Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast (edit #2)

Alison has been going through test after test, and we haven't seen many results yet. A lot of these tests need work done prior-to, IE laxatives, dyes, etc. Lots of fun stuff. Alison has shown a ton a ton of discipline, and has completed everything they've asked. ::Yay you, babe:: Right now she's sleeping beside me, fresh from Same-Day Surgery at Beaufort Memorial. She had an endoscopy, colonoscopy, and a pill-cam. The results of the endo and colo show that nothing is abnormal in her bowel-tract. Hopefully the pill will send us the same message.

I was reading the Hospital's newspaper while in the waiting room this morning. The Keyserling Cancer Center was it's main attraction. The picture on the front page, dated March 28, showed Mrs. Keyserling cutting the ribbon, announcing that the center was open for business. The center provides radiation therapy to all in need in between Savannah and Charleston. It also provides the service of Dr. Majd Chahin, Oncologist. He's been tremendous: informative and honest. As I opened the paper to read the rest, I saw him sitting behind the speaker at the event. I am glad that they opened this center when they did. I'll put a picture from the paper on here later.

Just to make this post the longest ever, I'd like to share what I was thinking as I pulled out of Hardee's with a Frisco-burger this morning. Of the two of us, it would have been way more likely for me to have an illness or cancer. She's always treated her body with great respect. I've always punished mine. When she eats a salad - I eat a burger and coke. When she'd drink a lemonade - I'd indulge myself with a Coke. She walks - I run and jump. She gardens at a moderate pace - I fall out of the tree with a chainsaw in my hands. The point is this: that this disease is a road bump. I am destined to meet my maker first. Probably by decades. That's reassuring to me. I may cut down on the copious amounts of fast food though. I'm beginning to see that health is a thing to work at.

And finally, (much to Alison's dismay :) ), I am working on the top-ten medical-songs-of-all-time-list. I'm dedicating this short list to my little sister, Brittany, (shot out to Britt!), who totalled her car and is in a world of hurt right now. She'll never forgive me for this picture, but I love you, Brittany.
Get better! And without further ado:

5. Dr. Feelgood - Motley Crue
4. Bad Medicine - Bon Jovi
3. Clean My Wounds - Corrosion of Conformity
2. Be Still My Heart - Death Cab for Cutie
and number one...
1. Sedated - The Ramones

Thanks to everyone for the great support. It's an easier road knowing that others have gone before, and still more are cheering us on. I'm practicing my patience, as I want nothing more than her to feel and BE better.

On Waiting Rooms...

Today was the third day of Alison's Octreoscan at Savannah Memorial Health. We don't know the results of the recent tests yet. We do know we'll be at Duke on the 3rd.

It's the questions that drive you bonkers. The uncertainty of what's going to happen. Will we have to stay at Duke or will the treatment be here, but through Duke's plan? Will it be surgery and chemo combined? How long until recovery? Will she need a bone marrow transplant in order to begin producing red blood cells for herself again? I've pretty well ran the gamut with questions while sitting in the waiting rooms.

I can see her wearing out again. It's expected but depressing.

The support has been great from family and friends. We're very fortunate to have so many that care for us. Thanks for the prayers.

Bone Scan

Update: Tomorrow Alison gets tested at Savannah Memorial. We'll be there Saturday too, so we're planning on staying down there. Thanks for the support. We're holding strong. Alison has this note posted on the side of the computer that took on new meaning for me today. She blogged about it a little while back.
I was able to finagle a copy of Alison's skeleton from the Nuclear Medicine Engineer. At one point during the scan, Alison said "look Tom, they're scanning my leggies."

I don't see any 'snapping hips.' But I do see some scolisois.

Long Way From Home

I've led a charmed life so far. I know it. Things have come easy. Even the hard stuff.
I was poor enough to never be labeled rich. I was rich enough to never be hungry.
My family has come through time scratch-free and healthy.
I've been given great gifts and talents by God. So have my sisters and brother.

So why do I feel so out-matched now? In the face of my greatest adversity, I am trying to find strength. I've found a lot today, just by letting go and crying a lot. Tomorrow I'll put the tears aside and begin a long journey with Alison. A journey back to health.

She's been diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Tumors. The cancer is in her lymph nodes and bones. I am completely helpless, save providing my love. I love her so much sometimes that I can feel it change me inside, just thinking about it.

