Another JULY Cancer B'Day Today

Sundanceh
Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Good morning Everybody - How's the World Treating You?

I have made it to another birthday today as of 8:27am CST the 21st of July. I join Eric and Sheri this month as the other July Cancer's with Cancer parade.

My wife surprised me this past Friday and wanted to go out and celebrate that day - and so we did. Went to Outback and had one of their bacon cheeseburgers and a couple of their frozen Down Under 'Ritas with a Jose Cuervo and Cointreau floaters - boy it had been awhile and it was delicious and tasty and was a real nice evening. I felt "human" and "normal" for the first time in a long time - I could not have ordered a better evening.

Today, I'll work and then go to the cancer center and talk to the oncologist about several items I found on my scan report that was not presented to me. A couple of the comments included FDG-Avid uptake to a couple of new areas as well as the pleura nodules. So, I want to get his take on what that means - and ask him why those items were omitted from our discussion.

After we get out of there, we'll go home and grab a bite of something and it should be a quiet evening and then it will be in the rear view mirror. The big night was Friday and it was so good, I wish to remember that as the day - brought back some real old times when we were younger and healthier and it was all out in front of us then...

In reflecting on a birthday, I am reminded that we are not guaranteed that we will reach each one. I've come to appreciate a milestone that one can reach, because we've all had to endure so much to make them happen - and we can really appreciate their beauty because our eyes have been opened and our awareness has been raised to a higher level.

One year ago on my last birthday, I was deep in the throes of chemotherapy and feeling very sick and miserable from the surgeries and treatments, as many of you are right now from the stories I've been reading. I'm living proof that if you keep going, there can be some victories along the way and there is always hope for the future and what it brings.

The last 5+ years, I've just been trying to do the treatments, battle the cancer, and keep my job and the life we worked so hard to build. It was the hardest thing that I ever had to do. It was like sticking a square peg into a round hole - we were just trying to fit in somewhere, trying to find the "new" normal.

So, I can really appreciate the difference between the 2 years - I am still very grateful that I have my life, my wife, our house, and my career. I know how quickly it could all go away and that is why I fight so hard against this cancer. I cannot let it win and write the last chapter of my story - we've got to stop it here at the lung and as I wait for the confirmation, I think about what lies ahead with more surgery and chemo treatments, but I will win this battle right here and now in Year 6.

And lastly, for the Caregivers of our Semi-Colon Family, God Bless You for all that you do and all that you are - each and every one of you out there. You are the true g i f t to us and are our biggest inspiration - you might not know it, but I'm telling you that you are! You are the the rock and the glue that holds the whole thing together and makes the home what it is. I can't thank each of you enough for what you do. Just think about that when we're yelling or giving you a hard time - it's the pain and the Cancer talking and not us. You guys are the best!

And my CareGiver (KIM) is having gall bladder surgery this Friday and I told her I would tell the family about it. So please can you give a big shout out to Kim and say a prayer for her, so she can feel the tremendous love that you have given me? Thank you so much.

I'm 48 today - God Bless You, Guys - you all have been a big inspiration to me these past few weeks and I've formed friendships from this board. I find it truly amazing and am just overwhelmed by the goodness and generosity and pure love that I've found on this board.

It's been a pleasure talking with you this morning!

All my best to each of you as we go forward

-Craig

Comments

  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    Happy birthday,Craig.Life is
    Happy birthday,Craig.Life is so precious and we fight for life.I am a caregiver for my hubby,I alway appreciate and treasure life,but I never felt life is so precious like today.Your posting brought tears to my eyes,I have sent you and your caregiver prayer,I also sent my best wishes and best luck to her and her surgery.Craig,never,ever give up!Happy birthday to you!
  • luv3jay
    luv3jay Member Posts: 533 Member
    Inspiration!
    Craig, you are a true inspiration to me (and I'm sure many others) every day! Reading your post just now really moved me. I'm praying for you and your family that you may have many more blessed birthdays here on this earth. God bless you today and always! Happy Birthday!

    -Sheri
  • nudgie
    nudgie Member Posts: 1,478 Member
    Happy Birthday
    Craig !!!!! :), but you never told us how old you reached? :)
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    nudgie said:

    Happy Birthday
    Craig !!!!! :), but you never told us how old you reached? :)

    Happy Happy Birthday
    A very happy birthday to you. I'm glad you enjoyed your night out on Friday. Yes, doing some things like that to make yourself normal is exactly what you need to move forward.

    My prayers go out to Kim as she undergoes surgery. I pray that she have a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.

    Nudgie, he posted that he was 48 years young today.

    Kim
  • lmliess
    lmliess Member Posts: 329
    Happy BDay!!
    I hope you have a great BDay!! You are right - there are there are no promises we will see the next one for anyone so I think we all need to enjoy them the best we can. I will turn 39 in october and I will welcome that with open arms. I was dreading my birthdays because I didn't want to get older but I think going through cancer, I am getting older and better! I appreciate so much now.

