Another JULY Cancer B'Day Today

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