Quote:This will probably be my last post about all of this. It may be my last post here altogether.


I saw my orthopedic surgeon for something unrelated (a problem I've had with my shoulder for the past few months) today. After some x-rays and some testing, they found that I don't have a torn rotator cuff or anything, but another tumor in my bone of my shoulder. I am back to square one again. New CAT scan, MRI, and surgery ordered. They already assume that this is a form of bone cancer, and if that turns out to be the case, I'm [BAD WORD REMOVED].


I really don't know what else to say.


It's been real.......

I don't know how Id' react if I was hit with the constant barrage of obstacles you've had thrown in front of you, but I do know that you have a lot to keep fighting for. As disheartening as the latest news may be, you still have a lot of people who care about you who are praying for a positive outcome to all of this.


You've been dealt a crappy hand, but you're still on the right side of the grass, and you're still at a point where there are options. Don't lose the faith, Paul. It's just another speed bump.


I have a good friend whose wife was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer about 18 months ago. She's a couple of years older than us, but through the entire ordeal, I've never seen someone given what amounts to a terminal diagnosis face it with as much grace as she has. She hasn't allowed the cancer to dictate how she's living her life. When I spoke to her husband about it, I asked him how they were managing despite the fact that her situation is pretty dire. He said that they relied heavily on their faith, and accepted the fact that it's out of their hands. They've sought out the necessary treatments, and she's had a lot of good moments, and quite a few setbacks. She's still not out of the woods, but she's in a much better place than she was even a year ago when they were talking about funeral arrangements. As I type this, she's on a jet flying home from from a trip she took to the Holy Land, Egypt, Turkey, and other parts in the Middle East. She spent almost a month over there with friends touring sites, diving, and just enjoying life. To anyone meeting her for the first time, they'd never know she's living with a terminal diagnosis, and even her doctors have been amazed by the way she's responded to treatment. She'll never be cancer free, but she is at a point where it is managable.


The reason I tell you this is because her cancer metastasized to her liver, lungs, brain and bones. She has seen the tumors shrink to the point where they were able to operate on her colon. The spots on her lung and brain are now gone. Same with her liver. She still has the disease, and there are concerns about abnormal blood tests where her levels haven't been good, but through all of this, she's just rolled with it. I'm sure when she's alone in her thoughts, there has to be some doubt. That's only human. But, she somehow finds the strength to carry on with a son in college and two daughters in high school. She's been an inspiration to many of us with her attitude and her approach. It makes our problems seem pretty paltry in comparison, and she's not complaining.


Keep the faith and lean on those who truly care about you and your well being. Having a sense of humor and the right mindset isn't a cure, but it sure does help.

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