It was a good year

Aside from my chemo treatments every 3 weeks, anytime I don't have to be admitted to hospital for any reason...........is good. Anytime I have to visit few doctors throughout the year.............is good. Anytime I celebrate another new year..........is very good.

To all of my family and friends out there, I want to say 2 things. Firstly, thank you all for your incredible ongoing support. Secondly, I wish you all a very happy and healthy new year.

To all those I knew who passed away in 2010. A heartfelt rest in peace. To all those family, friends and acquaintances who are dealing with tough medical issues. I wish you courage, strength and a speedy recovery.

Carpe Diem.

I just don't get it

Why is it that some people succumb to diseases quicker than others ? Is it bad luck, lousy genes, misfortune ? Is it being in the wrong place at the wrong time ? What the hell is it ? Would someone please tell me.

I'm so tired of hearing about people "losing their battle". That's the pessimist in me.

The optimist in me says "carpe diem", "every day is a gift" blah blah blah.

The realist in me says "shit, what's going on" ?

I'm sorry to rant. Fuuuuuuuccccckkkkk.

Carpe Diem.

It's really starting to hurt

No, I don't mean with me physically. But mentally. I befriended a friend of a friend in Cape Town who is also dealing with lung cancer and was told today that she has taken a turn for the worse. I can't help thinking at times why I'm doing ok right now and all these wonderful people around me are not. It's not that I feel guilty but more sad and at times, afraid ! There is simply no way to explain any of this. I really hope to see her when I'm in Cape Town in early February.

Sue, be strong. Stare this shit disease in the eyes and tell it to FUCK OFF !

Carpe Diem.

Max and I watching NatGeo TV

 

Carpe Diem

Dodged the bullet

More like dodged the snow storm. We hardly had any snow. Maybe 1 inch and everyone around us was clobbered. Just a lot of wind and cold for us but at least you don't have to shovel wind and cold.

Florida soon and then on to Southern Africa for a bit of sun and heat.

Carpe Diem.

Merry Christmas

To all my friends and their families celebrating Christmas. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.

Carpe Diem.

The MouseSkin update

Or lack of. I just had a phone conversation with Dr. Sidransky of MouseSkin and genetic testing fame. We were supposed to meet tomorrow but have put off the appointment until the middle of January.

Basically, the MouseSkin family is no more. Alas, they succumbed to the lack of tumor growth. Yes that's right. The lack of tumor growth. Sometimes the tumor implants do not grow or take. It happens and in my case they were so slow growing that they did not take. I guess in some ways it bodes well for me as I am fortunate enough to not have an aggressively growing and spreading cancer at this time. The Company still has frozen samples of my tumor that they may be able to use and/or test at a later date.

What seems like a good possibility is that some time in 2011 I may have a complete genetic sequence done that looks for mutations. That combined with my previous testing will give the Doctors a very good idea as to which drug(s) to use on me. There are so many new drugs in various stages of approval (as well as testing) that hopefully they will find a "good" one for me. It all sounds very futuristic but certainly not implausible as it seems like this is the way future treatments will be administered. At the moment things are still extremely expensive but I defy anyone to put a price on life. You have to remain optimistic when dealing with this disease. 

Carpe Diem.

My jobs

Going well. But, unfortunately, I had to resign from the fire station job. I could not be on call and do the volunteer driving without there being a possible conflict. I also could not be in the middle of a treatment and get called out. Being on call was just not feasible.

As I said, the volunteer driving is going really well. I have transported a number of people to various treatments as well as medical appointments. It's very rewarding and satisfying to be able to give back this way. Besides, how the hell do I pay for all my travelling ? Just kidding. Of course I don't get paid. It's volunteering !

Carpe Diem.

My next Southern Africa visit

Towards the end of January I will be heading back to Southern Africa with 2 guests. I have a fantastic trip planned that will include Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. I told you that I would fit my chemotherapy sessions in between my getting away and that's exactly what I'm doing. It actually works out quite well.

We will be visiting Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, Zafara Camp in Botswana and Cape Town. The idea with these trips is for my guests to see just enough to want to come back. It also needs to be somewhat slow paced enough so as not to feel like we are always rushed. I think this has been accomplished. I look forward to going.

Carpe Diem.

Zimkids Project Update November/December, 2010

From Dennis:

Dear friends of Zimkids,

              I returned to Zimbabwe December 2 made a beeline to Pumula North to see all the kids.  Tinashe Basa, Sipho Nyoni, Prosper Mhodi and our Council of Elders have done an amazing job keeping Zimkids thriving and moving forward. 

              As you may know, the City granted Zimkids a large plot of land in October. The site was littered with heaps of detritus: needles, broken glass and cement, rusted metal, plastic bags, feces and more.  There is no trash pickup so people have to have somewhere to throw it and the nearest open spaces generally gets the worst of it.  So the Council of Elders set to work cleaning it. The first step was to clean the trash on the surface then to dig and dig and dig to get the buried trash out.  Then we are collecting all the scattered glass shards and rusty cans.  So far we’ve removed 15 bucket-loads. That was a must do before our barefooted little ones can use the land. This week all our kids age 15 on up chipped in and got to work.  It will take a good month before we are done cleaning. Next we will be planting our garden with hardy protein-rich plants like chimulia (a kind of kale) and spinach, secure the property with donated fencing, and get our building plans drawn and approved by the City Council.

            We are trying to put together a video to compete in the Ford Focus Global Test Drive “Start Something More Than a Car” competition.  The award is $10,000. Once the video is done and submitted I’ll let you know the site where you can see it and ask that you click the “Love it” button that will help push up our chances of winning.

Tinashe and Sipho like to save surprises for me. The first was how much they had accomplished cleaning the land. And the second was when Sithibisiwe, Mbuso and Nqabutho’s’s mother died in September all our caregivers decided to chip in 5 rand (about 75 cents) each to help pay the cost of the funeral.   Considering they are all poor our message of volunteerism is seeping into the Zimkids Community. They are also providing us with tools to clean the land.

On the school front, Kudzai Sithole who lost his caregiver last year scored at the very top in his seventh grade exams. Bravo Kudzai! Pauline Mhendo, Ayanda Nkala, Thandiwe Mlotshwa, and Mqondisi Ngwenya took their O level exams in November and we are awaiting the results. Pauline has been consistently at the top of her class.  Janice Mabudah continues her A level schooling but wasn’t doing as well as she should so we are giving her one more term to improve. We pay the cost of their O level tests as well as school fees at a top A level school so long as they do well.

Tinashe began teaching the children about computers.  His enthusiasm is contagious! 

Our thanks go to all our individual donors for your continued support.  A special thanks goes to the Independent Pilots Association Foundation for their grant and to Global Giving who make so many dreams come true. Also, a special thanks to the Ross School in East Hampton NY, Ramaz School and the Friends Giving Circle in New York City and the Town School in San Francisco for their continued and enthusiastic support and to all our friends and supporters in the Catskill Mountains in NY.

