Originally was email – Page 2 – Couldausedanotherday

How’d ya get in that there wheel chair?

I am just about halfway through my radiation treatments.

In the first week, I needed a wheel chair to get out of the hospital after radiation treatments. In the second week, the pain was much less and I was happy to be walking without assistance.

About the pain, it’s not the radiation that’s painful, I think it’s a combination of lying on my back on what feels much like a concrete slab, and what ever it is going on inside my lower back.

Each day, the treatments are a little more tolerable and the sleep situation is a little bit better. It’s been great to sleep in a bed again, even though restricted to one comfortable position (the right side). In the last couple nights, that sleep comfort zone has expanded nicely.

Jon Cadd, and often his wife, Cher, drove me to about half of my treatments and some doctor appointments. I would often look out the window and catch Jon mowing our lawn. He also helped me with some painting, moving boxes and furniture, taking out the trash; he walked with me, prayed with me, and sometimes just stopped by to visit. Thank you, Jon & Cher.

I’m still losing weight because I just don’t have an appetite. I’ve lost about 25 pounds, and I am extremely disappointed to have to report that my shirtless silhouette remains indistinguishable from that of Homer Simpson.

My Oncologist says “the indicators” lead her to believe the cancer I have is Plasma Cytoma, which responds very well to radiation treatments. In about a week, I will have a bone marrow biopsy. This will be done to rule out the possibility that the cancer is Multiple Myeloma, which is very similar to the other, but has no cure.

As I have said before, I so appreciate your prayers. I don’t know how to thank you. I can’t imagine going through something like this without God’s Awesome Peace. Knowing that you pray for me (and with me) overflows me with a loving, lifted up feeling I can’t explain (but, I sure do love it!).

Thank you,

Scott

Just another back pain?

This will be an update for some, and an announcement of sorts for others. Although there is no concrete news to share, I want to let you know what’s going on.

A couple weeks ago, I began experiencing back pain as I have many times over the years. Monday, June 27^tharound 3:am I went to the emergency room for extreme back plain. They took a couple x-rays which showed nothing, so the Dr. sent me home with pain pills.

The pills didn’t help, so I went back to the ER. They did an MRI which revealed a crushed vertebra, and the word tumor was mentioned. Now that I have had cancer, I guess there will always be that double checking to see if it has come back or spread. I must say the needle biopsies in my back were the worst physical pain I have endured.

Luckily, I have been working on the shower base in the new bathroom and I do have cement available

If it is cancer, I’m told I have a few options in hoping for a cure. If it’s just your everyday run of the mill crushed vertebra, there is talk of filling it with cement.

I spent a few days in the hospital and now a few days home in grandpa’s recliner.

Diane has been wonderful in taking care of me. Tuesday I go early for a PET scan (I guess I’m supposed to take both cats), and a CT scan, and Thursday we are supposed to get the results of many if not all the tests.

If you are on the list of folks who pray for Diane and I, Thank You. God’s love and mercy are infinite, and although I feel a bit like a prayer hog lately, I think its okay to continue tapping into that overflowing source of peace.

Thank you, each of you who pray for us, and thank you (Jon Cadd) for helping me walk and find things, thank you for making me laugh, and thank you for mowing our lawn.

Many thanks, until later,

Scott

Last Chance to make a run for it

Hi, everyone; Two updates in this email (three if you count the fact that we actually now have TILE ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR)

First, Brandon and Emily were evacuated out of Egypt to Germany. After about a week, Brandon returned to Cairo and Emily went to visit her parents in North Carolina. Shortly after her arrival, her folks announced they were moving to Florida.

She has been helping with that project and hopes to return home to Cairo and Brandon in a couple weeks. Brandon has been back to work at the American University. He said there is still some instability around the country, but mostly fine in his area.

Second, I went to the hospital today in preparation for my surgery in one week. I did some pre-registering, pre-admitting, and even had the opportunity to do some pre-paying.

I declined the pre-paying of my deductible, explaining how silly it would be if I paid today and later decided to make a run for it. I met again with my surgeon. We went over a few details and we are both ready to go.

I will check into Meridian Park hospital at about 6:30 am on March 17th for my scheduled surgery at 8:30. They tell me to plan on one or two nights in the hospital, and two to four weeks recovering at home before returning to full time work.

I want to thank you again for your prayers, I can feel them, and they give me peace. When you pray, would you also pray for my cousin, Dennis Sturdevant, his wife and his family, for strength and peace? Dennis was also recently diagnosed with cancer. It’s advanced and can’t be treated.

Thank you,

Scott

The Dreaded Annual Exam

This will be an update for some, and an announcement of sorts for others. Although there is no concrete news to share, I want to let you know what’s going on.

I had my annual prostate exam a couple weeks ago and the numbers were a little high, and they were a little higher than last year, so the doctor said to get a second opinion. The second opinion said to get a biopsy.

I had an ultrasound and biopsy today. It was a bit like a visit to the dentist, only the chair was different. It will be a few days before the results are in, so this is all I have to share. Before today, the doctor predicted my diagnosis would fall somewhere between, “It’s Nothing” and, “Certain Death.” Today after the closer inspection, he sharpened that prediction to a 60% chance of having prostate cancer.

Until later,

Scott