Thanksgiving Update

First, let me be the first to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Many of us get so wrapped up in our lives, and the sheer commercialism of this time of year, that I think it is wise that we all sit back and reflect on the true meaning of this Holiday.

And what is Thanksgiving about? For me it is a time to remember all the blessings and benefits that we all have in our lives. A time to share those thanks, and whatever else I can, with family and friends. Some of us have more, some of us have less, but we all have something to share and to be thankful for. For myself, I am mainly just thankful for the fact that I am alive and relatively healthy, and that I am blessed with one of the best family's around. Both blood and "adopted". I truly could not be going through this so easily without the support of all. Thank you.

Now, on to the update stuff. Today I went to see the Onc, and to get another infusion of the "Bone Juice". My doc--and the whole team--are quite happy with my current situation. The current plan is to resume the chemo on next Tuesday, and after the cycle is over to run a complete battery of tests. So sometime in early January I will have another set of Brain and Spine MRI's, as well as the neck to nuts CT. After the tests are done I will be off to RWC and Stanford for my follow up appointments for the Craniotomy and CyberKnife. Also, after the tests I will be scheduled for the removal of my primary tumor. Yep, time for the Radical Nephrectomy (Kidney removal)! Seems kinda odd to be excited about another surgery, but I like the idea of treatment progressing. The only drawback is that I will have to be off work again for a few weeks. Ah well, I don't know anyone who died of boredom; so I doubt that I will.

Hopefully the next few days will not be as rough as after the last bone juice infusion; but what will be, will be. The Onc team all had some ideas to try out, so I am hopefully applying their suggestions.

Turkey day should be pretty quiet; we have some friends and my brother bringing food and spending the day with us, so that will be a big help. Of course, stubborn cuss that I am, I insisted on cooking the turkey, stuffing, and gravy. So, come hell or high water, that is what I will do. Besides, I did most of it today. All that is left is plopping the bird on the barbeque or into the oven...

Last of all, I have a special request. A good friend of mine--he stood with me when few would--recently underwent surgery and the pathology report came back this week. Turns out the two of us have another thing in common; we both have Renal Cell Carcinoma. His prognosis is rather better than mine--thank God they found it relatively early. Anyway, I am sure that he and his wife and kids would benefit from your prayers as much as me and mine have, so please remember him.

Thanks again to all of you; and remember that Thanksgiving is about sharing your bounty and being thankful for what you have. Sometimes a hard thing to do, and this year has been harder than most, but I am positive that we all have at least one thing to be thankful for. For myself, many more that one.

Be well.