Best wishes for the Holiday season from all of us at Zimkids.

A visit to my cardiologist

Mostly good news. This is the cardiologist who has been taking care of me since my MRSA infection and hospitalization in May 2009. He has lowered the dosage of the heart med that I am currently on and has added a baby Aspirin and Crestor to my daily "trail mix". My cholesterol has gone bonkers. It's not so much a diet problem as opposed to genetics and aging. Yes aging. So here is the catch 22. I very much want to age but as I age does the cholesterol get worse ?

So what killed him in the end ? The dreaded "C" or the other dreaded "C" ? How about neither. I'll still be blogging in 20 years !!!

Carpe Diem now pass the fries.

Chemo 5 (Round 7)

 

Another pretty decent day at the chemo office. Things went relatively smoothly as I was in a bit of a hurry to get home and watch Man U beat Arsenal 1 - 0. It was a good game and a great result. We are now top of the Premiership table.

For the most part my blood work was good. My cholesterol is up to s#*t so I'm off to my cardiologist for a consult and check up on Wednesday. My vitals were all good and I have put on about 2 lbs. I think I'm starting to look like that stuffed-cheek hamster again ! The check up with Dr. Schraeder went fine. I'm still coughing a bit but he had no concerns and neither did I.

I'm really starting to plan my travels well but at times cutting things a bit tight. My next chemo session is Monday January 3rd at 7:30 am. At noon I leave for Florida for a couple of days. I'm meeting up with the whole gang at my mom's in Boca. Then on Monday January 24th I have the following chemo session and 3 days later I leave for Zimbabwe and South Africa with 2 more guests. Gotta keep moving !

Carpe Diem.

Carpe Diem

If you haven't already noticed, for the last couple of years I have signed off almost every post with:

"Carpe Diem"

In case you didn't know, it means "seize the day" in Latin.

Why did I choose this phrase ? Because I think that this phrase applies to all of us. You never know what life has in store for you. Good or bad, you just don't know what lies ahead. That's why every day should be special. Even if you are having a shitty day or you just got some lousy news there is always someone else worse off than you. That's not to trivialize your pain or suffering but to try and keep all things in perspective. With certainty, we will all end up eventually with the same outcome - death. Sometimes it's sudden, sometimes it's tragic or slow and painful. That's why it's so important to enjoy every day. It doesn't mean skipping around the house whistling a happy tune all the time but just don't take too much for granted. Don't put things off.

Seize the Day.

What about me, you ask ?

Doing fine. We were pretty happy with the scan results. No spread and less activity. Even though the cancer is still evident in the right pleura it continues to stay there and not move anywhere else. Could it, should it, would it. Who knows. If or when that happens we will deal with it then !

I have 3 jobs right now. Well actually, 3 volunteer positions. I am driving patients to and from therapy for the American Cancer Society and I am also driving patients to various appointments for Jewish Community Services. I find this very therapeutic for me as it forces me to realize that there is always someone worse off than myself. Some of the people I drive I find incredibly interesting and wonderful to talk to. The third volunteer position is with the Baltimore Fire Department. The easiest way to explain what we do is to give you this link:

http://www.box234.org/

As long as I am fit and well I will continue to do lots of traveling between chemo sessions. We will all be in Boca just after new years and then it looks like back to Africa at the end of January for me. The ZimKids project is going well and Dennis is back in Bulawayo right now. I'm hoping to get an update from him about ZimKids. We continue to have logistical problems about how to move all these collected medical supplies to Zimbabwe. Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated.

On a sad note. There was a couple that I would have lunch with every now and again. I spoke to Paul the other night and he informed me that while I was recently in Africa, Gabriella (his wife of 52 years) had passed away. She had been dealing with lung cancer for the past couple of years. In the very short time that I had know her she was an interesting and charming lady. I know she will be sorely missed. My deepest condolences to Paul and the rest of the family.

Carpe Diem. 

The Suskin Family update

How boring ! Well not really. Diana is still playing lots of tennis. Basically squeezing the tennis activities around her work schedule. Sounds familiar. From what I understand, her game is improving. Combine that with an expert and professional coupon shopper and what do you have ? I dunno ! But I do know this............she is still a wonderful, caring and supportive wife.

 
Robyn is getting close to graduating. So close that we got her a graduation gift already ! A Mac computer. Yes, we know it's premature but......................hopefully she will graduate with a degree in 

Kinesiology and Psychology. She is still my sports "Wikipedia" and my music consultant even though she thinks my music taste is that of a 16 year old girl !!!

Michael is doing well (for the most part) in his second year of Mechanical Engineering. Working hard yet still finding time to enjoy himself with girl-friends and close friends. He is also the proud father (owner) of Tyrone (a large black goldfish) and Nyoka (a 1.5 foot ball python).  No, they don't live in the same tank/terrarium.

Max Trechtobal Gomez is doing fine. 13.5 years strong. A little blinder and deafer but still able to chase deer every now and then. 

As for me. Well, that's in the next post.

Carpe Diem.

The MouseSkin Family update

At least what's left of them !

From Dr. Sidransky:

"There is only one mouse left wth a tiny palpable nodule. We are sacrificing it to see if there is any viable tumor to propagate further but very unlikely. Looks like the tumor just did not take".

I will be calling Dr. Sidransky in the coming days to get a better understanding of what's going on.

Carpe Diem.

Comment from my geneticist

Dr Sidransky (my geneticist) also looked at the PET/CT scan results and this is what he said:

"Looks very stable and a bit better by PET activity. Would not change any therapy a this point."

Carpe Diem.

The Guvnor's reprieve

Actually, not the Guvnor but Dr. Schraeder.

He said, while not ideal, the CT scan showed stable disease and the PET showed a slight decrease in the amount of activity. What this all means in layman's terms is the cancer is still evident in the pleura of the right lung but it has not grown or migrated to another organ or another part of the body. My treatment regimen will continue with the Alimta and the Avastin every 3 weeks.

Honestly, the perfect scenario is that the cancer goes away all together but we all know that this is not a perfect world ! So I will take what's been dished up and continue to squeeze my treatments in between my travels. Anyone want to go somewhere ?

Carpe Diem.

The dreaded scans

I just returned from the dreaded quarterly PET/CT scans. I use the word "dreaded" because it seems like your life hangs in the balance every time you get scanned. I guess in reality it does but there is nothing you can do to change the outcome. You accept the results and move on.

I feel good and look well (according to what people tell me) so if the "inside" is doing the same as the "outside" then all should be fine. Let's wait and see.

Carpe Diem.

The same vine seat

The same picture pose over the years. 2006 until 2010. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Same bloody "Bosso" hat but at least I changed clothes !

Carpe Diem.

Water to no water

From July 2010 to November 2010.

 

What a difference no rain and a few months make.

Carpe Diem.

