The Doctors visits

Both went well. The infectious diseases Doc wants to keep me on the antibiotics until May 2010. It's basically cheap insurance to fend off any recurrence of MRSA.

The heart Doc was very pleased with the results of the 24 hour heart monitor that I wore last week. He has cut back on one of the two meds I'm taking now (the tougher of the two) and I'm also on a minimal dose for both. I could be off both meds in about 4 months. Yea ha ole.

Both Docs have also cleared me to have the port reinserted. I will probably be doing it before my next chemo on December 7th.

Max and I are now on our best behaviour as Diana came back from London this past Monday evening. She had a really nice time except for a couple of days of gale force winds. Alas, no tennis!

Carpe Diem.

Chemo 8 (Round 6)

Aah, a morning with Katie (Jen was away). Kind of sounds like an expensive bordello. I got "poked" and prodded, was asked tons of medical questions and then given drugs. This all took about 5 hours and for that I was charged lots of thousands of $$$.

It took this long because my veins were not cooperating and I had to get "poked" 5 times. Sometimes the veins behave and sometimes they act like fishing worms about to get baited. Mine were fishing worms on steroids.

Something about 5's today!

The blood work was fine, the checkup was good and I'm feeling OK and I put on a couple of lbs. Just full of holes. I am contemplating having the latest and greatest portacath reinstalled. Here is the info about the portacath:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In medicine, a port (or portacath) is a small medical appliance that is installed beneath the skin. A catheter connects the port to a vein. Under the skin, the port has a septum through which drugs can be injected and blood samples can be drawn many times, usually with less discomfort for the patient than a more typical "needle stick".

Ports are used mostly to treat hematology and oncology patients, but recently ports have been adapted also for hemodialysis patients.

The port is usually inserted in the upper chest, just below the clavicle or collar bone, leaving the patient's hands free.

Carpe Diem.

Escape from the "Madness Of King Luca"

After spending a really nice 2 days with the Polskin family it was time for Trechtobal Gomez (Max) and me to head back to Baltimore. It was a relatively ok drive back. Max was exhausted from his playtime with King Luca the Bazooka so I had to do all the driving. Thanks Phil and How for the always wonderful time spent with you. I think my Oncologist may have to put me on a diet soon!!!

Carpe Diem.

T.I.A.

This Is Africa. To anyone that has grown up or lived in Africa you either know or are aware of this expression. It was made somewhat understandable by Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond. There are two meanings to this acronym.

Quite simply put, it explains the beauty, simplicity and tranquility of Africa. Well, most of it. You can gaze at sights like Victoria Falls or Kilimanjaro and say "ooo This is Africa". You can spend time amongst the people and say, "wow, This Is Africa". You can watch lion bring down and eat a buffalo and say "geez This Is Africa".

Consequently, you can listen to the politicians of Africa and exclaim "now This Is Africa". You can go to the store to get milk and only have two choices. Milk or nothing. "This Is Africa". Or you could deal with the bureaucracy and corruption and say "s#!t This Is Africa".

This leads to my next point. Some of you have voiced concern about using credit cards to make donations because it seems that there are an abnormal amount of internet scams that seem to originate out of Africa. Please do what makes you comfortable. If that means not donating because of your concern for internet scams then I fully understand. Please also understand that GlobalGiving is a Virginia, USA based organization. Our link with them is purely to give us global exposure. We can still accept donations the old fashioned way (not trying to be condescending) by sending the check donation directly to me and I will forward the funds in their entirety to our people in Zim. If you are considering this method then make the checks out to Adrian Suskin with a memo note "For ZimKids". Thank you all.

Carpe Diem.

While the cats away......................

The mice (Max and me) will play. So we drove to New Yaawk to spend time with the Polskin family. The drive was ok but it's really tough for Max when he drives, as he has no thumbs and consequently, it's tough for him to steer.

Parking in Manhattan is absurd. Really expensive and difficult to find. So when you do get a spot you never want to leave. The problem is when you find something it may have a no parking street cleaning day. There was a Seinfeld episode that showed that very problem. Hilarious. Well, I lived this very episode. It was like synchronized car parking. Bloody funny to watch but equally funny to be a part of.

Max and Luca (the Polskin family dog) have been getting on famously. They have really been having a grand time together. Sort of rejuvenated Max. Or nearly killed him!

Carpe Diem.

Social butterfly

Lunch with Larry, dinner with Dan and breakfast with "Basil" (Max). And the reason is, Diana left for London on Tuesday night so who the hell wants to eat at home alone. Of course Max (Basil) is good company, it's just that he doesn't say much! Diana is spending time with the Bass family and I'm sure playing tennis and eating copious amounts of English chocolates. She will be home this coming Monday afternoon just in time to miss my next chemo session.

Oh yea, they removed the 24 hour heart monitor yesterday after.............you guessed it, 24 hours. Results pending. Nurse Torquemada (from the Spanish Inquisition) removed the tape and the 7 glued on leads and in the process also removed copious amounts of hair and skin. Why in the hell would anyone want a waxing!!!

Carpe Diem.

Sorry to bug you again

Please would you consider donating to:

Feed Zimbabwean Orphans, Body and Soul

http://www.globalgiving.com/projects/zimkids-feeds-zimbabwean-orphans-body-and-soul/

Put as little as $10 (or whatever) on your credit card. We need unique (different credit card or check numbers) donors as well as the $$$ to win this challenge. You can read about this at the link below and you will understand more. The matching funds can pay for infrastructure like a vehicle and the donations go straight to the kids. At this point we can expand programs and numbers (helping more kids).

http://www.globalgiving.com/leaderboards/givemore-getmore/

Thanks in advance.

Carpe Diem

Veterans day

Thank you to all those Veterans out there both past and present.

Carpe Diem.

Heart monitor and meds

Today I had a 24 hour heart monitor attached to me. No, I'm not in imminent danger. But because I was put on two different heart meds during my MRSA hospital stay back in May the cardiologist is thinking of taking me off the meds. Probably a good idea to check me out before the meds are stopped. I will see the him next Tuesday to get the scoop.

I will also be seeing the "infectious diseases" doctor next Tuesday to see if I can also stop taking the antibiotics I've been on since May. You gotta love that title.

If all goes well it will be great to get off these three meds. Three down and a gazillion to go!

Carpe Diem.

How do I feel you ask?

Well even if you didn't ask here goes. Generally, pretty good. Like I have said a number of times, out of the 21 days between chemo treatments if I have 15 good days I'm way ahead of the game. The other days are not all terrible but there are some days that I have no energy and get tired pretty quickly. My breathing , for the most part, is OK. With all the radiation caused fibrosis and the two talc procedures, it's obviously not like it used to be. I'm doing light workouts every other day (sort of) and doing more stuff around the house. Two words that help with this recovery. Home Depot.

I still have days when I go through the "why me?" thoughts. And the answer is always the same. Who else did you have in mind? There are so many others battling this lousy disease and doing much worse than I am. So, for that I'm grateful.

I just want to say how lucky I feel to be surrounded and supported by so many good friends and wonderful family members. For this alone, I am one of the luckiest people around. I am forever in your debt.

To my flying friends (family), I cannot begin to tell you all how much I miss your company and camaraderie. Thank you for keeping in touch and keeping me in your thoughts. There isn't a day go by that I don't think of all the amazing sights and places we visited. It's been almost two years since I last flew (worked)and do I miss it? You bet.

Carpe Diem.