Sunday, January 31, 2010

This is probably bad for me....

But I don't care. One weak drink won't kill me.

I am at the bar, which, in my head, is where the cool cancer patients hang out, exchanging bon mots and debating the merits of xylophonics as a music genre.

The name of the bar is, in my head, "Club Big C." It has IV stripper poles. In my head, I'm holding court at the Big C like I'm Hemingway or Wilde. Or Pothast.





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Location:Holcombe Blvd,Houston,United States

Tonight's entertainment for my sick peeps

Dear lord, help me. What, the bingo the other night was too wild and crazy?





I am NOT going to this. Magic frickin xylophone.

"FREE BIRD!!!!!"

UPDATE: Can hear the show from the restaurant above the atrium. Can't believe he waited until the third song to play "Girl from Ipanema." Crowd goes fucking nuts.


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Location:Holcombe Blvd,Houston,United States

Friday, January 29, 2010

Do Over, explicit version

Prepare for swear words.

Do we really get "do overs"? We don't have to wait for life altering circumstances to call a "do over" do we? But I think most of us don't consider it without some traumatic or big event. All seems to go along without much thought until the wheels fall off.... Cancer. WTF, universe?

I think I'll call a "do over." Just turning 42 this weekend, I should be in great health once I heal up (inshallah, knock on wood, etc.), I have a great job at a great little college, two beautiful kids, family that loves me, and too many hilarious, smart friends to count. Can't wait to start running again. Camping. Sailing. Bonfiring. Looking at all the stars. Running some more, through the woods. No more fucking bingo, don't worry. Cancer be damned.

It's weird, though. I feel like a ghost. I was warned about this feeling, it's some sort of survivor reaction. Out in public people rush by, work ID badges swinging in the breeze, carrying their styrofoam lunch containers, talking talking talking talking about focus groups and sales numbers and market share blah blah fuckin blah.

I feel like I could reach out as they go by and my hand would pass through them like I don't exist. Or they don't. So surreal. This is part of the "survivor" mentality I read about. Hard to explain. Alternative universes again, perhaps.

Yes, it can be annoying to hear people talk about "survivor" feelings and the whole cult of cancer survivorship. I do have this guilt about having such feelings. Was my cancer serious enough, was I sick enough to earn these feelings? Does a medieval-sounding surgery plus19 days in the hospital = the 3 or 4 rounds of nasty chemo that others get? Is it too early to consider myself a survivor? Will I be sick again? It can be confusing.

But as for those feelings, I'm having them, and it's not that I think all others are not alive or not in the moment, I'm not that egotistical (feel free to disagree!). And it's not that I think that us scar belly sneetches are better than those with none on thars, or have more important things to do, it's just that so many of those people seem "not real" to me, or that they're not on the same plane. Not everyone, though. Cab driver the other day, a black gentleman who must have been 80, seemed real. Talking about how in 1955 when he came to Houston the medical center here was 2 hospitals, and how he knows a guy who had his tongue rebuilt here a few years ago; that cab driver guy seemed real to me, on the same plane. I should have tapped his shoulder to be sure.

I see my fellow ghosts wandering the halls here, shuffling in slippers and gowns and dragging their IV poles like Jacob Marley dragged his chains. We all acknowledge each other; smiles or glances or "hey" or "keep walking!" are our little ways of sharing who we are and what we are experiencing, as the "real" people fly by us. Marley admitted he made his own chains and they were deserved--not sure what we ghosts did to get those IV poles. My obvious chains are gone, but I still have the bandages and tubes, a slightly open and gross incision on my stomach, and the slightly bent over shuffle when I walk.

Anyhow, I'm calling a "do over".... Only 42, dammit. Happy birthday to me. Fuck cancer, and fuck the universe's bullshit. I'm a ghost already anyway.













Thursday, January 28, 2010

Playing bingo with my sick peeps


Fun! Time flies!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Paroled today.

Okay then.