Jen & Dan’s trip to Zimbabwe - October 2010

               The first thing I have to say about Zimbabwe is about the people that live there. Everyone we met or came into contact with was very friendly and hospitable. For as little as some of these people have they were always smiling and seemed happy. Our purpose of this trip was to bring medical supplies and equipment to the hospitals and doctors there and to meet the kids of ZimKids.

 Our first few days consisted of meeting the physicians and staff of the local hospitals and giving them the supplies we brought. (This by the way was a logistical nightmare to get the stuff where it needed to go!) It was really great to see that all the supplies and equipment would go to good use. Here in the States we throw away so much and not think twice about it. During the demonstration the expressions on some of the faces were priceless. For example, when they realized that there was a drug calculator in the IV pumps to make their jobs easier, they were elated. This made me feel so good that all the supplies and equipment would not only help patients but the healthcare professionals as well. I made it a point to pack a sampling for this trip so they could see what we had to offer and then sat down and personally interviewed them to really see what they needed. The response was tremendous.

The next few days were spent basically in the Bush. Let me just tell you, lots of bugs and lots of poop!  Everywhere we went throughout the whole trip there were always termites and shungololos. It is a life that we were very unfamiliar with since we are city folk. To put it into perspective, Dan tried to get out of the car when he spotted a crocodile and was pulled back into the car and reality by Adrian. At the time Dan just thought he was being overprotective but the next minute we were being surrounded by running wart hogs. Needless to say Dan realized that he was not getting out of the car. The safari camp we stayed at called The Hide was absolutely amazing. The tents were modern and plush and the food was fantastic. We took several safari rides with guides that were a wealth of knowledge on all the animals. One of the rides was late at night which allowed us to view a spectacular black sky full of stars and also realize that we were surrounded by a million glowing eyes! On our final ride we finally saw lion and learned as we were leaving the camp that a tourist was attacked that morning by lion while showering! That was freaky. 

After the Bush we were off to Victoria Falls. I was glad to get to the Victoria Falls Hotel as it was not in the Bush. It was a charming, luxurious hotel with a lot of character. The Falls were breathtaking! It was hard to take your eyes off them. While we were gazing at them there was a perfect rainbow beaming at us the whole time. It really was magnificent. Dan and I had an adventure while visiting the falls. We had Adrian sign us up for White Water Rafting on the Zambezi River (class IV rapids, I might add!). Dan had a blast; I however thought I was going to die. Again, the guides were very experienced, kind and knowledgeable. After we washed the river off of us and I was finished kissing the ground, overjoyed to be alive, we all went into the market for a bit of shopping. There is a lot of talent in this country. The artwork is beautiful. Dan and I were able to get a few really nice items to bring home.

Our last day in Zimbabwe was spent at the orphanage. To be honest this was the day I was most looking forward to. Don’t get me wrong I did have a good time dodging dangerous animals and nearly drowning….but the kids were the whole reason I came to Africa. We had brought some supplies for them as well and a lot of my friends had bought dolls from them as well. This day was the most overwhelming. I was glad that I wore sunglasses since my eyes were on the verge of tears the whole day. These kids were so cute and smiley. They were like one big family. We were privileged to get to see their day of activities which consisted of choir practice, dance recitals, etc. These kids are another group of talent that Africa has hidden. We were amazed and humbled. It reaffirmed my purpose for the trip and inspired me even more to find a way to help these kids. 

Now that we are back we are getting the word out even more and an eagerness to start the New Year with fresh ideas and plans to help these kids. Dan and I took 3,200 pictures during our trip and are working on presentations to get their faces seen. We now have a much better understanding of the country and the people, therefore making it easier to portray here in the states.

Happy Thanksgiving

To all my family and friends celebrating Thanksgiving, I hope you all had a very special day. We all have a lot to be thankful for. To the many kind and generous people out there, thank you. To all the men and women around the world protecting our freedom and safety, thank you. A special thanks for the continual advancements in the medical field.

To Tom and Gabriella. I'm honored to have known you. RIP.

Carpe Diem.

My recent Africa trip

What a resounding success in many different ways. I'm hoping to soon have a summation of their (Jen and Larry's) trips. In the mean time, I can tell you that everything we wanted to achieve was done. Supplies dispensed, touristy stuff accomplished and a wonderful time was had by all. The proof is in the pictures.

Carpe Diem.

Vic Falls

 

Carpe Diem.

The Hide

Carpe Diem.

Bulawayo with ZimKids

 

Carpe Diem

Chemo 4 (Round 7)

Howzit all. Just arrived back this morning at 6 am having flown from Cape Town to Johannesburg to Accra (Ghana) and then Washington D.C. My luggage is still somewhere in Africa. It never made the Accra Washington flight but a least we did.

At lunch time I went for my chemo session. I'm thrilled to report that once again my blood work and vitals were all good and my weight is stable. I even look good, according to some people !

I have asked Jen and Larry to write a summary of their trips with me to Africa and hope to post it soon to the blog. I will also be posting  some of my pictures as well.

I have my scans scheduled for next week and hopefully all will be well with them. Until then..........

Carpe Diem

Another sunset

Another sun sets on an awesome trip to Southern Africa. I will be back in the USA Friday morning and then off to my reality. Chemo.

Carpe Diem. 

Going and coming

The sun set on Jen and Dan's trip and they returned home a couple of days ago. Now I await Larry's arrival and a new dawn.

Carpe Diem.

On top of the world

Well, really a large termite mound in Hwange, Zimbabwe.

Carpe Diem and watch out for termites.

Pot of gold

I went looking for the pot of gold but it kept moving ! Having a ball here in Zim.

Carpe Diem for sure.

Off to Zim

I'm sitting here in the lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport waiting for my flight to Accra, Ghana. Hey, wait a minute, I thought I was going to Zimbabwe. Yes, eventually. I'm spending Saturday afternoon in Accra touring the city and then connecting to Johannesburg. I plan to meet up with Jen and Dan in Johannesburg and connect through to Bulawayo on Sunday morning.

We have a busy action packed week and then after Jen and Dan return to the USA, Larry will be joining me for another busy week. I'm thrilled to be able to host these first time Africa visitors.

I will endeavor to update the blog with news and pictures during this trip.Stay tuned !

Carpe Diem.

A visit to the Dental Hygienist and the Dentist

At lunch time today I went for my bi-annual dental cleaning and dental check up. Nothing unusual about that except the fact that I took along my "Fart Machine". Infantile and sophomoric you say. Yes indeed. The Dental Hygienist caught on right away. She also happens to be my wife. However, the Dentist fell for it hook, line and "stinker". At first she thought my stomach was just rumbling but after I mentioned consuming a bean burrito for lunch, she proceeded with caution. Needless to say, a fun time was had by all (me).

Hey, this is what keeps me young at heart !

Carpe Diem and pass the beans.

I'm quite famous

And a legend in my own mind............

One of our neighbor's sons had a school project to do. He was supposed to interview an interesting person for an English assignment. His parents suggested me and I was only too happy to oblige. The actual interview was a lot of fun and hopefully, I was able to show my "interesting" side. It was a PG interview so nothing mentioned or admitted to, that would require a prison stay on my behalf.

