I’m back! Our website’s — and therefore this blog’s — migration to the new hosting site did not go well. Hence your inability to see our web presence or this blog for the last 48 hours. I’m happy to be back up on the wire.
First of all, I want to thank my brother Eric for providing me with a heavenly weekend of man cave time. Just the two of us whiled away the hours talking, sipping on a few cold ones, burning stuff and target shooting. We watched some football on Saturday and rode around his 1,350-acre hunting lease. It was exactly what I needed, with one small problem. I lost my wallet straight out of the box.
I don’t keep my cash in my wallet (yes, it is because I usually don’t have any) and so I had some spending money. I was worried about my driver’s license and my insurance card because I’m so close to needing them for an upcoming MRI and the radiation treatment I’ll have at Emory next week. So, I couldn’t get the lost wallet off my mind. Every once in a while I’d head back over to where my car was parked on the property and go through it again. I think I went back to the car a total of four times during the weekend. I went through every single pocket of every single bag multiple times.
I had a system. I’d check one bag and after it was cleared, I’d put it on the other bed. I did that three times during the weekend. I went through my clothes and my jacket and we rode around the place looking at places we’d been. “Where’s your wallet?” Eric asked me a few hundred times over the two days. He’d ask me the whereabouts of my wallet and I’d go to looking — again — and he’d laugh.
So, I called Jill late Saturday night and reported the wallet missing. During that discussion I told her that there was only one place I hadn’t looked because I KNEW it wasn’t there. That place was a giant L. L. Bean monogrammed bag that I would never put my wallet in. You see, I’m pretty weird about my stuff. I know where all those thing like a wallet, gps, knife, pistol, checkbook, watch and things like that are located. I make damn sure they go back there, because I tend to lose things. So I reported to Jill that I hadn’t, in fact, looked in that L. L. Bean bag.
“Well, you need to dump that bag out and look all the way through it,” she said. I told her I was sure I didn’t really need to do that and we finished our conversation. I walked over to the bag and dumped its contents out on my bed. Sure as hell, the wallet was at the bottom! I called her back and told her what an idiot I was. I’ve never put my wallet in that bag before. Oh, well. Eric got a big kick out of my anguish over the lost wallet. I’m glad I was able to entertain him this weekend. We really did have a nice time.
I got an answer today to a question I’ve pondered many times on this blog. Since my cancer has come back, I’ve been unblinded from the ASSURE clinical research study. I found out today that I had been randomized on the placebo arm, just as I had thought. This is very good news, because now I won’t be precluded from any other therapies in the future that might have been rendered useless by my taking one of those therapeutic agents on the other two arms of the trial.
I spoke with Dr. Liza Stapleford at about 6 p.m. tonight. She remarked that I had some incredibly responsive doctors treating me down here in Columbus. She reported that phone calls to Dr. Raj Alappan and Dr. Glen Vahjen were promptly returned and that both doctors spoke fluently about my case and were “really plugged in” to my needs. I’m not surprised that she told me this. I’ve received wonderful care here.
There is some concern about my having an MRI with contrast and there is a good bit of talking that needs to be done before we make a decision. I plan to try to get in touch with Drs. Alappan and Vahjen tomorrow to begin to sort out all the issues. Whatever we decide to do will be played out here. If I end up having the MRI, it will be done here and will travel with me to Emory next week when the stereotactic radiosurgery is scheduled. That treatment is 45-50 minutes in one single dose of 16-gy (gray). I’ll follow up with them after four weeks and that is all there is to it. We’ll continue to get CT scans with contrast and be vigilant.
I’m sorry about the website being down. I’ve received some emails and I hear that my mom got a bunch of phone calls from her church friends wondering what was going on. Well, we’re back at it and I continue to be very positive about our decision to pursue the radiation therapy.
Before you go to bed, make sure to locate your wallet!
Angela White says
Just checked for my wallet. All snug in my purse – thank ya… hope you find yours. Sounds like you have some good plans going on with your care. I wish you mega good wishes and awesome results. God is listening. Hugs…
Larry Sanders says
You have absolutely no idea how damned lucky you are that you found that wallet. Emory would not have been as understanding of your good intentions to pay them as your friends here in Columbus. You are going to need every charge card, dining card and gasoline card as well as every dollar in that wallet before Emory will crank up any of their machines. You better give Jill an extra big hug for helping you find that item at this critical juncture.
Wanda Watson Farish says
Will be praying for you tomorrow and in your upcoming treatment.
Wanda Watson Farish says
Oh, and no worries about my wallet. I’m not organized enough to even carry one!
Margie Ivey says
Glad you’re back and that you had a nice weekend which I’m sure you needed (minus the wallet scare). Also glad to hear there’s only one treatment. Thoughts and prayers will travel with you.
Eddie & Nancy says
Glad you had such a great visit with your brother and got this site worked out. We thought something was wrong with our computer. I have not stopped laughing about your wallet story. Now you know what us senior citizens go through every day. It is great to have a smart and caring wife, also.
Prayers continue and we all know they will be answered positively.
as always,
Eddie and Nancy
LeAnn B. says
As I read your wallet story, I was tranported to a wonderful place in time and could hear the laughter of two special brothers. I can think of no two people who have more distinguishable laughter, emanating from deep places of unique experiences shared and unwavering love. Much love to you both.