One Week Later

An entire week has passed since my last post; as I sit here thinking back it amazes me how much has happened but more importantly how much will simply fade into the background as future weeks reveal themselves.

This week mimicked a roller coaster with it's head jolting fast turns, slow climbs and rapid descents. Physically, I was “all Over The Board”, feeling great some times, terrible at others. I ran the least number of miles I had in months at just twenty one. I probably averaged fifteen trips to the “can” each day, thankfully early in the morning and later at night. This led me to consuming the most pain pills in a single week I think I have ever taken outside of right after surgery (a total of three and one half as I bite them in half) , trust me when I say if I didn't need them I wanted them. I believe I even took a half pill in my sleep.

Steamtown, a fall Marathon held in Scranton PA approaches in a little more then a month and I sit on the fence as to whether or not I will go. I'm really not a fan of Marathons but Steamtown is something different, a point to point run through small towns who roll out the red carpet for the runners. Scranton is also the home of one of my former college roommates, so I also have the pleasure of spending some time with him and his wife. My hesitation is two-fold, first, can I run twenty six miles in control of my guts. There will be Port-o-potties along the way but they are spaced out. (Running in the woods is far more convenient) Second, I pay a price with each hard run, requiring many trips to the “Loo” after-ward, that's not bad if I'm at home, I'm not sure I want to go through that at a friends house. Who knows, a month from now I may be much better, I am hopeful.

Great friends showed up this past week but the elation of spending time together seemed fleeting. As we said goodby I wanted to say, “No ........ you’re not going, we have more golf to play, more trails to run”. We will...... we will play more golf.... we will run trails together ............I'm sorry but I am getting greedy with my time and I would rather have it now then later. 

Last week I found out that my blood work has gotten better, the Oncologist was pleased that my white blood cell count is back in the normal range. We also discussed the pain in my hands and numbness/pain in my feet....... no surprise there, it may be permanent. I dismissed discussing drugs to help, after all the drugs would simply mask symptoms, not help with a cure. I'm not against medication but I will avoid it as long as possible. After all, I'd rather dance with the Devil I know then the one I don't.

This morning I have a follow up with my surgeon, Dr. Berg, I'm looking forward to seeing him but hope I don't hear the words, “OK, I'm going to give you a digital exam”. Being in the technology field I often think of digits in terms of bits and bites. The first time I heard the Doc tell me I was going to get a Digital Exam I thought of a modern day probe, pencil like (nice thought) until I saw him snap on the gloves, then and only then did I realize that digits, ARE ON YOUR HANDS !

My thoughts are with my Mom and Dad, Mom's treatments start in just a couple days. We all are praying that her response will be good with minimal side effects. While no-one can predict how this will play out, I know the power of love... the love we receive and the love we give to others ... it is a blessing and comfort to our journey regardless of the final destination. There is an abundance of love surrounding my parents.

Mike