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.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, February 19, 2010
ZimKids update from Dennis
Lots of stuff happening with Zimkids:
I am happy to say Zibusiso Ngwenya, a Zimkid, who was paralyzed and lost his voice last summer, is now walking and his voice suddenly came back three days ago! We still aren’t sure what he had.
Thanks to my good friend Ric Keeley we have a web cam and now that we got broadband we have video scyped schools in New York, Florida and New Jersey. At one session one of my kids asked another kid in New York about their favorite food. He said ‘sushi’! An American kid asked if they all spoke African! So it’s been lots of fun for both sets of kids.
Took our first batch of 19 kids to get HIV tests. Three were positive so now getting them staged which is a tad difficult as the CD4 machine isn't working. But we try!
We’ve been expanding horizontally, that is, we are not, as yet, adding to our numbers but increasing the depth of out coverage to those we already assist. To move our Council of Elders, our 16 to 18 year olds who run their activities for the younger children, toward a greater sense of responsibility, we have paired them with even needier people. We took a trip to Bulawayo landfill where 200 squatters live. They are conducting interviews of the people there and we provide some food assistance. We are providing them with exposure to many aspects of life here in the city touring Arts schools, trade schools and the universities and colleges and even the local prison, police headquarters, etc.. And we are helping them to plan their futures by saving their doll money for future educational use.
The last week of January we lost two mothers to HIV related illness. Now we have five families headed by 18 – 19 year olds. Since the well being of those who look after the orphans in our group is essential to the children’s stability, we reach out to them with our CARING FOR THOSE WHO DO THE CARING project. Sometimes a very simple thing opens the door to earning money. One grandmother needed nothing but a pair of glasses to begin earning money once more by sewing. A father lacked only a bobbin holder for his sewing machine in order to bring an income into his household; another needs vegetable seeds or a dozen chicks. We are building a project page on our website for this so you will see the caregivers, a brief biography and what they need to succeed.
FOR THE DIGNITY OF OUR GIRLS was establish because our older girls were entering into womanhood without access to bras or sanitary napkins. Rather, they leave home with their breasts bound tightly in cloth or not at all, and they are forced to use and re-use old rags during menstruation. We are currently raising funds to buy bras and sanitary napkins to help them feel more comfortable with their own bodies.
It seems that every two weeks I hear from another school or church that has heard about Zimkids and wants to help or just get involved. It’s been amazing.
In the meantime my wife Elli is heading to LA for the Oscars as her documentary got nominated in the short documentary category!
Sincere thanks for all you have done for us.
Carpe Diem.
I am happy to say Zibusiso Ngwenya, a Zimkid, who was paralyzed and lost his voice last summer, is now walking and his voice suddenly came back three days ago! We still aren’t sure what he had.
Thanks to my good friend Ric Keeley we have a web cam and now that we got broadband we have video scyped schools in New York, Florida and New Jersey. At one session one of my kids asked another kid in New York about their favorite food. He said ‘sushi’! An American kid asked if they all spoke African! So it’s been lots of fun for both sets of kids.
Took our first batch of 19 kids to get HIV tests. Three were positive so now getting them staged which is a tad difficult as the CD4 machine isn't working. But we try!
We’ve been expanding horizontally, that is, we are not, as yet, adding to our numbers but increasing the depth of out coverage to those we already assist. To move our Council of Elders, our 16 to 18 year olds who run their activities for the younger children, toward a greater sense of responsibility, we have paired them with even needier people. We took a trip to Bulawayo landfill where 200 squatters live. They are conducting interviews of the people there and we provide some food assistance. We are providing them with exposure to many aspects of life here in the city touring Arts schools, trade schools and the universities and colleges and even the local prison, police headquarters, etc.. And we are helping them to plan their futures by saving their doll money for future educational use.
The last week of January we lost two mothers to HIV related illness. Now we have five families headed by 18 – 19 year olds. Since the well being of those who look after the orphans in our group is essential to the children’s stability, we reach out to them with our CARING FOR THOSE WHO DO THE CARING project. Sometimes a very simple thing opens the door to earning money. One grandmother needed nothing but a pair of glasses to begin earning money once more by sewing. A father lacked only a bobbin holder for his sewing machine in order to bring an income into his household; another needs vegetable seeds or a dozen chicks. We are building a project page on our website for this so you will see the caregivers, a brief biography and what they need to succeed.