This is pretty much what I look like right now.







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Monday, January 25, 2010

No wonder it took 9 hours

post operative report
DATE OF OPERATION: 1/8/2010

ATTENDING CLINICIAN: KEITH FOURNIER, MD

ASSISTANT: Carlo Contreras, MD

PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Low-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix with peritoneal dissemination.

POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Low-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix with peritoneal dissemination.

TITLE OF OPERATION:
1. Exploratory laparotomy.
2. Lysis of adhesions
3. Complete cytoreduction with the following procedures performed:
a. Omentectomy.
b. Peritonectomy of right upper diaphragmatic surface with resection of
tumor confluence greater than 10cm.
c. Left lower quadrant peritonectomy.
d. Cholecystectomy.
e. Extended right colectomy with an ileotransverse colostomy.
f. Resection of mesenteric nodules.
g. Resection of pelvic nodules.
4. Feeding jejunostomy-tube placement
5. Drainage gastrostomy-tube placement.
6. Right thoracostomy-tube placement.
7. Placement of right subclavian vein central venous catheter.

ANESTHESIA: General endotracheal.

INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS: Crystalloid 2000 cubic centimeters, colloid 3800.

ESTIMATED URINE OUTPUT: 400 cubic centimeters.

ESTIMATED BLOOD LOSS: 270 cubic centimeters.

CHEST TUBE: 400 cubic centimeters.

COMPLICATIONS: None apparent.

SPECIMENS:
1. All peritonectomy specimens were sent together.
2. Cholecystectomy.
3. Right colon.

FINDINGS:
1. There was no evidence of ascites.
2. There was tumor confluence or acellular mucin over greater than 10 cm over the right diaphragmatic surface.
3. There was tumor confluence on the left pelvic sidewall.
4. There was tumor within the pelvis below the pelvic inlet.
5. There were scattered nodules throughout the small-bowel mesentery.
6. There were small nodules of mucin or tumor in the omentum.
7. A distended gallbladder.
8. I estimate a peritoneal carcinoma index (PCI) of 21.
9. This is a completeness of cytoreduction (CCR) equal to 0.

INDICATIONS FOR SURGERY: Patient is a 41-year-old male with a history of a well-differentiated appendiceal adenocarcinoma with peritoneal dissemination. He was originally seen at an outside institution at which time he underwent an ileal cecectomy in August 2009. This was the origin of his diagnosis. At the time, his surgeon did state that there were still tumor nodules within the small bowel and within the abdomen. Given this, we have recommended that he consider further cytoreductive surgery and possible hypothermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. He sought second opinions at Pittsburgh, as well as at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. We agreed and felt that he was a candidate for completion cytoreduction and hypothermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. At this point, risks, benefits and alternatives were discussed with him at length in the office. He understood all of this and wished to proceed.

PROCEDURE IN DETAIL: The patient was identified in the preoperative holding area, then taken to the operating room and placed on the operating-room table. Once appropriate cardiac and respiratory monitors were attached and the patient had Venodynes placed, he underwent epidural-catheter placement. At that point, the patient was now placed supine on the operating table. He underwent uneventful general endotracheal anesthesia. At that point, a time-out procedure was performed, identifying the patient and that the proper procedure was being performed. Anesthesia attempeted to place a right internal jugular vein catheter but that was not successful. Therefore we turned our attention to placement of a right subclavian vein central line. His right chest and neck were prepped and drapped in the standard surgical fashion. The access needle was advanced under the clavical and the subclavian vein was easily cannulated. The guidewire was advanced and the needle was removed. The dilator was then passed without difficulty. A double lumen catheter was then passed over the wire and the wire was removed. The ports worked well. The line was sutured into place. A sterile dressing was applied.

The patient's abdomen was then prepped and draped in standard surgical fashion. We did use an Ioban to help protect the skin during the hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The patient did receive 1 gram of INVANZ prior to the incision. He also received 5,000 units of heparin prior to the incision as he did have a questionable very small right portal vein thrombosis.

