Everybody-

 

I have reached my critical mass for harassment.  So I sit to journal.  I would have thought that having cancer would earn you a break, but no such luck (tongue severely in cheek).  As it turns out, I can barely get away with anything (tongue through cheek).

 

Since the last time I posted, we have reached or neared some pretty surprising and refreshing milestones.   This past Monday was my seventh chemo treatment, bringing me halfway through Dr. K’s chemistry experiments!  Tuesday of this week will be my final radiation treatment to the banished primary tumor.  Radiation to the lungs will not commence until the very end of chemo treatment.  This is good, since I have recently embraced road rage at incompetent Atlanta driving with frighteningly open arms. 

 

Since I am done with radiation, I will recap:  It gave me a 51-yr-old bladder (temporarily of course).  I think I only missed 45min of the Auburn game last weekend for bathroom breaks.  It made me pretty sleepy; naps and I are on exceedingly good terms.  It BLASTED my blood counts.  I was pretty disappointed with this, having convinced myself that I was Superman.  Indeed, I am not.   Although I am holding out for my hair to grow back jet black, my muscles to come back huge, flight… well, you get the idea.  The only other side effect was a little spot on my lower back that looks like sunburn.  This hurts a little in some seated positions and is exacerbated by the waistband in my underwear and shorts.  My solution was to wear no pants, but there were some objections and concerns voiced.  Oh well…

 

I am sure ya’ll must get tired of hearing this, but I am doing awesome.  It would be easier to look you in the face when I say this to convey my sincerity, hope, elation and resolve.  But for now you will have to trust these inadequate words.  God has blessed this whole ordeal.  That your prayers have reached Him, there is no doubt.  THANK YOU!

 

Sam

 

ps- i'll get better about updating my site. peace. 

Everybody-

I am still feeling great. This week, from an unknowing outsider's perspective, would have appeared completely normal, almost. I started losing my hair on Tuesday. :)

Other than that I have had a perfectly normal summer week. Abby came and visited on Monday, and we spent the week having fun w/ Cait, Kara and Kyle (cousins). Yesterday, I went over to Alpharetta w/ Abby. By this morning I was in a knock-down-drag-out shedding contest with the Johnson's(Abby's parents) third child, Palmer the Dog. I won.

I would have been enjoying this thoroughly, except that my scalp was pretty sensitive. So upon arriving home this evening, I shaved my head completely bald. My ears stick out a little, but I think that people probably won't stare. In fact, they probably won't be able to glance in my direction until I get some sunless tanner. Pictures are forthcoming.

These festivities aside, things have been going very well. While I am still very ready to get back to the treatment, I have enjoyed a week of feeling full-strength and I am glad for the weekend, too. I really appreciate everyone's advice on entertaining hospital activities. I am looking forward to using your ideas.

Please continue to pray.

Sam