FOR THE DIGNITY OF OUR GIRLS was establish because our older girls were entering into womanhood without access to bras or sanitary napkins. Rather, they leave home with their breasts bound tightly in cloth or not at all, and they are forced to use and re-use old rags during menstruation. We are currently raising funds to buy bras and sanitary napkins to help them feel more comfortable with their own bodies.
It seems that every two weeks I hear from another school or church that has heard about Zimkids and wants to help or just get involved. It’s been amazing.
In the meantime my wife Elli is heading to LA for the Oscars as her documentary got nominated in the short documentary category!
Sincere thanks for all you have done for us.
Carpe Diem.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Bio 1 (Round 1)
For now, no more chemo. By the way, I have been on quite a few different chemos for almost the past 2 years so as you can see I'm ecstatic to be off the chemos for now. Ye ha Ole.
Things went quite smoothly again today. Once more, vitals were good, blood work was good, weight was stable and all I had, infusion wise, was the Avastin. I'm going to keep a journal, for the next short while, to see if there is noted improvement in how I feel. I hope so.
Just a short bit about Avastin. It's a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth of cancer cells by blocking the formation and growth of new blood vessels in the tumor which slows their growth. Not a chemo but a biological (whatever the hell that means).
Carpe Diem.
Things went quite smoothly again today. Once more, vitals were good, blood work was good, weight was stable and all I had, infusion wise, was the Avastin. I'm going to keep a journal, for the next short while, to see if there is noted improvement in how I feel. I hope so.
Just a short bit about Avastin. It's a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth of cancer cells by blocking the formation and growth of new blood vessels in the tumor which slows their growth. Not a chemo but a biological (whatever the hell that means).
Carpe Diem.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
***Video error message***
If you get the following error message when you click on a one of my videos, it's a Blogger web site problem. I hope they get it fixed soon because it's a pain in the ar&$.
"This video is currently not available. Please try again latter."
Carpe Diem.
"This video is currently not available. Please try again latter."
Carpe Diem.
Friday, February 12, 2010
The latest medical news
Dr. Schraeder and Dr. Sidransky had a phone consultation about my up coming medical treatments and this is what came of the conversation. After being on my current regimen for about 1 year and taking into account my latest scans, here is what I will be doing.
I will be scanned every 3 months. I will continue to receive treatments every 3 weeks but with a change. I will no longer be receiving Alimta (the chemotherapy drug) but will continue to receive the Avastin (biological therapy drug). I am thrilled about the fact that I can expect very little, if no side effects from the Avastin. The Avastin, by the way, is given to me via my port. This change takes effect this coming Monday February 15th. The Alimta has been a very good drug for me and what is particularly good news is that if there is a recurrence of the disease I can go back on this chemotherapy.
I am delighted and excited about these new positive developments. I am also looking forward to the strong possibility of 21 good days between treatments. Of course we all understand that this is far from over but I will take these developments any day. So...............
Carpe Diem.
I will be scanned every 3 months. I will continue to receive treatments every 3 weeks but with a change. I will no longer be receiving Alimta (the chemotherapy drug) but will continue to receive the Avastin (biological therapy drug). I am thrilled about the fact that I can expect very little, if no side effects from the Avastin. The Avastin, by the way, is given to me via my port. This change takes effect this coming Monday February 15th. The Alimta has been a very good drug for me and what is particularly good news is that if there is a recurrence of the disease I can go back on this chemotherapy.
I am delighted and excited about these new positive developments. I am also looking forward to the strong possibility of 21 good days between treatments. Of course we all understand that this is far from over but I will take these developments any day. So...............
Carpe Diem.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
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Tuesday, February 9, 2010
And it doesn't stop
After about 30 inches of snow this past Saturday more has arrived. Another 20 inches. What the hell is going on? Will it ever end?
Carpe Diem.
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