Thank you young Mr. H. I'm hoping to read the final product some day. Good luck.

Carpe Diem.

Awesome Sunday

Phil (sister) and Hannah (niece) paid us a visit here in Baltimore. They ventured down from the far north (Manhattan) and braved the train ride to spend a brief day with me and the rest of the Suskin gang. Rob and Mike drove in from College Park. Never, for a minute, giving up the chance to spend quality time with the family. Or, was it the enticement of  a paid lunch at P.F. Chang.

Phil and I consumed the morning by having awesome massages. While the ladies had their mani/pedis. Then off to Chang's for an awesome lunch (eat your heart out How !) followed by a quick shop at Trader Joe's.

It truly was a brief visit but much appreciated by me. It was supposed to be one of my bad days but low and behold, I felt great.

Carpe Diem.

Thank you "Warden"

I would be remiss if I did not thank the "Warden" for allowing me time off for good behavior. You truly understand my need to "escape" every now and again. I'm eternally grateful.

Carpe Diem and pass the file.

A new idea

Well, hello to all my readers and thanks again to those who keep up with all my travels, medical updates, and all my "meshugas" (craziness) ! You have all been so important to me on this unpredictable journey, and without you all, it would have been even harder( if not impossible) to deal with !

I have learned so much. Even my writing skills have developed (somewhat) to the point that you may even enjoy reading my updates ! I have met incredible people and spent time in so many great places, that a whole new world has literally opened up for me.

As you all know, I am completely in love with Africa (specifically Southern Africa) and I spend as much time as I can there. ZimKids has become my project. I am so thankful for all your help, time and money donated to this amazing cause. I have, during my many visits, realized that I'm actually quite a "maven" when it comes to Southern Africa travel. My visits have been spectacular! My flights are organized by an excellent contact (through my nephew Oren). I've stayed in incredible game parks and amazing hotels, and found some unbelievable 'deals' through new contacts. I now have a new idea!

As I mentioned previously in my blog, I leave next week for a three week trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa. The first week I am traveling with (nurse) Jen and her husband. The latter part of the trip, I will be joined by my good friend Larry. We have amazing itineraries arranged by me, as they are all Africa “virgins”. The trip will include: visits to hospitals, clinics and ZimKids in Bulawayo, game parks, Victoria Falls and Cape Town. I will be asking Jen, Dan and Larry to write something for the blog upon their return. I’m sure it will be a phenomenal account.

I want to do this again and again, so what better way of accomplishing this than by taking paying guests with me? I think I'd make a great companion who is truly knowledgeable about Southern Africa, its animals, planes, trains, deals and meals. So, if Zimbabwe and South Africa are places you'd love to visit, then allow me to arrange the best tour for you! I know you will have the most incredible time!

Here is the catch. At this time, I’m not looking into turning this into a business, just a convenient and cost effective way for me to get to my projects in Zimbabwe. I would expect my airfare, lodging and minor expenses to be covered. And that’s it! I would be delighted to give you a first-hand look at ZimKids and all the glories of Africa.

Email me at (asuskin@hotmail.com) if you have any interest. Stop dreaming! Let's go.

Carpe Diem.

Boy did I catch crap

Here was how I told Diana how my chemo day went.

The infusion center was really hopping today. Sadly, very busy. So it took a wee bit of time to poison me. My vitals were good, I gained 2 lbs, and my blood work was sort of OK. Now I had to "splain" what sort of OK meant. All the chemo related blood work was good, however, my cholesterol related test stunk. I won't get into numbers suffice to say they were high. And I don't mean stoned. Diana was not amused (as Queen Elizabeth would say). In fact she was down right angry. I tried to make light of it by saying "well at least it won't be the cancer that kills me'. That just made her even more pissed off. Then it was subject changing time. The pharmacist who prepares our chemo drugs asked if she could interview me. She was accompanied by a really bright young pharmacy student. The interview was fun and went well. I then chatted (babbled) to two other patients next to me. Both being treated for breast cancer and for one of them, it was her first day of treatment . I remember my first day well !!! Then nurse Jen came to visit and she brought a new patient with her. She wanted me to tell the patient about my chemo port. I was glad to do it. All in all, a good day.

In the evening I went back to the infusion center to attend a forum about teaching lung cancer patients breathing techniques and good exercises to do. They also provided food for us. But guess what ? I didn't eat anything !


I guess my diet, as of late, has not been perfect. I thought Taco Bell and McDonald's were now health conscious and had cleaned up their menus. I guess not. So it's time for a diet change. I'm moving on to Arby's and Chipotle.  Just kidding ! 

Carpe Diem and pass the fries.

Chemo 3 (Round 7)

Off to my poisoning this morning. You know I mean well by referring to this as poisoning. It's the positive results that count.

Carpe Diem.

I've got a taker

I finally got a sucker, err friend to take me up on my Zim trip offer. My good friend and neighbor Larry (as in "lunch with Larry" fame) is joining me for the second week. We have a great itinerary planned which includes Cape Town. No Great White cage diving for me, thanks ! We are also planning to go to the USA vs South Africa men's international soccer friendly in Cape Town. How cool.

Carpe Diem.

Well................

How come no one wants to come to Zim with me ? Bunch of sissies. Just incase, the dates are October 29th until November 15th.

Carpe Diem.

My next Zim trip

Yes, it's soon. At the end of October I am off to Zim for 2 weeks. Mainly to deliver medical supplies to a few Doctors, Medical Facilities and ZimKids.

Over the past year and a half I have been receiving infusions at St. Joe's Medical Center here in Baltimore. One of the perks (?) of cancer is you get to be treated by some of the most amazing oncology nurses on the planet. My primary nurse has been Jen. Not only has she been poisoning me every 3 weeks but has listened to my lame jokes and drivel. She has also listened to my numerous stories about Zim and especially ZimKids. Jen has been so taken by our ZimKids project and what goes on medically in Zim, that she has been the major driving force in collecting supplies to take to Zim. Supplies does not do much justice to what she and many other wonderful people have collected. Suffice to say, it will benefit so many children and adults over there.

Well, I decided the best thing to do was to have Jen and her husband accompany me for the first week. Jen will show the nurses and other medical personnel in Zim how to use some of the equipment we are bringing with us. We will also be spending a food distribution day with ZimKids. I will then be taking them to Vic Falls and Hwange to show them all aspects of life in this beautiful country. Jen and her husband will return to the USA after one week.

The second week is open. Anyone want to go ? I think there is a good chance that some of my family will be joining me.  But I'm not kidding about this offer.......................

Carpe Diem.

Here is the "More to come"

Sorry if this is repetitive. Sorry if this is repetitive. Sorry...................