    Enjoy your day!!
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday..
    Happy Birthday, Craig! Glad you didn't have to hear me trying to carry a tune.

    I like this article I found on youth. Hope you do too.

    ON YOUTH
    “Youth is not entirely a time of life – it is a state of mind. It is not wholly a matter of ripe cheeks, red lips or supple knees. It is a temper of will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions.
    “Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals. You are as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fears; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.
    “In the central place of every heart, there is a recording chamber; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer and courage, you are young.
    “When the wires are all down and your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then, and only then, have you grown old.” - Samuel Ullman was the author. He was born in 1840 and died in 1924.

    Sending you cheer and best wishes.
    lizzydavis
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member

    Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday..
    Happy Birthday, Craig! Glad you didn't have to hear me trying to carry a tune.

    I like this article I found on youth. Hope you do too.

    ON YOUTH
    “Youth is not entirely a time of life – it is a state of mind. It is not wholly a matter of ripe cheeks, red lips or supple knees. It is a temper of will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions.
    “Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals. You are as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fears; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.
    “In the central place of every heart, there is a recording chamber; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer and courage, you are young.
    “When the wires are all down and your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then, and only then, have you grown old.” - Samuel Ullman was the author. He was born in 1840 and died in 1924.

    Sending you cheer and best wishes.
    lizzydavis

    Thank you, Lizzie
    Hey, Lizzie

    Thank you for such your birthday gift :)

    That was really a beautifully written piece and I thoroughly enjoyed it today. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to think of me and give me something inspirational to read.

    You and everybody have brightened my otherwise routine day and made me smile and feel joy.

    Thanks for making a "young" man feel so good.

    -Craig
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    Happy Birthday Craig!
    And here's to many, many more. I am glad you were able to celebrate.

    We will hold Kim and her doctors in our prayers!

    Many hugs, Vicki
  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    Sundanceh said:

    Thank you, Lizzie
    Hey, Lizzie

    Thank you for such your birthday gift :)

    That was really a beautifully written piece and I thoroughly enjoyed it today. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to think of me and give me something inspirational to read.

    You and everybody have brightened my otherwise routine day and made me smile and feel joy.

    Thanks for making a "young" man feel so good.

    -Craig

    Hi Craig,this Friday is
    Hi Craig,this Friday is going to be a tough day for both you and your wife.Please let us know how things move when you are available after your wife's surgery.I hope she is going to have her surgery done successfully.Best wishes and best luck to you and your wife.
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    VickiCO said:

    Happy Birthday Craig!
    And here's to many, many more. I am glad you were able to celebrate.

    We will hold Kim and her doctors in our prayers!

    Many hugs, Vicki

    Happy Birthday!
    Hey Craig,

    Birthday boy huh? Thats way cool. I am glad you had such a great time. I never really appreciated my life before.... boy did I have blinders on. KIM.... HERE'S A CYBER HUG FOR YOU! All of us will be praying for a speedy recovery from your surgery. Craig, you made me cry when you started talking about how we yell or act out and it's just the cancer... not us. That hit home.... especially this week. My husband (Mike) is my rock too. I would never get through this without him. Craig.. I will be here with you to celebrate NED before your next birthday. You have a great day

    Jennie
  • donnare
    donnare Member Posts: 266
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
    Hi Craig,

    Happy Birthday - I hope this new year holds wonderful things for you and your family. I wish you good health, prosperity, and all the joy than your heart can hold.

    All the best to Kim - I'm sending good thoughts and prayers her way for a speedy recovery.

    Hugs to you both,
    Donna
  • jgomez
    jgomez Member Posts: 25
    Almost half a Century
    Craig, first of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Keep up the good work and have faith, never trip in your battle against the beast.
    On my 35th birthday I came out of the hospital to celebrate my operation of the colon and begin my battle against the beast.
    It's been 8 birthdays that I have celebrated since. And I'm with NED. Stay together and look ahead to jump the 50 year peak.

    Another friend from CSN, Jose Gomez
  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY
    I wish you the very best on your birthday,and I hope the surgery goes well for your caregiver,you will both be in my prayers.
  • punch_vj
    punch_vj Member Posts: 88
    Friend...
    I am teary eyed as I write this note of thanks.

    Craig, I've read to of your posts, back to back, and I continue to be inspired , encouraged and challenged to focus on the goal: LIFE by your commentary.
    With the wealth of support available on this board, especially voices of sense, reason, and compassion such as yours, I'm certain we'll all triumph over our common enemy.
  • punch_vj
    punch_vj Member Posts: 88
    Oh...Duh! Happy Belated!!!!
    I was so rapturous about your posts that I forgot the most important point :) And blessings to Kim, I had my gall bladder out 6yrs ago, it was simple enough, and she'll shine right through. I so happy you two enjoyed a Happy B-Day together, too :)
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