We began our incision from just below the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis. The incision was carried down through skin into the subcutaneous tissues. Electrocautery was then used to dissect down to the level of the fascia. The fascia was then opened in the midline. He had some adhesions in his right lower quadrant at the site of his previous right colectomy. These were taken down. It took approximately 45 minutes to do this. We then placed a Thompson retractor for excellent exposure of the intraabdominal cavity. We then performed our exploration with the findings as noted above. We then took down the falciform ligament all the way to the liver, clamped this within the liver and transected it with a 2-0 silk tie. This was passed off the table as a specimen.

We then began our cytoreductive procedure in the right upper quadrant. There was a 10 cm area confluence of tumor and/or acellular mucin in this area. We therefore performed a right upper quadrant peritonectomy all the way down to the reflection of the liver and to the hepatic veins. This was removed in total and sent off the field. Hemostasis was noted to be excellent at the conclusion of this. Of note, near the central tendon of the diaphragm, we entered the diaphragm. We did not injure the underlying lung parenchyma. We did place a 2-0 running suture of Prolene to close the defect. At this time, we then turned to our left upper quadrant. There was really no disease whatsoever on the left upper quadrant or over the spleen. We then examined the omentum. We dissected this free from the transverse colon from the hepatic to the splenic flexure, completely freeing this up. We then divided the omentum along the gastroepiploic vessels. We did not include the gastroepiploic artery on the greater curvature of the stomach. This was not involved with tumor. We then opened the lesser sac. There was no disease within this area or on the mesentery of the colon. We then explored the small bowel from the ligament of Treitz all the way to the terminal ileum. There were numerous small nodules noted on the mesentery. These were all completely removed using electrocautery dissection. When we reached the terminal ileum and the remainder of the right colon that remained from the previous ileocecectomy, there was mucin and tumor noted. We did feel that we would require a resection of this area.

At this point, we freed up the right colon from the right pelvic sidewall along the White line of Toldt. There was significant scarring and adhesions in this area, and this was quite difficult. Eventually we were able to carry the dissection up over the hepatic flexure to the middle colic vessels. The colon was taken to the left of the middle colic vessels. This area was divided with a GIA stapler. Likewise, at the terminal ileum, where there was no further evidence of disease, this area was also transected with a GIA stapler. The intervening mesentery was scored and vessels were taken with a series of interrupted 2-0 silk ties or stick-ties and divided. All major vessels had ties and stick-ties placed for security. The colon and terminal ileum were then passed off the table as a specimen. We inspected both ends of the colon and the terminal ileum that had been transected and the blood supply appeared to be excellent.

We then inspected the pelvis. The left pelvic sidewall did have nodules and or mucin on peritoneum, and this was excised with a left lower-quadrant peritonectomy. Deep in the pelvis, on the sigmoid colon, the mesentery had very small nodules, and these were removed without the necessity to resect the sigmoid or rectum.

We then inspected the porta hepatis very carefully. There did not appear to be any disease there. Posterior to the liver, there was an area overlying the kidney, including the triangular ligament of the liver, was identified, and this was resected. The gallbladder appeared quite distended raising concern of possible cholecystectomy in the postoperative period. We felt that it was best to do a cholecystectomy. For this reason, the gallbladder was grasped with a Kelly clamp, and using electrocautery and the Argon-beam coagulator, the gallbladder was resected from the gallbladder fossa. At this point, the cystic artery was identified and was suture ligated. The cystic duct was also identified and ligated and transected. The gallbladder was passed off as a specimen.

An area near his original incision did appear to have some scar or disease and because it was not possible to discern which, this was easily excised and sent off the table as a specimen.

