Three Little Pigs

Yes it's been quite a while since my last post. Part of the delay is due to me mentally needing to distance myself from all that has happened. The other part of the delay is due to a need to get my life back in order after everything.

Here's a brief summary of what's happened since August of 2010:

August: Went to Duke University for a lung transplant evaluation which consists of almost a weeks worth of rigorous testing. After this testing I also elected to have a colonoscopy to investigate rectal bleeding. The result was a diagnosis of rectal cancer.

September: Began radiation & chemotherapy to treat cancer.

October: Hospitalized for a painful bowel obstruction (three days) and low potassium (one day). Began inhaled antibiotics to treat a respiratory infection.

November: Surgery performed to remove rectum and create permanent colostomy (ten days of hospitalization.

December: Began inhaled antibiotics to treat a respiratory infection.

January: Hospitalized for pancreatitis/bowel obstruction (11 days).

February: Hospitalized for respiratory infection (10 days).

April/May: Hospitalized for bowel obstruction, emergency surgery to remove nine inchese of small bowel, and post surgical respiratory infection (32 days).

Yes the last hospitalization was a doozy. Not only was it long, it was also painful and at times frightening. I was about ready to be discharged (after two weeks) when I started to feel very short of breath. The cause was a pneumonia and I had to have assisted ventilation via a BiPap machine. This was my first time ever having a machine help me breathe. At the time I was very thankful for the help of it. In retrospect I'm still thankful but I also recognize this is another indication that my disease progression is getting more serious. Hey at least I wasn't on a vent though.

After discharge I was very weak and tired both mentally & physically. Not only was I in the hospital for 32 days, it was my sixth hospitalization in seven months. Rebounding after all that was not easy. To be honest there were many mornings I woke up thinking "How am I going to get through the day?". Then one day I received a little glass flying pig named Penelope (thanks Amy!). This particular Penelope was the third I'd received since October. Obviously people know I have a fondness for flying pigs ;) Penelope the Piggie comes with the following message: With her head-strong determination and good fortune, Penelope is the perfect depiction of overcoming impossible odds! Her personal wager against anyone using the phrase "When pigs fly!" has brought much abundance and prosperity indeed.

Penelope had been trying to get my attention but maybe it took a third one "landing" to really sink in. I just needed her to remind me that I am "head-strong and determined", have "good fortune" and most certainly have been "overcoming impossible odds". From then on I got up every morning trying to think of Penelope and trying to get my life back.

So began a serious effort to workout, gain weight, work on projects to improve the neglected house/yard, see friends, etc etc. Once again I feel like myself again. Yes there are times it's still difficult. I still wonder when the next illness/hospitalization will come. Hopefully I can always remember to think of Penelope when the difficult times do come. All three Penelopes are on my mantle in case I need a reminder. Thanks Penelopes!!!

P.S. Please attend Festiv-ale a Celebration of Beer Tasting. The event is Saturday August 20th and benefits the CF Foundation. If you can't attend please consider making a donation. More information can be found here: http://indiana.cff.org/festivale