Its been a year since I have posted here. As of the 17th I'm still cancer free. I still have to go to the VA every 60 days.

A few thing went on during last year. The VA built me a set of teeth. They are so big they would fit a horse. I am not able to use them. I still take most of my food (Ensure) though my PEG. I do eat some soft foods. Sure would like a steak. Nothing like a good steak.

Over the 4th of July a bunch of us at the marina sailed over to Port O'Connor to watch the fireworks. Then Lisa and I went on the a new marina to spend the rest of the weekend.

Very nice and relaxing.  Nothing going on until December when a friend needed help bringing his boat back to Texas. He had been on a 2 and half year cruise. The last 6 months of the cruise he was alone. I meet him at the Cypermort Yacht Club in Louisiana. A 300 mile trip. The ICW was very interesting. We had fog, rain and cold.

very educational trip.  When Lisa and I make the trip going east I'll post pictures along the way.

Our plan now is to leave right after my next appointment on March 20. When I have to come back for the next appointment I think I'll take our little truck back with us. That way I wont have to rent a car every trip and we can come check on the bus.

Making plans

Been giving a lot of thought to us cruising again. I think I have it figured out since the VA wants to see me every six weeks.

After my last appointment in April we close up the bus, pack the boat and sail off to our first anchorage. It will take us about two weeks to sail the ICW to New Orleans. We would stay in New Orleans, anchored out, until my next appointment. We would catch a bus to San Antonio. Do my appointment then bus back to New Orleans. We could do this all the way down to the Keys but would have to fly back to S.A for my appointments.

I'm still kicking this idea around. One of our dock mates said just stay here in Texas. We are from Texas and have seen 90% of the State. We want to see something different.

Our dear friends, Charlie, Laura and Bob are leaving in a few days to Belize. They will be sailing First Light down. We were to go but don't have our passports yet and it would be harder to get back for my appointments. So we say good by again as we are dock locked for just a little while longer.

Major battle but cancer free

It has been quite some time since I  have posted here. Lots has happened from getting my PEG to finishing up chemo and radiation on June 29th. It was a major battle to survive the treatment. We feel that the VA did not tell us the whole story on how bad  my cancer was. The doctors are surprised that I have done so well. I have included a photo taken during, trying to have fun and keeping it light.
                                                    Waiting on my Chemo treatment.

                                      My Chemo nurse Wanda. She took good care of me.

                           The mask and radiation treatment

This is the mask that they locked my head down with to do the radiation. Photo taken my last day of radiation June 29, 2010

Me and Bobby asleep at Sally's

This photo was taken Fathers Day weekend. Walking dead.

We try to go to the boat every weekend to spend the night. It will be a while before we can take off for any length of time. I have to do follow up appointments every month and need to be off my total liquid diet before we can really go sailing. We would like to find a little larger boat as Miss Froggy has no standing head room. We are headed to the boat tomorrow to spend the weekend. Just maybe if I feel ok then we'll go out Sunday for awhile.

Teeth all gone

April 13th. We took Jake and Ruby to my niece. She wanted to give the a home instead of SPCA. Well looking at the photos on her facebook they are in dog heaven. Which is great.

April 14th we headed back up to San Antonio for the next step. At 0730 the oral surgens started working on me. 3 hours later they were finished pulling all my teeth. I had to go back to them in the afternoon because I keep on bleeding. They have me on a liquid diet for the next 5 days or so. Then nothing but soft food.

We went over to CTRC to meet with the radiation doctors. Got there a 3:30 and it was 5 before we saw them. They forgot about me. The interview was rushed as they want to go home. So I'm not real happy with CTRC at the moment.

They want me to start radiation asap and don't wont me to wait until I am all healed up. Going to be a fight with them. I aint doing radiation or chemo until I'm healed up including the feeding tube.

Early morning phone call.

At 0715 this morning the VA call and wanted me there by 1400 hrs. So Lisa and I loaded up to make a mad dash to San Antonio for my 1400 appointment.

We meet with the oral surgeons that are to pull my teeth. They spent about an hour explaining everything to us on what is going to happen once I start radiation.  Sure doesn't sound much fun. I'll loose all my moisture in my mouth from now on. Boy walking around with cotton mouth sure will keep a fellow from wanting a dip. Sure couldn't spit the crap out.

Anyway they set up an appointment for Thursday the 16th at 0730 to pull all my teeth. I had the choice of being put to sleep or be awake. I took the awake part instead of being put to sleep. If I had choose the sleep part it would mean more trips up to see all the different clinics before they could start. 

They want me to heal for 3 weeks before we start radiation. As explained the better I'm healed up the less chances of problems down the road. I'll have to live without choppers for a year and then only get uppers. They don't want me to ware lowers because of the soft tissue damage.

So Thursday I'll loose all my teeth then have the radiation appointment to talk about that end. On the 21st I have the oncologist appointment. Still waiting on the feeding tube appointment.

Well that the latest from here.

Another good day

Went to have my hearing aids checked up this morning. The doctor told me to check with the doctors about my chemo/radiation meds as some of them can do permanent hearing damage. This I will do.

Got my first call from the Radiation specialist this afternoon. My first appointment will be a 1430 hrs on Thursday April 15th. I assume this will be a meeting with the doctor to get their end worked out before the treatment starts.

Another Health Update

We were back to the VA today. Got the results on the surgical biopsy. Now we have a course of treatment.

ASAP they will pull all my teeth and install a feeding tube. After a short healing time within 3 weeks I will start the radiation/chemo treatment for 6 weeks. We will stay in a motel in S.A. 5 to 6 days a week coming home only as needed. The cost of eating out is going to be tough on my limited income.

After the treatment is up I will have monthly follow up visits for 6 months then if I'm doing well they will remove the feeding tube. Then for the next year monthly follow ups.

Lisa and I will still try to get some sailing in when we can. Our cruising plans are now on hold for at least a year. Bummer.