Week Six - Saturday

I wrote a long blog last night but my computer ate it before I could send it. I spent almost as long looking for the thing as spent writing it so in the end, I just said the hell with it and went to bed. I'll try to do a little better tonight.

First of all, today was very nice. The sun was shining and it was over 60. It almost felt like spring. Second, and maybe there was some connection with the nice day, I felt pretty good today. I only had a little nausea this morning but not much pain. I've decided that tomorrow will even be a better day!

In my Thursday's blog, I promised to give some dates on what is going to be happening during the next month or so. Terry already wrote most of the information in an email to family and some our mutual friends, so I will just enclose what she wrote and add a few other details.

"Since we reached a mid-point in Bernie's treatment, I thought I'd update you. Bernie finished his last radiation treatment a week ago Friday. He finished his chemo treatments Thursday. He has had pain and difficulty eating for the past week. However, he has some new pain meds and he seems to be doing better. On March 25, we will go to Charleston for 2 repeat test - endoscopy with ultrasound and a contrast CT scan to re-stage the cancer. We then have an appt with the surgeon on March 30 to determine if he is a candidate for surgery -- the only sure cure. Apparently, the ideal situation is to do surgery about 6 weeks after the end of treatment which would be around the week of April 12. Bernie appears to be right on schedule. All in all, he has tolerated the treatments very well. Though he lost some weight, he still has many more pounds he can lose which the doctors are happy about because after surgery he will lose more weight."

Scott is coming to visit March 26-27. We are looking forward to seeing him, even though the visit will be brief. He is traveling constantly and working 24/7. Tana is also looking for a time when she can visit again and my younger brother, Bob, has promised to come visit after my surgery and recouperation. Anyway, that's what is a brief look into the future--.

I have been getting a lot of mail, letters and cards - in addition to emails, that I haven't been very good about answering. There are also a lot of prayers being said for my safe recovery. Thank all of you for your kindness and I hope my blog goes at least part way towards replying to the many messages. I also again want to thank everyone who have brought us food, my dear neighbors picked up our newspapers and mail while we were away and another special thanks for Stan for taking over my orchids and caring for them. And in general, thanks again to everyone for caring!

I took some more pictures that I will post in another blog because I don't want to mess this one up and chance loosing it.