 

Just to catch you all up on my goings on. This morning was Chemo 2 (Round 7) day. I'm going every 3 weeks and am receiving 2 drugs. Avastin (a biologic drug) and Alimta (a chemo drug). I have had this regimen in the past and have tolerated it quite well. These 2 drugs have also been effective on me in the past and should hopefully continue to do so in the future. The reason for going back on the Alimta was that there was evidence, once again of metastasis in my right pleura. Fortunately, no other spread has been detected. I'm feeling well and doing well.

 

I have started to volunteer at a number of different organizations. Mainly driving patients to and from chemo and radiation treatments and also driving the elderly to medical appointments and food shopping. I also hope to be volunteering with the Baltimore Fire Department soon. A childhood fantasy and a story for next time.

 

I continue to travel quite a bit. Somewhat constrained by the almighty $$$. None the less, our Zimbabwe project continues to flourish and I hope to be back there in the near future.

 

I was devastated to learn about the awful tragedy of UPS Flight 6. My thoughts and prayers go out to Doug and Matt and their families. I'm also saddened by the untimely passing of other fellow crewmembers. RIP.

 

I want you all to know that I really miss the flying and spending quality time with so many wonderful fellow aviators. I also miss spending time with other good friends at UPS and the IPA.

 

Carpe Diem,

Adrian Suskin.

B757/767 UPS Captain Louisville (temporarily missing in action).

Chemo 2 (Round 7)

Does anyone ever pay attention to the Title. I just figured out that today's treatment will be the 46th  chemo/bio infusion since my diagnosis. Not to forget the 35 radiation treatments and 5 or 6 operations of some sort. So what do I say to all of that. "I've had worse. It's just a flesh wound" - Monty Python.

So bring it on and get this sh*t out of me. I have too many people to be with and too much to do. Not to mention the future trips I/we need to take. :)

More to come after the poisoning !

Carpe Diem.

You spoke, I listened

After hearing so many people tell me to get a job (VBG) I listened and am now officially A Road To Recovery Driver. No, it has nothing to do with alcohol. It's about this:

http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/SupportProgramsServices/Programs/road-to-recovery

I am also in the process of volunteering for this association as well:

http://www.box234.org/home.html

It's much easier giving you the links than explaining everything. Yes, I'm lazy to.

Carpe Diem.

A sad day at UPS

This morning, Captain Doug Lampe and First Officer Matthew Bell, the crew of UPS Flight 6, arrived on their final flight home to the USA. They were repatriated and honored in a ceremony at UPS in Louisville, Kentucky.This was our final opportunity to say thank you and goodbye to our brothers and fellow airmen before they were released to the care of their families. 

Rest In Peace.

Israel - At the Henna Party

Marwan (Jack) and Adnan (Adrian) at the Henna Party. How about those outfits ?

Carpe Diem

Prague

Carpe Diem.

Vienna

Carpe Diem.

Budapest

Carpe Diem.

Off again

Tomorrow Diana and I leave for Europe. We plan to meet up with our good friends Jack (Marwan) and Donna Trappler and hang out in Budapest, Vienna and Prague. We plan to spend first night Rosh Hashana with "friends" of Jack in Budapest and then go to services the next morning at the Dohány Street Synagogue. It  should make for a really interesting Rosh Hashana.


The ladies will return home after about 9 days and Jack and I will continue on to Israel to join in celebrating our good friend's son's wedding.


To all our friends and family celebrating the up coming Jewish holidays, may you all have a very healthy and happy new year and an easy fast. Shana Tova.

Carpe Diem.

Here's the week

So far this is how my post chemo week has played out. Even though I had a 7 month reprieve things haven't changed much with my reaction to the added Alimta.

Chemo day, day 1 and 2 were just fine. Day 3, 4 and 5 were not so fine. Really tired and slightly nauseous. Day 6 and 7 ok. Time will tell for the next few days.

And now for something completely different.............................

Carpe Diem.

I'm gutted

I have just learned that a UPS B747-400 has crashed in Dubai and the 2 crew members aboard were killed. My thoughts and prayers go out to my fellow pilots and their families. I'm devastated and heartbroken. Blue skies and tailwinds my friends.

Rest in peace.

Comments

Any one, any one. Bueler, Bueler.

I think I have made it easier to comment so fire away. I have thick skin (yea right) so have at it.

Things like........"suck it up you sissy" or "you have such a girl's name" will be tolerated. I'm a comfortable metro sexual man !!! Oh yea, I had a manicure/pedicure for my birthday. Thanks Phil.

Carpe Diem.

The shirt says it all

Carpe Diem

Chemo 1 (Round 7)

Today is the start of a new round (round 7) of chemo consisting of Alimta and Avastin given every 3 weeks. I have had this very protocol previously and had responded well to the drugs with minimal side effects.

I made the final choice to go back on this protocol after meeting with my oncologist this morning. The reason I want to be somewhat proactive is that I would like to nip this in the bud before it develops any further as, on the PET scan, there is "activity" showing up in the right pleura with no spread. My doctors are in complete agreement with my decision as there is really no definitive right or wrong course of action.

One thing I had learned after my initial diagnosis in March 2008 was never regret what you did or did not do. It serves no purpose. While I understand and know that this drug combo is no cake walk I am comfortable with the decision. I could be on this protocol anywhere from 3 to 10 months.

The meeting with Dr. Schraeder was very informative and constructive. My Vital signs, weight and blood work were all fine and the infusion didn't take too long. Historically, days 3-4 as well as days 9-10 were a tad rough. So we will see !

Carpe Diem.

The war continues

The war continues and the next battle begins.

Tomorrow I will be starting the Alimta chemotherapy and continuing the Avastin. The choice is mine but let me explain.

Dr. Schraeder (my oncologist) looked at my latest scan films and concluded that he would only keep me on the Avastin and start me back on Alimta if I so desired. Dr. Sidransky (of MouseSkin fame) had also looked at the films and his conclusion was that I would eventually need to go back on Alimta. Both doctors consulted with each other so there was somewhat of a consensus. It may not appear that way but allow me to elaborate. I was advised some time ago that I would , in all likely hood, eventually need to go back on Alimta. All the while continuing with Avastin.

I can only remain on Alimta for 10-12 months so hopefully it will do it's job. Both the Alimta and Avastin are very good drugs. I have responded well to them in the past and my genetic and molecular study confirms this so there is no reason to think otherwise. The side effects were reasonably tolerable. So out of a 21 day cycle if I have 4-5 days that are not so good then it's worth it.

Somewhere down the road these drugs will eventually loose their effectiveness. Hopefully, prior to that, other options will become available. Every day discoveries are made like newer more sophisticated genetic tests that look for gene mutations. It's simply amazing what is being developed now. The MouseSkin family continues in the wings with very slow progressions. So no testing yet.

Of course I'm a little apprehensive but the option of wait and see did not fit well with me ! Besides, I have too much traveling to do.

Carpe Diem.

The thousand faces of Zimbillybob

Carpe Diem.

Happy birthday to me

I never dreamed that getting "older" would be so cool. My perspective has totally changed. Every one of my birthdays is even more special now. I hate doing these generic all inclusive thank yous but.........Thank you all for the birthday wishes and for making this day even more special. Lets do this again (many times) please.

