmas is coming, my health is good, and even the business is doing well.
So, what the hell? Why am I sitting here on this plane with tears flowing? Idle time is not my friend. Idle time tends to flip "the switch". Thinking about how that tumor changed my life and that of my families forever.
I didn't ask for this tumor, yet I can not complain. I look at who I have become in the last year in part due to this disease.
I am a stronger person, yet not afraid to show emotion. My fear is usually slapped away by a neverending feeling of hope that "Keeps me Keeping On"
My relationships with family and friends have strengthened. I don't take anything for granted.
So again, why am I crying? I am approaching a milestone in my life - 40 and more importantly, Cancer free for 12 months. Whatever the future brings, no one can take that away. 12/29/2007 - The day Dr. Denise Crute saved my life. The day I stopped taking life for granted and seeing it as the gift it is.
So, why the tears? This year, I have learned what the power of prayer means. I have learned that no matter what this Economy brings to never lose hope and pick ourselves up by our bootstraps and make it Happen! - Thanks to Jeff for your help on that one!
I really think the tears are those of pure joy. Tis the season, and every once in a while, it is therapeutic to reflect. Reflection shows you the past, and helps to illuminate the path forward.
So during this Christmas Season, take some time to reflect on the good & the challenges of this year. Pay attention to how those events have shaped your today. All politics aside - SHARE HOPE. Hope in each other, hope in the future, and live for today!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your families!
Peace
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Madison Trip - Snow Day Redux
Went up to Madison for my monthly appt with Dr Ian to get my chemo drugs for the month. My Mom was scheduled to drive, but when we woke up to the Rain/Ice/Snow, we decided not to put her through that and opted for Kim to take a day off and drive.
As soon as we crossed the WI border, the snow pounced and we realized that we were not going to be home that night! Here we go again. So I dialed up the hotel at the UW Clinic and away we went. The 1.5 hr drive only took 3 hours. :)
We went to our appointments, of which went very well, my blood counts are perfect as Dr. Ian put it. Diana and I had to do the NeuroCognition Tests for the Clinical Trial. Spatial Recognition tests and memory tests. I ROCKED THEM! I have to take these test every 4 months during the clinical trial. They have become somewhat of a game, and Diana and I laugh alot during them...(Diana - I told you I would still remember at least 10 of them on Thursday - Bean, Corn, Potato, Lettuce - Tennis, Basketball, Golf, - and Engineer, Professor, Teacher, and Dentist!!!!! I GOT 11. ;) - You don't think I am not competitive do you? :)
Rock and Roll ...... this round of Chemo, and 2 more and I am done with CHEMO!!!! MRI is next month!
So after some tense time at the hotel trying to find someone to take care of our Dogs while we were trapped in Madison with parts of 90 closed, we were saved by Mendy!!! Thank you again for taking care of our dogs while we were stuck! She truly saved the day!
So Kim and I checked into the hotel, took advantage of the time and.... NAPPED! Woo Hoo!
The highlight of the day was when we walked down a block for dinner and had the best greasy bar burger in Madison! Go BLUE MOON!
18 Days until I am officially a Cancer Survivor!! 1 Year Post Surgery 12/29/2008. Thanks to your prayers and thoughts, I made it!!! Hope Lives!!
Peace Out!
As soon as we crossed the WI border, the snow pounced and we realized that we were not going to be home that night! Here we go again. So I dialed up the hotel at the UW Clinic and away we went. The 1.5 hr drive only took 3 hours. :)
We went to our appointments, of which went very well, my blood counts are perfect as Dr. Ian put it. Diana and I had to do the NeuroCognition Tests for the Clinical Trial. Spatial Recognition tests and memory tests. I ROCKED THEM! I have to take these test every 4 months during the clinical trial. They have become somewhat of a game, and Diana and I laugh alot during them...(Diana - I told you I would still remember at least 10 of them on Thursday - Bean, Corn, Potato, Lettuce - Tennis, Basketball, Golf, - and Engineer, Professor, Teacher, and Dentist!!!!! I GOT 11. ;) - You don't think I am not competitive do you? :)
Rock and Roll ...... this round of Chemo, and 2 more and I am done with CHEMO!!!! MRI is next month!
So after some tense time at the hotel trying to find someone to take care of our Dogs while we were trapped in Madison with parts of 90 closed, we were saved by Mendy!!! Thank you again for taking care of our dogs while we were stuck! She truly saved the day!
So Kim and I checked into the hotel, took advantage of the time and.... NAPPED! Woo Hoo!
The highlight of the day was when we walked down a block for dinner and had the best greasy bar burger in Madison! Go BLUE MOON!
18 Days until I am officially a Cancer Survivor!! 1 Year Post Surgery 12/29/2008. Thanks to your prayers and thoughts, I made it!!! Hope Lives!!
Peace Out!
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