This article appeared in my pilots’ union newspaper.

IPA Foundation: ‘Adrian Suskin Center for Zimkids’ Dedicated Built by Orphans, Run by Orphans & Benefiting Orphans in Zimbabwe     The IPA Foundation has periodically provided updates on the incredible work being done by fellow IPAer Adrian Suskin who has worked to help orphans in Zimbabwe through a charity called ‘Zimkids.”  We’re very pleased to announce that on March 23rd, Zimkids officially dedicated its new campus in honor of Adrian.      The story began in March 2008, when Adrian was forced to give up flying after he was diagnosed with Stage Four Lung Cancer.  After his initial treatment for the disease, he visited his home country of Zimbabwe and began an effort to help many of the country’s innocent children who have been made orphans by the ravages of poverty and disease.     He joined the Board of Trustees at Zimkids and got to work raising money for the hungry and in some cases, sick young children.      By partnering with the IPA Foundation and other charities, Suskin helped to build a new campus for Zimkids which includes a computer center, office space, clinic, kitchen, resource center and market garden.      Older orphans who were interested in learning construction did much of the work, from digging trenches to installing solar panels purchased by the IPA Foundation.     On March 23, 2013 the Center was officially dedicated in honor of Adrian with a full afternoon of dancing, singing and skits organized entirely by the orphans. A carved rock acknowledging the naming of the Campus after Adrian reads: "Simunye," which means "Together."     Today, Zimkids serves nearly 200 children, ages 3 to 17.      We will have much more about this incredible story coming up in the April 8th issue of the IPA Flight Times.  Please join us in congratulating Adrian for this wonderful accomplishment!     For those interested in learning more about the Zimkids story, please access their site at www.Zimkids.com, or check out their Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/zimkids. And, for those of you who are not yet a part of the IPA Foundation, you may join by filling out the payroll deduction form located on the IPA Foundation’s webpage at:http://inside.ipapilot.org/committee/foundation/foundationv3.pdf.

Chemo 9 (Round 8)

Talking about Highs and Lows…….. I have just retuned from the most wonderful trip to Zimbabwe to my reality of chemo therapy here in Baltimore. Though I shouldn’t moan too much about the Lows of chemo because that’s what is allowing me these wonderful opportunities to experience the true Highs in life.

If you are going to visit a few continents in your lifetime then visit Africa twice !

Carpe Diem

And……….I’m off

To Zimbabwe. Pictures and stories to follow.

Carpe Diem.

The Zimkids Center

On Saturday March 23rd (from 2:30 until 4:00pm) there will be a dedication plaque unveiling for me at the Adrian Suskin Center for Zimkids in Pumula. It will be followed by a brief celebration. 

I cannot begin to tell you how honored and flattered I am about this dedication. 

I am unbelievably proud of Zimkids and could not be happier working with the likes of Dennis Gaboury, Tinashe Basa and all the other talented and dedicated individuals that organize and run the program.

Thank you and……

Carpe Diem.

P.S. Yes, I will be there :-)

Chemo 8 (Round 8)

8 8. Should that mean anything ?

Carpe Diem.

5 years and counting

March 5th, 2008 I was diagnosed with Stage IV non-small cell adenocarcinoma of the right lung. I am way beyond my “best before” date but still going. I am grateful to my family, friends and doctors for all they have done for me to date.

Carpe Diem.

Happy birthday to my favorite son.

Well…….. my only son. I hope you have a great and enjoyable day. It’s been amazing and wonderful having you in my life all these years. I love you, Dadrian.

Carpe Diem.

P.S. This picture was taken in 2003 :-)

A visit with Bobba The Bear

I spent a good couple of days with my mom in Boca. As always, I had an enjoyable time with her. We even visited my dad. He didn’t really say much :-)

I almost missed my return flight to Baltimore. I thought I was leaving Friday and it turns out I was leaving Thursday. Oops. Never done that before !

Carpe Diem.

Cause and effect

Post chemo this is my usual run down. I’ll start with day 1 and go through to day 21.

1. Chemo day is usually fine. 

2. Still feel ok but get flushed. Looks like I have a tan.

3. Still a bit flushed and vision gets a bit blurry. Nothing glasses can't fix.

4. Fatigue sets in and mild nausea starts. Lots of rest and meds to help with the nausea.

5. Same as day 4.

6. Same as day 4 but getting milder.

7. For the most part, generally feeling better.

8. One of the chemo drugs causes some pretty bad constipation. Nothing meds, an ice cream stick and     some TNT can't cure.

9. Ok.

10. Ok but slight fatigue.

11 −21. Generally ok.

So in summation, if I have 5 out of 21 days that are not great at least I have 16 days that are more or less OK. I’m also very relieved and happy that the maintenance therapy that I’m on is doing it’s job. Stable and no spread. The only pain in the arse is scheduling all my travel between chemos :-)

Carpe Diem.

Blow by blow for chemo day

I usually don't sleep well before chemo day. Maybe it's because I have to take Dexamethasone (steroid) tablets the day before chemo, the day of chemo and the day after chemo. I prep my port with a numbing agent and then off the Infusion Center (hospital). I live about 5 minutes from the hospital and no, I didn't plan it that way.

I check in and get my wrist bracelets so they don't confuse me with Mrs. Mittleschmatz (fictitious name :-)). I then get my vital signs taken. Weight, blood pressure etc and then proceed to my assigned chemo chair. I usually work with the same nurse but sometimes they change it up to keep me on my toes. Yea, right. Medical questions are asked (yada yada) and then I'm hooked up to a saline drip. They draw my blood and send it off to a dedicated lab for chemo and infusion patients. The results usually come back after about 45 minutes. I also have to give them a urine sample so they can check for protein in the urine. The Alimta can sometimes mess with your kidneys.

When the blood work comes back and all looks good then Dr. Schraeder orders the premeds and the chemo. The premeds are given before the chemo. I get more Dexamethasone tablets, Pepcid via IV (for heart burn) and then Aloxi via IV (for nausea). Then I get the the Alimta and the Avastin. The Avastin takes about 30 minutes to administer via IV and the Alimta takes about 10 minutes. When that is all done I get  a 5 minute saline IV flush and I'm off. The whole process takes about 3 hours. Not too bad. I can walk around with the IV pole and go bother the nurses and staff so it's not too terrible. In the past I have had treatments that lasted as long as 8 hours !

Carpe Diem.