At this point, we felt that we had achieved an optimal cytoreduction and that he was an excellent candidate for peritoneal perfusion. We then placed three temperature probes, one in the left lobe of the liver, one in the ligament of Treitz, and the final one in the sigmoid mesentery of the pelvis. These were sutured into place with 3-0 chromic sutures. We then placed our infusion cannula over the liver and our drainage cannula in the pelvis. The midline incision was closed with a running #1 nylon.

Once the perfusion temperature was between 41 and 42 degrees, and the patient was sufficiently cooled, we began our perfusion with 27 mg of mitomycin C in 6 liters of perfusate. We then continued the perfusion for 90 minutes with vigorous shaking of the abdomen throughout. At the conclusion, we were able to return approximately 4 liters of solution. This was disposed within a proper container.

At this point, we removed the nylon suture which had closed the abdomen. We irrigated the abdomen copiously with several liters of normal saline. We then turned our attention to removing the temperature probes, which was done. We then turned our attention to our anastomosis. We placed our terminal ileum in close approximation to the transverse colon and performed a two-layered hand-sewn anastomosis with an outer layer of 3-0 silk and a inner running layer of 3-0 Maxon. Upon completion, the anastomosis was widely patent.
There was a very large mesenteric defect that we felt was not at risk of incarceration and did not close.

We then turned our attention to placement of our feeding jejunostomy tube. Approximately 30 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz, a pursestring suture was placed in the small bowel. A jejunotomy was made. The jejunal tube was brought through the anterior abdominal wall and advanced into the jejunum distally. The pursestring suture was tied down. Lembert sutures were then placed to perform a Witzel tunnel with 3-0 silk sutures. The small bowel was then tacked to the anterior abdominal wall.

We turned our attention to the gastrostomy tube. The gastrostomy tube was advanced through the abdominal wall. Two 2-0 silk pursestring sutures were placed in the anterior surface of the greater curvature of the stomach, and a gastrotomy was made. The gastrostomy tube was advanced through the pursestrings, and these were tied down. The stomach was then sutured to the anterior abdominal wall. At this point, we then irrigated the abdomen copiously and it aspirated it clear. Hemostasis was excellent.

We turned our attention to the placement of a chest tube prior to closing the abdomen. An incision was made at approximately the fifth intercostal space at the mid axillary line. We entered the pleural space with a hemostat. A 24 French chest tube was advanced posteriorly and superiorly into the pleural cavity and sutured into place. This was placed because of the significant amount of resection we did on the diaphragm. There was almost certainly to be a reactive infusion postoperatively. This was sutured into place with silk suture.

A time-out procedure was then performed for closure. Sponge and instrument counts were noted to be correct at this time. We then closed the abdomen with two 0 Maxon sutures, one started superiorly, one started inferiorly, and tied in the middle. The wound was then irrigated again with normal saline and aspirated clear. The skin was then closed with staples. All tubes were sutured in place with 2-0 nylon sutures.

The sponge, needle and instrument counts were noted to be correct at the end of the case. The patient tolerated the procedure well, was awakened in the operating room, taken to the PACU awake and in good condition.




________________________________________
KEITH FOURNIER, MD
DICTATED BY: KEITH FOURNIER, MD

D: 1/9/2010 9:07:12 AM T: 1/9/2010 11:15:34 AM

Electronically signed by KEITH FOURNIER, MD on 01/14/2010 08:35:14.


Friday, January 22, 2010

The post you've been waiting for--the "Conceal Dan's Scars Contest"

... or you can just enjoy the picture of my scars.

But for those of you creative types so inclined, I could use your help figuring out how to artfully work the scars into some sort of decorative tattoo or something like that. I cannot guarantee that I will actually go through with a tattoo, but it would be interesting to see some options.

Below is a picture of the scars from my two surgeries Photoshopped onto a picture of me, to show what they will look like by summer. Yes, I have a hairy chest, please take that into account in your designs. (There are actually three other scars from the various tubes coming out of my chest, but they will just be smallish circles, hopefully.)

The top two entries will receive their choice of a Sheboygan, Lakeland College, or University of Texas T-shirt.