Carpe Diem.

Hwange and Vic Falls

I finally added pictures (video) from Vic Falls and the Hide in Hwange from July 12th and July 14th. Sorry about the dorky music.

Carpe Diem.

Squirrel hunting

More testosterone fueled activities. Gonna go squirrel and varmint hunting.

Carpe Diem Ya'all.

P.S. You know I'm kidding, right ?

Bring it on

There is a possibility that I may not have to go on the combo chemo. Dr Schraeder looked at the actual scan films and not just the reports and will be consulting with his team and Dr Sidransky. Either way I am ready. So bring it on !

Diana and Robyn went to Toronto to watch the Rogers Cup tennis this weekend. I think they are going to see Federer and Djokovic today.

Mike and I did dinner last night (Japanese) and today we are seeing the movie The Expendables (real guy movie). Tomorrow maybe the gun club. Gotta fuel that testosterone.

Carpe Diem.

My inner workings

Just to catch you up on the latest inner workings of Count Rastus Pushkin (that's me). It appears that I will more than likely have to go back on the chemo and biological therapy (Alimta and Avastin) starting August 30th. Without getting too technical it seems that the latest scans weren't quite up to my usual high standards. I'm not trying to be flippant or cavalier about this but it's just the easiest way for me to deal with the latest developments.

Basically, this has to be managed like a chronic disease. The Alimta/Avastin combo appears to keep the bad sh*t at bay and that’s exactly what it has done in the past. I went off the combo back in January 2010 and just remained on the Avastin until now. So I had an 8 month holiday and now it's back to business. I tolerate the combo quite well so it's time to "man up" and get on with it. Nothing changes except the fact that I will now have to squeeze the treatments between all my travel dates. And believe me, the travels continue. Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Tel Aviv and then on to Zim at a later date. Who knows where else. Any suggestions ?

Like I said before. "Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why they call it the present".

Carpe Diem.

The Governor called

Well, I did get the call and here is where we stand.

I talked to Dr. Schraeder yesterday and what he wants to do is look at the actual films of the PET/CT's from January and August and determine, together with his team, what exactly they see and what the course of action should be. I also talked to Dr. Sidransky this morning and he seems to think that starting up the Alimta again in conjunction with the Avastin is the best course of action right now. Dr Schraeder and Dr. Sidransky are in touch so I am sure they will come up with a good unified course of action.

I will more than likely have to go back on the Alimta and Avastin chemotherapy combination starting at the end of August. I generally tolerated this combo well and it seemed to be quite effective at keeping the bad stuff at bay. So we know it works! Overall, I had a "nice break" and now it's time to "man up" and get on with the treatment and look forward to the next "nice break".

Carpe Diem.

To Robyn

Happy birthday to the most wonderful daughter a father could ever wish for.

21. Wow.

We had the most incredible time together at World Cup and I look forward to spending many more World Cups with you. Maybe mom and Mike will join us :)

Carpe Diem.

Lots going on

Still no call from Governor or for those that are thoroughly confused, no results yet from the PET/CT scan.

But lots going on. I just heard from a lady at the American Cancer Society here in Baltimore and I will soon have a job. I finally did what my parents told me to do many years ago. "Go get a job". I will be driving chemo patients to therapy a couple of days a week. No, I'm not doing this for money. I'm volunteering. How cool is that ?

Also, there has been lots of positive developments with regards ZimKids in Bulawayo. Jen, my oncology nurse has been collecting medical supplies and other assorted stuff for the children and also for the doctor who takes care of the children pro bono. Jen, along with many of her co-workers, friends and family, has collected an amazing amount and array of stuff. A lot of the medical stuff will also go to a private hospital in Bulawayo.

On a sad note, I would like to wish the Jenkins family well and offer my condolences. Rosh, a fellow UPS pilot, husband to Julie and father to Brandon, Tyler & Hannah passed away recently after a valiant battle with cancer. Blue skies and tale winds Rosh.

Carpe Diem.

Bio 9 (Round 1)

This morning I had my PET/CT scan. I was out of there in about 2 hours and then went for my Avastin infusion.

Vitals were good, weight is stable and the blood work was all fine.

Now it's hurry up and wait for the call from the Governor !!!

Carpe Diem.

A call from the Governor

Work with me here.

Lets say that you have this recurring dream/nightmare and that you are in prison on death row. Your execution day has arrived and you have gone through the whole "ritual" and have been strapped into the gurney with the IV attached to your arm. Now the hour approaches and all of a sudden the phone rings. It's the Governor calling with what you hope is a reprieve. This time he does indeed give you a reprieve but..........................

That's what it's like when you live from scan to scan with this awful disease. Thousands upon thousands of people deal with this reality every day. My reality is tomorrow. I have my PET/CT scan tomorrow morning followed by my treatment in the afternoon. For now, I'm living this nightmare every 3 months. Will the Governor call with a reprieve or will there be no phone call ?

Carpe Diem.

What an amazing quote

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why they call it the present".

Alice Morse Earle.

Carpe Diem.

Zimkids Project Update August, 2010

The following is a Zimkids update from Dennis:

Dear friends of Zimkids,

A year and a half ago, 10-year old Brian Dube showed up at Zimkids coughing and weak. We took him to the doctor, who diagnosed him with both HIV and active tuberculosis and put him on medications for both. It was too late for his tiny body; he died in the middle of his night while sleeping with his grandmother.

Six months later, we lost 17-year-old Simsethu. HIV positive and on antiretroviral treatment, she’d run out of medication and informed no one. After two strokes, she succumbed in the summer of 2009.

Their deaths were a wake-up call, and I realized that food wasn’t enough; we had to make health care for the children a priority. Since then, we have tested all of them for HIV, and those who proved positive are now on medication. And we regularly take kids in for treatment for scabies and worms, tuberculosis and myriad other infections. We have had no deaths among the children since then.

But our caregivers have not fared so well.

Sizi Moyo, mother of Musa and Mthabisi, died this February at the age of 42 of HIV-related illnesses, having refused antiretroviral treatment. Three weeks earlier, she’d given birth to a 4-pound baby boy.

Esther Mashaba’s mother Sekai, died later that month at the age of 35, also of an HIV-related illness. She had refused to be tested.

At the beginning of June, we buried Sidumisile Ngwenya’s mother, Sithibile, following what appeared to be a diabetic coma. We’ll never know for sure since the hospital did nothing to figure out what was wrong with this funny, energetic woman who’d seemed in perfect health.

Then, Busisizwe Fuyani’s mother, Sibongile, suddenly fell ill. She’d had a rough time after her husband, Vigour, died in 2008. His family had taken everything they’d owned, and she’d been forced to move in with her sister. But she’d raised an amazing son, who’d just been elected to our Council of Elders. Sibongile languished in the hospital without treatment or diagnosis. Her nieces had to feed and bathe her. She died two weeks later.

