Howdy folks,
Lots has gone on since my last update was sent out.
And I wanted to get back to you all after I had the newest information and the plans that have been laid. Sorry I'm so long winded, I'm really trying to trim it down but there's just so much going on right now.
But first, I really what to make a very important point to you all. I'll start by saying Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You all have given to me and added to my strength while I walk down the latest path in my life. Your thought and prayers have helped me and Sue more than I can even imagine. So, let me tell you a couple of the things that has gone on in the past week. Last evening when Sue and I got back from a very long and extremly tiring day at the Boston VA (about a 12 hour day). These last few weeks have been weeks that has sucked at my strength not only physically, mentally and emotionally. But back to what's happened of late. We got home yesterday, it was dark as can be. I didn't really look around much, I just wanted to get in the house, put something in my gut and go to bed.
And that's what I did, so this morning when I got up, Sue said look out the windows, so I did. To my surprize and delight, my whole yard was clean, I was hard pressed to even find a single leaf. I have a pretty big yard, about 1/2 acre of rakeing. No note and no idea as to who did this for me. But Thanks to all that took part from Sue and I.
Next, because the price of fire wood has jumped to $250.00 a cord this year and I burn 3 to 4 cord a year, Sue and I decided that the cost and then reality of all the work that burning wood brings, well, it just isn't a bargin to say the least. We narrowed our idea of a new heat sourse to a LP gas furnance in out cellar, "forced hot air type" or one of those woodstove looking, fake log type LP gas heaters for the living room. Now we've been talking for some time about this heat supply change. Weeks before I found myself on this latest curve ball express. Anyway, we went to our LP gas supplier and asked him to help us with the cost difference between the two. He's been busy, a very hard guy to catch, so I had to call a few times to get a return call. He told me he'd get back soon. So, as time ticked it was soon well within the health issue. He called me last Thursday morning and asked to meet at my house at 12:30, because he wanted some messurements. He showed up, took those messurements and said let's go out to the truck. I thought he was going to write something up for me, but as we got to his truck, He turned and said, "The Lord has been good to me through the years and I think he wants me to share with you..." he then pointed to a brand new LP gas furnance, he then added, "this furnace is for you and Sue as a gift." It blew my mind, we went inside to tell Sue, She fell into tears. Our LP gas man said, "you guys have been customers of mine a long time and good paying customers." He had no idea of the situation Sue and I are in. This is without a doubt an answered prayer of the silent type.
Now, last but not lest, as you all know I went to the Boston VA Hospital for my last hope at a second opinion. I did sort of prepare myself, because I was told that the Dr at Boston wouldn't operate on me either. However, he said he would operate, I won't get into all the risks, but after coming to the knowledge that a body can only get so much radiation and that's it, Well, it seems if all goes well on the Operating Table, then Radiation and Chemo, I will have a better chance for survival and a longer time is a much better chance than just radiation and or chemo alone could provide. Now, are you ready, I'm due for surgery on Nov 12 at 6:00 am. I'll be in the boston VA Hospital for a week or so. The Dr told me that if my heart is damaged, because not only he a Thoractic surgent but he's also a heart surgent. He said it looks like the cancer has damaged my (something )cava. He showed me a model of the chest and pointed to the cava. Wow!! It does look like I should hold onto that one. Anyway, he said "don't worry he could repair it with gortex". It's still a rough road ahead, but now my hopes are based on things going well for a 60% chance of a 5 year survival. That's so much better than the meger months that I had for my hopes just the day before yesterday. There is so much more I could tell you, like the risks and one very possible risk is that he may open me up and change his mind and simply close me up. There are a few things that will happen as a result of the operation, but, they are small stuff compared to what this ride has been so far. So, I'm not out of the woods yet, so please keep praying for me and my family because I know that your prayers have helped tp turn this around a great amount all ready.
Also, it's still looking good for me to get radiation at the local Hospital. If it turnd out that I need rehab, there's a good chance for me to get that closer to home also.
Todays visit to the vermont VA hospital went well. The whole team it seems are as pleased as me and Sue. This ride has seemed as though round and round I have gone, and there was no brass ring to grab at all. But now it has a brass ring and I have grabbed ahold of it.
Thanks again for all your prayers.
I wish I could write each of you a more personal message to thank you for your willingness to even read about what's going on let alone all words of encouragment, and such heart felt thoughts and especially your prayers.
Many thanks to all of you.
Sam aka chappy
Author
Topic: I might be down, but I'm not out! (Read 248613 times)