Thanks for your help.






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Location:Bertner Ave,Houston,United States

Thursday, January 21, 2010

More on hallucinations... Set to music

Okay, smart people, stop sending me links to this music video.
Creeping me out.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU_2S7kC0OU&feature=youtube_gdata

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Hallucinations

Just a random post of something from the first few days post surgery that I don't want to forget, something my doctor called ICU psychosis.

Thanks to the combination of the effects of chemotherapy and surgery, and my pain meds, early on I was certain that the clock in my hospital room was spinning backwards, that my IV pumps were talking to me (in Chinese), and that the balloons that my friend Kelly sent me were staring at me. Just the red one, actually. He's their leader.

Those were some long nights. The clock and the IV pumps are now fine, but the balloons have been banished to the bathroom.






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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Ow....ow....ow....ow....

Freakin' hiccups.

Ridiculousness of the situation is making me laugh, which is making it worse.

PS How good was Spencer Tracy in "Inherit the Wind"? Thank you, Turner Classic Movies, for making time go by smoothly....


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Sunday, January 17, 2010

Meals Sequence

























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Escape Attempt

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Adjusting

They turned off my epidural on Thursday, and pulled it out Friday morning. It took a few days to adjust to the new pain meds, but it's under control now. But it definitely was a huge benefit to have that epidural for a week, wow.

Other than that, just walking, resting, and getting poked at by doctors and nurses. Mom is keeping me moving. Going to try to read, but focusing more than 15 minutes is still hard!

But today, the 8th day after my surgery, was the first day that I got out of bed, walked, and got back into bed all by myself. That felt good.

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Location:Bertner Ave,Houston,United States

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Last 24 hrs

Hate to be whiny, but the past 24 hours just sucked. Tired, didn't sleep, nauseated, sore, bloated, sweating then chilled, dragged downstairs for a couple rounds of x-rays, generally miserable. At least they pulled out my chest tube, that gave me some relief.

Thankfully, they basically gave me the day off, backed my feeding tube way down then off, and I tried to sleep. My wonderful mom made sure I cleaned up and went on two very short walks around the floor.

The medical staff said it's okay, this is not unusual. And I know that; it was just one of those days you don't think you'll ever feel normal again.

Just started watching the Star Trek movie on the hospital TV system, which reminded me that I received a card from my 9 year old son yesterday that said "Live Long and Prosper," with drawings of the Vulcan hand salute, a phaser, the Federation insignia, and a banjo. Remembering that card was the first thing that made me feel better today. And that reminded me of why I know I'll feel better overall someday:





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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Medical stuff

I'm going to try to update this blog with some medical information for those who will go through this procedure in the future. Below is a summary of the information Dr. Fournier told my family immediately after the surgery, 1/8/10, and my reactions:
1) Relatively lucky, in that I didn't have much disease in there as compared to others. My disease was caught very early on. So many people aren't diagnosed, or are misdiagnosed, and that obviously makes the surgery more difficult later on. I'm obviously relieved, but take nothing for granted. PMP is unpredictable, I'm not going to let my guard down, but also try not to obsess over it.
2) Gallbladder was removed. It was very distended, I might have had trouble with it later so the doctor just took it out.
3) He took out the omentum- the fatty lining of the peritoneal cavity that hangs like a splindly drape over your internal organs. Like the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Sneaky disease likes to hide in it.
4) He peeled and scraped some disease off of the liver. The liver is fine, looks good now.
5) All the work on the right side of my abdomen left a small hole in the diaphragm, no problem - he stitched it up.
6) Because of 3, 4 and 5 he decided to put in a chest tube during the procedure. He says that sometime patients develop fluid in the lungs after the surgery from so much manipulation of the diaphram. It is terribly uncomfortable to have a chest tube put in after surgery so best to get it during surgery. He says it is a good thing that he did because it immediately drained 0.5 liter. It has still been draining! Be sure to ask your doctor their plans on that.
7) Took out about 12 inches of my small intestine, as well as the cecum and the right colon. This should not affect bowel function.
8) He saw some disease in the pelvic area and removed it.
9) Spleen was fine, the doctor left it in. Spleen recovers quickly and says suck it gallbladder.
10) At this time, "no disease left" and "complete cytoreduction," which are great words. That means that the chemo has the best chance to work now, killing any remaining disease at the cellular level.
11) After surgery I had like 7 tubes/lines running out of me: a few IV lines, chest tube, G tube to relieve pressure in stomach, J tube for feeding nutrients directly into small intestine, epidural (amazing pain blocker), and Foley catheter. J tube will be around for perhaps a few months. I look like the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

