August 13, 2006
The Battle Is Won, The Fight Continues!
In January of this year, I posted about receiving a diagnosis of lung cancer, the big C, the dreaded Ca, the smoker's bane. Glenn Reynolds, The Instapundit was gracious enough to pick it up and share it with his readers and friends of mine from around the blogosphere and friends I didn't even know I had were gracious enough to leave over 100 comments as well as over 300 e-mails from people around the world telling me that they were pulling for me, not to give up and offering prayers, advice and best wishes.
I also met and have corresponded with Dr. Craig Hildreth, the Cheerful Oncologist who has been a source of knowledge, attained wisdom and support.
I was overwhelmed with a deep sense of grace, of gratitude and knowledge that despite the problems in the world involving cultures, countries, politics there was still room for care about a given individual.
Nine days later I had major surgery, not knowing if I would wake up from the surgery, not knowing if the disease was too advanced to treat surgically, not knowing if the disease had spread to my lymph nodes, or anywhere else; but having a trust in God and in my docs and the knowledge that regardless of what happened, I was truly loved, and truly blessed. I gradually came out of the anesthesia, saw my wife and daughter and dear brother-in-law standing by with smiles but concerned looks on their faces and the news was, at that point good. No mestasis in the lymph nodes, my upper lobe of the right lung and indications that the cancer had been sucessfully removed from my body. A week in the hospital, a week at home with increasingly onerous cabin fever and I was ready to go somewhere, anywhere just to get out of bed and out of the house.
The following week, a meeting with the surgeon, with the oncologist and I had the opportunity to meet the fine nurses at the South Texas Cancer Center (Special Thanks to Dr. Lazo, Gilbert, Amy and Estella) and begin a 6 month ordeal of chemo-therapy. Each friday for three weeks, sitting in a chair, wondering about the future, sleepy from the Benadryl, trying to ignore the poisons being pumped into my body, but greatful for the advances in chemo-therapy none-the-less.
Each week the side effects grew cumulatively worse, then a week off in which to "recover" before starting the next series of three. Each week my beloved wife would say 17 to go, 16, and eventually down to "1 to go hunny bunny" and that ONE was Friday, August 4th. On this immediate past Friday I had my 2nd post surgery CT Scan and the results were the same as the 1st., "...NO EVIDENCE OF METASTATIC DISEASE..." The battle has been won, the war will go on until I have been 5 years cancer free and can then count myself a full fledged member of the cancer survivors network.
Regardless of what the future brings, know that I am a fighter and I will Fight On!. I have the support of friends, family and Almighty God. I have the courage to face what ever comes. Cancer has caused them to throw the worst at me and I have come through with determination to see this thing through to what ever conclusion comes.
So the watch word remains fight on, Fight On, FIGHT ON!!!
Posted by GM Roper at August 13, 2006 01:37 PM | TrackBackAs I said on-list, GM -
HALLELUJAH!!!!
Sending many hugs and much love to you and your Lady Wife,
-- Kat
www.CatHouseChat.com
Posted by Kat at August 13, 2006 12:54 PM
GM, I tried to leave a trackback to this post but I seemed t have trouble doing so.
Anyway, I wished you well.
Posted by Jeff Blanco at August 13, 2006 03:58 PM
GM,
You have be more than courageous in extreme adversity. Your grit, positive attitude, faith in God, great family and friends, a real sense of humor, more grit, and your prevailed.
You are an example for many of lesser folk (and I only really speak for myself here).
Bless and keep fighting and setting an example of a warrior.
Posted by tad at August 13, 2006 04:05 PM
Just so some "moonbat" didn't rig the CT scan!! ;-D
Sound like a winner to me GM! Thanks for the special update! Four years and 11 months from now? Sound like a "piece of cake" - "tomorrow" style - sooner than we think.
Good scans only - that's an order!
Posted by chrys at August 13, 2006 04:32 PM
Right on!
Posted by QuickRob at August 13, 2006 04:35 PM
Fantastic!!! Woohoo!!!
Posted by Jo at August 13, 2006 04:53 PM
The best of news here! This check-up couldn't have been better. Of course, the war may continue later, but this battle is won.
At this moment, I now recall that wonderful posting you did a while back--the one about life. I'd like to read that again. Send me the link?
AlwaysOnWatch@aol.com
Posted by Always On Watch at August 13, 2006 04:53 PM
What a praise and we (my family) will keep you in our prayers... Looking forward to reading and communicating with you past the year 2011...
Posted by the other Woody at August 13, 2006 07:41 PM
Great news!
Posted by civil truth at August 13, 2006 08:08 PM
I knew that you would beat it all the time. You and prayer are a lot tougher than cancer. I'm so glad for you.
Posted by Woody at August 13, 2006 09:09 PM
GM,
you are a true leader and Warrior. thanks for showing us all how to fight.
Fight On!
Posted by Michael at August 13, 2006 10:04 PM
God bless you, GM... Nice to know I'll have my favorite curmudgeon to spar with for some time to come. :)
Posted by e. nonee moose at August 14, 2006 05:52 AM
Curmudgeon's R Us! ;-)
Posted by GM at August 14, 2006 07:13 AM
What excellent news !!
Glad I am to have dropped by in time to read this, and as always wishing you nothing but the best for the future.
Posted by dougf at August 15, 2006 04:16 AM
What a joy to hear such good news! I wish we could send you on tour to share your wisdom and advice to all those who are struggling to get through another day. They need to hear stories like yours, GM.
May you tall against the winds of suffering, until the storm passes and warm rays dry your tears.
Posted by The Cheerful Oncologist at August 15, 2006 08:45 AM
That is truly awesome, you are an inspiration!
Posted by Chucko at August 16, 2006 09:24 AM
Woo-hoo! Good going, George! That is truly wonderful news.
Posted by Gail at August 17, 2006 06:56 AM
Speaking as someone who's partner has beaten both the big C and leukemia, I have some small inkling of how hard your fight has been.
*salutes*
Posted by dangerouslysubversivedad at August 19, 2006 12:52 AM
What wonderful news! Thank you, Lord!
And thank you, George for your display of courage, humor,
determination and love!
God bless you and you family!
Anchors Aweigh, my friend.
Posted by Ben USN (Ret) at August 21, 2006 01:29 AM
YAY! What fantastic news. I have no doubt that your faith and everyone's prayers had a hand in bringing it about.
I'm heading off for my own follow-up scan next week, and hoping for similarly good news. As you say, fight on!
Posted by Joan at August 23, 2006 07:02 PM