I promise you this, dear, that I'll be beside you in your every step.

The questions are many, the answers are few. We're going through many tests. I'll keep everyone posted...

Day on the River.

Don't put a good fish on a stringer in salt water. (Sharks get 'em)

More pictures here.

Internet Blues

Lately I've been logging onto Internet Explorer and coming up dry. I check the bank, a few blogs, google something, and try to find something to click on. I know there are interesting sites and interesting things to research, learn, view, whatever. But they're eluding me.

Any suggestions?

Still waiting for answers about Alison's health. That's probably what's keeping me without much findings on the net.

Fun Times in Sad Times

Ali and I went back to the ER today. We had bloodwork done, and went home. The nurse called and said the results had declined again, and that she needed to come back.

It's scary when you recognize all the nurses. When you say, "hey Frank, what'dya do with the kids last night?" to the doctor... well, I really didn't say that to the doctor, but you get the point. And the worst thing about getting comfortable in the ER, is that you find out how to get comfortable in the ER.

Tonight Alison wanted to sit up just a bit in her bed. On day one in there, I would have said "bear it." Day two? "Nurse, can you adjust her?" But here on day three (in the last two weeks), I try to adjust the bed. Of course it immediately looks like a mexican pimp-ride, with two small tires making it ride lower in the back.

I finally got the hang of it though, and after 'pumping' her bed back up, I propped her nicely.

She's there tonight. She had a blood transfusion too. I guess she was a quart low. Don't quite know what's wrong yet. I'll let ya'll know.

This is my first night in this house without her.

Trials and People Who Care

Lately Alison's been feeling really terribly. We've taken her to the hospital twice this week, and had 3 bags of IV's pumped into her. She's got, as we say in aircraft maintenance, many discrepancies which render her 'not mission capable.' I'd call her a longterm down aircraft.

Thanks Jan, for coming and taking care of her and I. Your help was awesome, and a welcome relief. And thanks to Alison's co-worker Donna, who came by with flowers and advice.

As for what's next, more tests. They haven't diagnosed anything yet, except symptoms such as anemia, rheumatoid-like symptoms, nausea, and an ear infection.

So please put Alison in your prayers, as she's got to keep in good spirits through her pain and hard times. I'll do my best to take care of her...

Boat Maintenance

This afternoon I did what was on my list for a long time. The power-trim on my boat (the button on the throttle that makes the drive unit (propeller) tilt up and down) was mounted on a steel structure that had seen better days. I built an aluminum replacement 2 years ago for replacing it. I replaced it. Finally. Then I reattached the battery.

No juice.

The sun went down with me chasing wires. My volt-meter (Harbor Freight Tool Special) was crap. The nine-volt inside was dead, and by dead I mean the connectors had broken away from their battery.

But this old dog has one trick. A photograph of how it was BEFORE I messed it up. Well, that and a nice little wire tester.















Tomorrow I'll fix it when the light is back.

The Beaufort-St.Helena Bridge

I've returned from the library with some answers. The present day bridge was finished in 1960. Before that, and just to the south of that (literally), there stood the Beaufort-St. Helena bridge. Proposed in 1914, opened on July 8, 1927, the bridge was the first connecting Beaufort to Lady's Island, St. Helena Island, Hunting Island, Fripp Island, Cat Island... you get the picture. Before 1927, there were three ferries. By ferries I mean row boats operated by various companies. I really enjoyed this article, and it's reminiscence of one Frank Brown, Ferryman.

"Frank Brown, the negro boatman, never sober more than 50 per cent of the time, but a good boatman drunk or sober. The writer recalls crossing with him one foggy night when he sat in the stern of the ferry boat and directed Frank's course. That individual had merely enough sense left to pull at the oars. But he got over all right. And who, having once skimmed over in Frank's sailboat when the wind was fair, will quickly forget it. Be it said that in all the years old Frank fought the elements and booze, until the latter laid him low, he never lost a passenger. " - The Beaufort Gazette, July 7, 1927.

You can see a few other photo's here.

What I've found out from researching the history of the bridges, and life before, is that we're closer to history than we are a famous person. Everyone recalls that 'no more than 7 people away from someone' thing. I'm a lot closer than that to Frank Brown. He's rowing someone in a boat of dead wood, and I'm watching the water move.