More on the chemo later.






"I Forgot How Big..."
T.P. Eck
2010
Lego and mixed media
Part of the Ole C. Eck Collection

Sent from my iPhone


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Location:Bertner Ave,Houston,United States

Monday, January 11, 2010

Volcano spit me back out


Hi folks just a quick note to say thanks for all the texts e-mails and comments of support, mixed with just the right amount of disrespect. Friends from as far away as Kiel, Wisconsin have chimed in. Okay maybe Key West Kuwait is farther away than that. Old friends, new friends, my awesome neighbors and my great family. I'll be sure to post some disgusting surgery pictures when I'm up to it. Thanks again.





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Sunday, January 10, 2010

Ouchies


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Location:Bertner Ave,Houston,United States

Baby steps...

The name of the game. Dan is up and walking a bit, doing well!
Tim

Ow


Location:Cortis,Houston,United States

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Looking good!

Dan has been moved to a new room, he's been waiting for one most of
the day.
He continues to be well and they are talking about getting him up and
walking within a day or two.
I spoke with him on the phone briefly and sounded really good!
Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Tim

Doing Well

Sounds like things are going well at MD Anderson, sounds like an
awesome place!

Here's the latest:

"He's pretty sleepy yet. And sore. He just told me he's bored! He's
made a few of his typical Dan type jokes. He's got a very sweet nurse
named Erlun. Overall he looks good. All vitals are stable! Mouth is
dry from the air in here. He's eating a few ice chips. This is a very
nice place and they are taking very good care of him"

Friday, January 8, 2010

Resting...

Dan would give me the business if I did not acknowledge the King's
birthday today. Happy Birthday to the King! Dan is stoned but doing
well and resting. Mom and sis are spooling down and will hopefully
rest well too. As for me...I may be fired tomorrow, you'll be the
first to know! Thank you everyone, keep the vibes flowing!
Tim

Here's to you bro...

The always delicious brandy old fashioned.

We did it!

Dan earned his star!
Here is the message from mom and sis.

"Talked to the doc, went great. Very happy. Complete cytoreduction!!!!
(the goal!) "No disease left!" per the awesome Dr.Fournier! Dan's
awake, has a million tubes in but does not even need to go to the ICU!
Guess we will get to see him in about an hour or so!"

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers today!

I'll continue to report as his healing starts now.
Tim

Intermediate Update

Progress...

"Nurse update: at 330 the nurse was in there and said dr is closing
him up. Vital signs are stable, and things are going well!! She said
the doc will come out and talk to us as soon as he's done. Maybe as
soon as 4:15 or 4:30!"

2pm Update

From sis...

"Latest update from Lucy:
They took the right part of colon out. Left the spleen in. Heated
chemo wash is going on now as planned. That started about 1:05pm and
lasts 90minutes. Then closure after that takes about an hour. She said
it's going as planned and our next update will be most likely from the
doc himself when the surgery is done. Ok, breathe again!"

We're gettin' there! Keep doing whatever it is your doing!
Tim

and waiting.

You probably get the idea...

Waiting...

Nyra can take herself some good blog photos...it is what it is.

12:00 Update

Directly from big sis in Houston..
.Lucy is the OR nurse.

