Testing...1, 2, 3.

Over the past few weeks I've enjoyed greeting a bit of normality into my life. As of last week, I no longer have to have my blood drawn twice a week. As of this week, I can pretty much eat whatever I want. As of tomorrow, the port in my chest will be removed and I don't have to deal with having a doorbell sewn into my chest any longer.

The quarterly chest scan came back unchanged today and I'll get the results from everything else (kidney, heart, bone) tomorrow...hopefully while I'm sitting at home sleeping off the morning's surgery to remove the port which to my knowledge closely resembles pulling the drawstring out of a pair of sweatpants. Sweatpants, jugular, what's the difference?...

I'll get back to you tomorrow.

CP

2/1/07 Post Script:

The port's out. The tests all looked good. We're packing for Mexico. Adios Porto!

Now what? Grow hair. Get back to my normal life which I guess lies somewhere between real estate, women's fashion, and the great outdoors. Go back to Durham every three months for the next two years and be rescan during what the doctors have deemed the high risk period for a reoccurrence. Move on.

High risk period! Sounds scary. What I can confidently say, acknowledging that these scans are an intense and worrisome pain in the butt, is that I have done and will continue to do everything I can to reduce the risk of a reoccurrence even though there still is one...one that dramatically dwindles after two years and just about disappears after five. Until then, I'll keep plugging away and will continue to update this blog on anything worthy of making the Chronicles.

After all this, there is a good chance that I will only return to Duke from now on to undergo checkups rather than treatments. Thanks to everyone for their support and best wishes to all those who are fighting their own fights, whatever they may be.

31 years

Wow, I just lost a solid amount a writing to the computer gods. To save us all time, I'll summarize the paragraphs.

1. I'm feeling back to normal for the most part.
2. Hair has started growing back...all over.
3. I turned 31 yesterday. 21 was a bit more exciting.
4. After some tests, I should get my port out the end of the month.
5. The port should make a nice keychain, Clark.
6. Thanks to everyone for gifts and support both during and for finishing these treatments.
7. Some of you have gone overboard. Thanks again for that.
8. I'll check back in around the end of the month.
9. Spell checker and blogger don't mix sometimes. (That was new after losing my post)

There was something I forgot to mention quite appropriately considering the subject. As chemo neared its completion and especially after the fact, I've realized how much blacking out occurred during and immediately following my treatments at Duke. As we all know from recent media coverage, blacking out at Duke is nothing new, but I thought I'd mention and record the experience. To those who called and visited and I have no clue that either occurred, thank you. To those lucky few that enjoyed memorable or offendable comments, I appologize. To those who see a familiar similarity to my chemo experience and their social habits, I sympathize. What a crazy journey.

I hope everyone is having a great year so far. I look forward to catching up with all of you. Take Care!!

CP

Chemo was SO last year....

I just wanted to thank all the kind comments and prayers from the last group. Motley Crue has never evoked such a reverent response.

We came home last Friday very excited. A few hours after arriving home I surrounded myself with family and some close friends, some of which who were kind enough to make fairly significant drives. We toasted the completion with enthusiasm. We acknowledged that 2006 held many wonderful experiences for us all, and some sad ones as well. That's life. Then I toasted everyone for their part in the supportive healing throughout the year. Finally we were lead in prayer by an old family friend from Wilson and reflected on the year and the future and the importance love and faith. It was a fitting end to the mentally, physically, and emotionally challenging task of undergoing chemotherapy.

We had a small new years celebration Sunday that was sufficiently worthy considering my condition. I have to say, mentally, I'm the best I've been and the body is catching up at a rapid pace. I'm ready on so many levels to get back into the game.

What's next? The end of January will host a mulititude of tests. CT, MRI, Bonescan, Bloodwork, you name it. After everything hopefully checks out as it shoud, the port comes out and from then on, my only trips to Duke should be for occasional checkups.

Happy New Year to everyone!

2007 is going to be another exiting one for us all I'm sure. We'll see engagements, weddings, babies, new companies, birthdays, anniversaries, and travels. We'll watch our families, businesses, relationships, faith, and dreams continue to grow. Unavoidable adversary and hardships will create opportunities for comforting loved ones or helping them through a difficult journeys or decisions.

Best of luck to you all this year. May you all be happy, healthy and prosperous.

CP