We at Zimkids made a decision long ago that we would rather provide ever-deeper care to the children we serve than to increase our numbers, and we now provide them with food, medical, educational and social resources. After this year’s disasters, we realized that we also need to protect our caregivers’ health and provide them with the tools to support the children. When a caregiver dies, the children left behind are too often sent to live in rural areas, where there is no schooling, no healthcare and no support. Thus far, we have managed to keep Busisizwe, Sidumisile, Musa and Mthabisi and Esther in the community, where we can continue to provide for them. But we cannot risk adding to their numbers by neglecting their grandparents and aunts.

We’ve updated our website with more thorough biographies of both the individual children and their caregivers. In the caregivers bios we included their wish for the tools that would bring in income.

I’m back in the States fundraising until November and while I’m gone, all Zimkids programs continue under Tinashe’s guidance. I’m hoping to be able to take back a stack of educational DVDs and used laptops when I return. If you have either that you no longer need, please think of us. This year, we’re really hoping to bolster our educational programs.

Thank you for your continued kindness, support and concern.

Post World Cup

Wow. Where do I begin? The last couple of months have been simply amazing and sad.

Let me start with the sad part. I (we) have lost 2 friends recently to cancer. Rest in peace Doreen and Tom. Doreen, who lived in London, England fought a valiant battle but eventually succumbed to this awful disease. She was also involved with Dr. Sidransky and the mice research but unfortunately, was too weak to be able to benefit from the research findings. Tom, who lived in Louisville, Kentucky had a relatively brief battle with lung cancer. He was a fellow co-worker at UPS.

I am also in touch with many other individuals who are dealing with different cancers. I wish them all strength and good health. Keep up the good fight and remember we are all "living" with cancer and not "dying" from it.

I thought that my recent trip to Zim and seeing the goings on with ZimKids would be hard to top. Well, I was wrong. Sort of. As special as the ZimKids encounter was, the World Cup trip was equally as special but for very different reasons.

It was like an objective for me to be fine and well and to go to the World Cup 2010. The objective was realized and we (Robyn and I) had the most incredible time. There are so many people to thank starting with my family, friends and medical professionals. You know who you are! My South African friends were unbelievable going above and beyond to make us feel at home and to help make this event truly magical. The pictures speak volumes. All that is left to say is:

Thank you and see you all in Brazil in 2014.

Carpe Diem.

Hwange, Zimbabwe

Carpe Diem.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Carpe Diem.

The Final

Carpe Diem.

Cape Town

World Cup - South Africa

We are having an absolute ball here in South Africa. The weather has been great and the soccer has been unbelievable. I have posted a whole bunch of photos on Facebook and will write about all of this soon.

Carpe Diem.

My dream

About 3 years ago Robyn (our daughter) came up to me and said "Dad, we have to go to World Cup. It's in South Africa". I contemplated this for a micro-second and said "sure".

Just over 2 1/2 years ago I received my lung cancer diagnosis. At that time, I honestly and truly did not know what lay ahead for me. Back then it became a dream for me to go to World Cup. Well that dream came true. I'm sitting here in Zurich on my way to South Africa for World Cup 2010. And yes, Robyn is sitting right next to me.

Sadly, I just found out that a co-worker who was diagnosed with lung cancer just a short while ago has passed away. You just don’t know what you are going to be dealt in life’s game of cards. So I stay with the mantra of each day is special and……………

Carpe Diem.

World Cup 2010

It's been a while but I have finally gotten off my lazy arse to update the blog. Why, you ask? Because tomorrow (Tuesday June 24th) Robyn and I leave for the soccer World Cup in South Africa.

I'm having a treatment today (Bio 7 Round 1). I'm sure everything will go well. I'm feeling pretty good and look fine so things internally, better be good!!!

This picture was taken on September 7th, 2007. It's the new construction site of Green Point stadium in Cape Town. The now shot is below it.


Carpe Diem.

A day and a dinner with ZimKids

http://www.zimkids.com/new/

Carpe Diem.

My time with the lions

http://www.lionalert.org/index.html

Carpe Diem.

A drive around Bulawayo

Carpe Diem.

What timing

Allan "Goldfish" Goldstein, one of my closest and dearest friends (and fellow UPS pilot) wrote an article about me in our pilot union daily online newsletter. Here it is:

B757 Capt. Adrian Suskin in ‘Remission”

In this photo, submitted by MD-11 Capt. Allan Goldstein, you can see Capt. Adrian Suskin making the lions laugh in much the same way as he makes his flight crews laugh when they fly with him.

We are very happy and relieved to tell you that B757 Captain Adrian Suskin has been told by his doctors that he is now in "remission" status from his lung cancer.

Chemotherapy stopped last March for Adrian, and in about a year, he will revisit his AME to discuss the possibility of returning to the cockpit.

As you may know, Adrian became ill more than two years ago. In addition to fighting the lung cancer, he has devoted his time and efforts to an AIDS orphanage in his birth country Zimbabwe. As a consequence of nearly 60% of the population of Zimbabwe being HIV positive, there is a desperate need for orphanages for the numerous children left wandering the streets as a result of entire families dying of AIDS.

The IPA foundation, working closely with Adrian, made a generous $10,000 donation to the orphanage in 2009. This gift alone comprised nearly a third of the annual operating cost of the facility.

Adrian's philosophy is that doing good for other people is a therapeutic distraction. Right now, his concern is for long time UPS Training Scheduler Tom Thomas, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer.

Since Adrian is now feeling a lot stronger, he has the time to live every day to its fullest. Last week, he flew to visit friends involved with the orphanage. He took the time off to go to a reserve that rehabilitates injured or orphaned lions and returns them to the wild.

Crewmembers may drop Adrian a note via email at asuskin@hotmail.com.

The IPA Executive Board and staff send our best wishes to Adrian! We thank Capt. Goldstein for providing this update and photo to share with the membership.

This article was published Friday May 7th. The same day as my PET/CT scan and my brain MRI. All was ok. He was allowed some poetic licence! Oh, by the way, I cannot use the word "remission". I simply prefer all is ok right now.

Carpe Diem.

I'm baaack

Well, I just couldn't stay away long. I have some cool stuff to tell you about. At least, I think it's cool. Hope this doesn't bore you too much.

Carpe Diem.

Re-starting my Blog

I will have lots to talk about and pictures to show in the next few days. Please stay tunned.

Carpe Diem.

The Wall

I've hit the wall! I've reached the stage in my blog that because things are well and stable right now I will be taking time off from writing. I am incredibly delighted at current developments even though I fully understand that no one knows for sure what the future will bring..

The initial intent of the blog was to keep a journal of my little "war" and keep friends and family up to date with my trials and tribulations. I have been deeply honored and flattered that so many of you had shown an interest in keeping up with the blog. I am eternally grateful.

I have found it incredibly fulfilling having talked to a number of different people with various forms and stages of cancer. I find it therapeutic and helpful for me and will continue to do this as much as I can.