"Update from Lucy: All is going well in the OR. She says quote, "it's
calm and happy in the OR" Galbladder is out. Several specimens sent
off to path. Working on a hemicolectomy (part of bowel is coming out).
Dr. says almost done with debulking and probably start chemo about
1pm. She will know more specifics with the 2pm update. Seems good...
Breathe!"

Good job everyone, keep it up!
More later, Tim

Update

Dan's brother Tim here, I'll be handling the blog until I am relieved
by Dan. Mom and our sister Nyra will be relaying information to me as
they receive it and I will post it here.
They made the incision at 0815 hours and surgury is underway. A
initial sample has been taken and sent off to pathology already. This
is as of 10 am. We are expecting to receive bi-hourly updates
throughout the procedure. Keep sending the good vibes!
More later, Tim

On my way to jump in the volcano











Location:S Main St,Houston,United States

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Now THESE are scrubs!

Gonna don my Longhorn scrubs, watch the big game tonight, and knock back some GoLytelies. Big party in my hotel room tonight!


(Saw these on a dr this morning and he told me where to go buy them. Awesome.)


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Location:Holcombe Blvd,Houston,United States

For the dramatic and promiscuous medical professional

Went for a walk at lunchtime around the outskirts of the medical district and saw this at a medical uniform shop:







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Drink Sequence

Sheboygan, WI (January 1, 2010)


Clarkdale, MS (January 2, 2010)


Breaux Bridge, LA (January 3, 2010)
 

Houston, TX (January 7, 2010)
 

Last minute change, new doctor....


Suess.

To all my PMP "Bellybutton Club" friends, yes, soon everyone will want scars like ours.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Busy day

Lots of paperwork, questions, running around today. Did manage to visit the Menil Collection today, recommended independently by two artist friends as the one place to seeing Houston if you had time for only one. Awesome. Miro, Magritte, Ernst, Calder, Man Ray, wow. Stared at a bronze of Magritte's Healer for a while. Love surrealism.



Just got done finding two random strangers at the clinic to witness my signature on my living will and advance directive. We managed to joke about it, at least. In my opinion having those documents makes sure you won't need them!

Still, another dose of reality.

No solid food starting tomorrow. So, putting on nice clothes and going out for a good dinner tonight.




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Location:University Blvd,Houston,United States

New hotel

Checked into the cheapest hotel within walking distance of the clinic. Goodbye, Sara's Inn, hello No-Tell Motel. A sh!$&y hotel seems appropriate for bowel prep tomorrow. Here it is. Creepy.


Wait a minute, where have I seen that hallway before? Oh yeah, uh oh.


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Location:Holcombe Blvd,Houston,United States

She must be new here

My conversation with an anesthesiology nurse, while she was looking up my records this morning:

Nurse: "Wow! You're having a really big surgery on Friday!"

Me: "Wait, what? THIS Friday?"

I go into smart ass mode when I don't know what else to say. Not sure it's helpful to have a nurse who works in a place like MD Anderson say "wow!" when she sees your surgery plan.



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Location:Dunlavy St,Houston,United States

Me, for the next several weeks




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Location:Bertner Ave,Houston,United States

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Dammit





Well at least it's 20 minutes closer to Friday.

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Location:Heights Blvd,Houston,United States

One in a million

I'm starting to really like neon.




















Hey Beth! No, the one from Sheboygan. Could you teach me how to work in neon glass tubes?

The first neon sign on this post is from the quickie mart right across the street from my B&B. Like a moth to flame, I was drawn to it, and photographed it. And then I figured I should buy a lottery ticket from the dude inside watching me. 

The title of this post refers to the common belief of the odds of getting my form of cancer. It also happens to be the odds of winning the big prize on the lottery ticket I bought with $2 of my $10 Andy Bucks (never mind). I didn't win the big prize, but I won $50!!

BRB, as the kids say. I'm running across the street to re-invest my gains. Don't try to stop me.


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