Okay, I did pretty damn good yesterday!
Kept my mind off of the surgery and even made it to the gym. Even got a couple hours sleep last night.
So to keep with this Blog's theme, I thought I would share the mindset that I am in now 4:30am...just a couple hours before my surgery.
Feeling overwhelmed in a really good way by all of the thoughts and prayers sent my way this week. Thank you all! It has really helped keep my head right.
I am not fearing this surgery...I know in my heart its the right thing.
The most prevalent thought running through my head is that I can't wait to wake up from Surgery later this morning and see Kim my beautiful wife smiling back at me! Then I know all my prayers have been answered - in more ways than one.
Peace Out
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
A slight change in plans
Well, my latest plan was to get a new MRI on 10/20 and evaluate the 'peculiar' spot at that time. Well, after a visit with Dr. Crute, my Neurosurgeon today, we have decided to change the plans.
Next Thursday, I will be going in for Stereotactic Neurosurgery or in the words of my rockstar neurosurgeon...."A Chip Shot" for her. Two years ago it was the size of a tennis ball, this time the tumor is only slightly larger than a pea. It is in the resection cavity, aka, the hole in the temporal side of my head that the first tumor was in. So to stick with the golfisms...this round of golf will be pretty much mini putting. However, it definitely needs to be MULLIGAN Free. :)
Now this surgery should be pretty simple...I mean really, all she needs to do is cut where my other incision was and use a simple little CRAFTSMAN PHILLIPS HEAD SCREWDRIVER to unscrew the plate from last time and use a common spoon to dig the tumor out...NO PROBLEM! A CHIP SHOT!
Now thankfully, Dr. Crute is the Tiger Woods of Neurosurgical golf so this should not be a problem. However, if she had the golf skills of my business partner Jeff "SHANKAPOTTOMUS" Carpenter...we would have issues.
As you can tell, I have a pretty good attitude about this. I believe strongly that this is the right decision. Removing the tumor is ALWAYS the best case option when Glioblastoma Multiforme Tumors are involved. These thing are nasty as hell and can quadruple in size in weeks not months. I have a great team of doctors and an even better support team.
I will only be in the hospital for a couple days, and be recovering for about 2 weeks before I am back to work and 6 weeks until I am back to my new normal. The benefit this time is that I have the opportunity to manage my schedule which makes me feel better from a business standpoint.
All is good! If this is all we have to do every couple years, then so be it! I feel great and "Damn It Feels Good to be me!" (If you don't know the reference...check this link out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFLIxnbmO5E ) Quickly becoming my new theme song.
I will keep you all informed! Thank you for your Prayers!
PEACE OUT!
Next Thursday, I will be going in for Stereotactic Neurosurgery or in the words of my rockstar neurosurgeon...."A Chip Shot" for her. Two years ago it was the size of a tennis ball, this time the tumor is only slightly larger than a pea. It is in the resection cavity, aka, the hole in the temporal side of my head that the first tumor was in. So to stick with the golfisms...this round of golf will be pretty much mini putting. However, it definitely needs to be MULLIGAN Free. :)
Now this surgery should be pretty simple...I mean really, all she needs to do is cut where my other incision was and use a simple little CRAFTSMAN PHILLIPS HEAD SCREWDRIVER to unscrew the plate from last time and use a common spoon to dig the tumor out...NO PROBLEM! A CHIP SHOT!
Now thankfully, Dr. Crute is the Tiger Woods of Neurosurgical golf so this should not be a problem. However, if she had the golf skills of my business partner Jeff "SHANKAPOTTOMUS" Carpenter...we would have issues.
As you can tell, I have a pretty good attitude about this. I believe strongly that this is the right decision. Removing the tumor is ALWAYS the best case option when Glioblastoma Multiforme Tumors are involved. These thing are nasty as hell and can quadruple in size in weeks not months. I have a great team of doctors and an even better support team.
I will only be in the hospital for a couple days, and be recovering for about 2 weeks before I am back to work and 6 weeks until I am back to my new normal. The benefit this time is that I have the opportunity to manage my schedule which makes me feel better from a business standpoint.
All is good! If this is all we have to do every couple years, then so be it! I feel great and "Damn It Feels Good to be me!" (If you don't know the reference...check this link out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFLIxnbmO5E ) Quickly becoming my new theme song.
I will keep you all informed! Thank you for your Prayers!
PEACE OUT!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
It looks a little Peculiar...
Well, when two of Dem Smart Docs look at your MRI and tell you that it looks a little peculiar, it may sound a little alarming, but when they let you go home and tell you that we will look at it in 6 weeks, it feels a little more like tooth decay than tumor recurrence. :)
So they found a little spot in my MRI yesterday. According to Dr. Robbins and Dr. Mehta, it looks a little peculiar. Peculiar because it doesn't seem to act or look like tumor recurrence, but they don't know what it is. It could be Necrotic "dead" tissue, or what the hell...maybe a fly flew through the MRI field when they took the picture.
So, I go back in six weeks for another MRI Check.
So, here is the deal....I am not worried....you shouldn't worry! I feel great and am probably in better shape than I have been in years! We have been going at this all along as a chronic disease that we treat as needed. We have no idea what this is, but worst case scenario, we treat it.
This little speck on an MRI can't be nearly as difficult to fight as that tennis ball they took out a couple years ago! :)
So thank you as always for your prayers and thoughts, life is good and I am not going anywhere....except for a Sales Call later today! :)
Peace Out!
So they found a little spot in my MRI yesterday. According to Dr. Robbins and Dr. Mehta, it looks a little peculiar. Peculiar because it doesn't seem to act or look like tumor recurrence, but they don't know what it is. It could be Necrotic "dead" tissue, or what the hell...maybe a fly flew through the MRI field when they took the picture.
So, I go back in six weeks for another MRI Check.
So, here is the deal....I am not worried....you shouldn't worry! I feel great and am probably in better shape than I have been in years! We have been going at this all along as a chronic disease that we treat as needed. We have no idea what this is, but worst case scenario, we treat it.
This little speck on an MRI can't be nearly as difficult to fight as that tennis ball they took out a couple years ago! :)
So thank you as always for your prayers and thoughts, life is good and I am not going anywhere....except for a Sales Call later today! :)
Peace Out!
Friday, August 28, 2009
On a Day Like Today
Been a hard couple of weeks with the passing of Robert Novak and most recently Ted Kennedy. Both were diagnosed with brain tumors last spring, while I was undergoing treatment.
Hearing of their passing flipped that funny little switch again...you know the one...the "oh yeah I have brain cancer" switch. :)
Instead of wallowing this time, I did a bit of reflecting on all the things great in my life, the things that make it all worthwhile...family, friends, children playing, and Nature. (most specifically the Caribbean) :)
I put together a video of some of those things that make me smile...Not complete by any means...but it helped me flip that damn switch off again! I put it up on youtube.
I hope you enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zBBc_7kCTE
Next MRI September 8th - I will update with results!
Peace Out!
Hearing of their passing flipped that funny little switch again...you know the one...the "oh yeah I have brain cancer" switch. :)
Instead of wallowing this time, I did a bit of reflecting on all the things great in my life, the things that make it all worthwhile...family, friends, children playing, and Nature. (most specifically the Caribbean) :)
I put together a video of some of those things that make me smile...Not complete by any means...but it helped me flip that damn switch off again! I put it up on youtube.
I hope you enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zBBc_7kCTE
Next MRI September 8th - I will update with results!
Peace Out!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
"One More Day"
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.
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.
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