In the mean time.................................................

Carpe Diem.

Bio 3 ( Round 1)

It's always so nice (right now) to be able to say that all is well on the medical front. I'm tolerating the maintenance therapy well and everything is stable. As mentioned previously, the type of tumor I have seems to be a very slow growing one. Good, come back in 30 years from now!

Carpe Diem.

The MouseSkin update

Here is the MouseSkin update from Sara Parkerson:

Dear Adrian,
It was nice to hear your voice this afternoon. As promised, here is an email update on your Tumorgrafts.

In our Texas facility (START) there are 3 mice with small tumors growing.
In our Maryland facility, we recently transplanted 5 F0 tumors into new mice and 2 tumors were explanted and shipped to START. The growth continues to be slow.

I hope you had a nice trip to NY.

Sara Parkerson, RN, MSN, OCN, CCM
Director Personalized Oncology Services
Champions Biotechnology, Inc.

Carpe Diem.

Mr. Gomez goes to New York

AKA Max and I drove to New York to be with my Mom and the rest of the gang for Passover while Diana went to Toronto to spend Passover with her Dad and family. We had a great time with everyone, ate lots, yada, yada, yada.

Carpe Diem.

The Stockholm syndrome

Strange title for this post but I think it's appropriate.

Speaking from experience, something strange happens when you are battling cancer and you are given good news. It is something akin to the Stockholm syndrome. You are so resigned to the treatments and medications that you become reliant and dependent on what you are being given. All of a sudden, when the treatments stop because of good, positive scans, you seem to flail around looking for more treatment or more medication. Almost not wanting to accept the good news for fear that it may eventually turn to bad news. You come to accept the grind and expect it to go on indefinitely. Well, the hell with your "captors"!

The reality is scary/weird. You will always be looking over your shoulder, so to speak. You will always live scan to scan. The quality comes from how you choose to live that time between scans - Carpe Diem. What's over your shoulder shouldn't concern you - every day is a gift. Whatever happens, you have to deal with it. I have found out that you cannot run from this.

No, I'm not stoned or on heavy meds. Just imparting some worldly bits of drivel.

Carpe Diem.

Some Yiddish comic humor

Thanks Sandy B.

Carpe Diem.

The Hurt Locker

Brilliant, intense, sad etc. etc. Of course it's violent. What did you expect? If I had only one wish right now it would be for every coalition soldier to leave Iraq and Afghanistan yesterday! This is not an anti-war statement but an honest to goodness desire for this all to end. It's no wonder this movie won so many awards. I try and remain somewhat apolitical on my blog, so my apologies to anyone who reads too much into this.

Carpe Diem.

My therapy

Over the past couple of months I have written about and spoken to a number of different people who are battling and suffering from various forms of cancer. I have found this very therapeutic for me and certainly very enlightening and eye opening. I am simply amazed at how the same specific disease can have such differing outcomes. Some stories are truly heartbreaking but honestly, which ones aren't? I'm not implying that my lot in life is now to comfort the ill because that would be a load of "bollocks". But I do know that there are times that I have been through certain procedures and drug therapies and I can give my point of view and experiences.

There are so many days that go by that I wished I was completely ignorant about any of this and that my life was plugging along normally. Well, that ain't the reality. So I deal with the reality anyway I can. What all cancer patients endure is the unknown. Will it spread, will it come back, will I suffer, what am I leaving behind. You have to have a combination of faith, optimism and hope. Surround yourself with the best medical advice and treatment (if possible), the most supportive and loving family and friends and throw in a loving and faithful pet (Max) and voila. And always remember, that your life is better defined by not the quantity of years but the quality. So far I believe that I have had 53 quality years (for the most part :)).

Carpe Diem.

Visit with the cardiologist

Today I had an echo cardiogram (ultrasound) and an EEG. The cardiologist was very pleased with both tests. The only slight downside is that since my diagnosis 2 years ago, my heart rate has been faster then normal. High normal. Go figure! He is going to keep me on some meds that slow down the rate and I will be checked again in 3 months. He also said I was looking well and was very pleased with my overall condition. Wow. Again, I prefer all this to the alternative.

Carpe Diem.

Bio 2 (Round 1)

Another smooth round. The blood work and vitals were good. I've porked out and gained 2 more lbs and I'm tolerating the Avastin well. It's kind of weird because you don't want to jinx yourself with all the good news but the truth is I'll take it! The combination of good medical results, feeling good and looking good have to account for something so I'm enjoying it while I can.

Carpe Diem.

The Oscars

Wonderful news about a friend of ours. She won an Oscar for best documentary short called "Music by Prudence". Elinor Burkett is married to Dennis Gaboury. Dennis is the person that I am involved with in ZimKids. I am so thrilled for Elli. She and Dennis are two of the most wonderful and giving people I know. I have included a couple of links for you to look at. Let all the information guide you before you formulate any opinion as to what occurred during the Oscars broadcast.

http://www.liyanatour.com/index.cfm

http://oscar.go.com/nominations/nominees/music-by-prudence/3226

Carpe Diem.

2 (two) year anniversary today

He takes a kicking and keeps on ticking.

Carpe Diem.

Carling Cup Final

Carpe Diem.

Off again ? Bloody hell !

Yes indeed. Tonight we leave for London. Robyn and I are going to visit my sister and her gang. And yes, we are going to a football game as well. It's not just any football game. We are going to the Carling Cup Final at Wembley stadium between Manchester United and Aston Villa. How did we get these tickets you ask? A good childhood friend of mine told me back in December that if Man U made the final he would have 2 tickets for me. So off we go. Meat pies, Worcester sauce, warm beer, rain and cold. What more could you ask for?

Carpe Diem.

P.S. Don't ask what the Carling Cup is. I think it's a silver cup for drinking Carling beer out of.

My Lunch meeting

Today I had lunch with a couple that I had been introduced to by Diana. The reason that I met with them was that the wife was diagnosed back in October 2008 with the same lung cancer as I have. They were a really nice couple, probably in their mid seventies. We had a great conversation over lunch and swapped numerous health and treatment stories. Very therapeutic for both of us. It is really quite amazing that 2 similar diagnosis's could have such different current outcomes. Unfortunately, her cancer has spread to her bones which is typical for lung cancer. It's usually the bones or the brain that it typically could spread to. She is now being treated with Alimta, the drug that I have just been taken off of. I have been so fortunate to not have any spread yet and to have a good outcome on the regimen of drugs I was given. We all react and respond differently to these various drugs so hopefully she will have a good response from the Alimta. We plan to stay in touch.

I also know 2 other people that were diagnosed with esophageal cancer around about the same time. One of them is doing quite well and the other is having a really tough time. His cancer has spread to the skin and some other organ. Once again, it is amazing to see such differing current outcomes.

I am not naive enough to think that things could take a turn for the worse for me with this incredibly awful disease. The sad reality is we all end up in the same place eventually!!!

Carpe Diem.