And Happy New Year to all...

donna_lee
donna_lee Member Posts: 1,041 Member

When I was Dx'd in 2006 with kidney cancer (it doesn't deserve to be capitalized), I was told that "unless something could be done", I had 5-7 months to live.  That prognosis didn't agree with me, at all. So we pursued on, even after many tears and phone calls, and tests, and finally the initial surgery.  Out came the R. Kidney, the set of lymph nodes behind it with 2/11 positive, the left half of my liver with RCC in it, numerous wedges of the right lobe of my liver that were negative for cancer, my bile duct that had a congenital defect (overgrowth of tissue that sometimes caused a blockage, and the gall bladder. Recovery-slow but steady and I was swimming and exercising in the City Pool at 6 weeks.

The next 2 years, 2007 and 2008, there were 2 different nodes that had increased in size between the winter and spring CT's.  Each was removed and positive for Clear Cell RCC.

In between 1st and 2nd surgeries, we traveled from Oregon to the East Coast, where I fell from a curb in Charleston, SC and broke the tib/fib bones and dislocated my foot to the left.  Temporary fix, realignment and a cast and flew home  Surgery 7 days later to clean up the mess and put screws in both bones.  Wore a cast for 6 weeks and a walking boot for 2-3 more.  As a result of using crutches for over 7 weeks, I develope a large and painful nodule on the main flex/extension tendon of my right hand, and had to have it removed.

So here we are 14 1/2  years later, getting to enjoy going to work, watching the wildlife out my backdoor and along the tidewater creek that runs into the Pacific Ocean, talk to and see my immediate family (2 kids with families), and find new extended family members on Ancestry.com.

As the year closed, I felt the slot machine had hit 3 lemons (Covid, Weather (Forest Fires in Oregon), Politics in general);  now it's time to make Lemonaid.  Thus far, Covid has shut us out of somethings as we act cautiously around our community; our business was not closed as it was considered essential, and the entire crew has moved 3 hours away to help rebuild, construct, and surface logging roads for Weyerhaeuser Timber in the Willamette Valley; and I'm glad the annonymous phone calls, the mail, the email, and ads for election is O-ver.

So hope this greets you with good tidings, a sunny smile, and you can add something to your lemonade to celebrate a better year to come.

Luv and Hugs,

donna_lee

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    Oh what a year

    Last New Year's Eve I was in the OR getting my Gallbladder out and probably closing the OR for the year. In and out of the Hospital 3 times in January dealimg with infection issues and a home nutse visiting for 15 days to get IV antibiodics. Then 18 years Ned from the Neph and 1 year Ned from the Prostate. Almost forgot about the Covud.

     

     

    icemantoo

     

  • stub1969
    stub1969 Member Posts: 966 Member
    You two lead the way

    Here's to both of you for a happy and healthy 20201.  I also want to extend a Happy and Healthy New Year wish to the rest of the members on this board.  I'm at the 4 1/2 year mark.  Thyroid scans coming up at the end of January and kidney scans in June.  

    Stub

  • eug91
    eug91 Member Posts: 471 Member
    edited January 2021 #4
    Well said, Donna

    Two years since my neph in December 2018. Thanks to the odd timing, Christmas and New Year's now always remind me of what I've survived and how every added-bit of life is a blessing. 

    Here's to a great 2021 everyone!

     

  • Deanie0916
    Deanie0916 Member Posts: 614 Member
    edited January 2021 #5
    Happy New Year

    to everyone! Hope it's a year full of blessings for everyone!

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    edited January 2021 #6
    Happy and healthy new year to

    Happy and healthy new year to everyone. Stay well! Hugs. 

  • Canadian Sandy
    Canadian Sandy Member Posts: 783 Member
    Happy New Year everyone!

    Happy New Year everyone!

  • Mmoses25
    Mmoses25 Member Posts: 319 Member
    edited January 2021 #8
    Happy New Years

    Your one of the strongest people I got to know just reading gives me hope I want to say I hope 2021 is good for you and wish everyone on this board happy New Years