An update to where I am and how I got here.

I'm currently still at Duke Hospital, but I am out of the ICU. Today is my 7th day at the hospital, and my 8th day since consuming any solid food. The procedure was supposed to be laparoscopic and robotic, meaning small holes, little scarring, and a 2-3 day hospital stay.

I'm in the ICU. Things have not gone according to plan. The robotic surgery had to transition to open surgery 2 hours in. That initial 8 hour surgery failed, so they had to go in for another 6 hours.

I've been given a permanent colostomy bag. So I've likely farted for the last time.

On the plus side, they think they got all the cancer out.

Preamble - You may see some text like this when you come to this site:

'A $30 donation to CaringBridge powers Ed's site for one month.'

This is a call to donate to CaringBridge. First off, if they are paying $30 a month to host this site, they are paying about $25 too much. I'm not saying that you should not donate to CaringBridge - It's a great central (and free) spot to allow patients to communicate with loved ones. However, it seems like some folks have donated with the expectation that some portion of that donation benefits me directly (We're looking at you, user Treat Yo Self). The language that CaringBridge uses doesn't attempt to correct that impression. I find it slightly manipulative.

And now, on with the show.

There is a pre-surgery COVID screening test. I took it Tuesday AM. Results came back at 10:30PM - COVID positive. Hence my Thursday surgery is delayed.

It's an 8 hour procedure, so it's not the easiest thing to slip into someone's calendar. Especially when that someone is a highly qualified and scheduled surgeon. They are working on a new date. I'll put another post up once I know more.

New surgery date is July 15th, so a three week delay. Happy it isn't four, sad it isn't two. Given the circumstances, about the best I could reasonably hope for.

Regarding my circumstances: I tire of them. Yet I know several battling cancer who'd trade me on the spot. Offers perspective, but nothing close to joy.

Cutting this short. Need to regain a sense of humor before casting shadows on summer. I'll be OK, just need a day.

Note:

Some of the reason I write this stuff down just as a journal, so I can look back on what my mindset was. I forget things easily, even things as seemingly unforgettable as ‘how I felt during cancer treatment’. Seems I’ve made it thru my sub-150lb phase without a whole lot of photos of me – I don’t need Facebook reminding me of this time. I do need something, tho.

Point being that some entries are entertaining well written accounts of my thoughts, and others are boring accounts of events. This is, without apology, more the latter.

TLDR: Finished last scheduled chemo today. Feeling much better overall.

I read an article recently about a European philosopher who described this post-atomic age we live in as ‘The Reprieve’. The gist is that mankind developed the means to exterminate itself, and it is only a matter of time before it happens. It’s a bleak concept for a Friday, so I’ll not dwell on it.

Income sources for kids growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut in the 80s were limited to the usual suspects: Mowing lawns, shoveling snow, babysitting kids, and delivering papers. As the oldest of 5, I had no appetite for childcare. My wife can attest to my distaste for lawn maintenance. Snow removal is cold wet unpleasant seasonal work. I fell into paper delivery.

Saturday morning, I woke up in a bed at Duke Hospital in wrist restraints. Technically, 'woke up' is probably inaccurate - More like 'came to'. So, show of hands, way up high, everyone who has been in a hospital bed with restraints on... Crazy how a simple overhand knotted strap combined with a compromised mental state results in total capitulation and acceptance.

I got my 2nd dose of chemo started today. It's not a fun process. Let's talk some good news first, and then just skim over the chemo part for y'all's edification.