CT scan at Moffit

 Yesterday I went to Moffitt for a CT scan to check on my post-surgery progress.  Dr Denbo looked at the scan and said that everything looked perfect.  The liver has regrown as expected. He also stated that I can go on to a 4-month cycle of scans, so the next one is not until March.  

I will continue to have blood checks done every 3 months to monitor if there are any Cancer DNA cells in my blood stream.  Next blood draw for that will be December 14th.  I have had 2 so far (1 in May when I started Chemo and another in late August) and BOTH came back with 0 cells that contained cancer.  

For those of you that have seen pictures of me, you may have noticed that I have a bump on my Stomach (and NO I am not talking about the 40lb weight gain!!!).  This is NOT A TUMOR (in my worst Arnold Schwarzenegger voice), it is a surgical hernia.  Dr Denbo said this can be repaired surgically, but he would like to wait at least another 6 months until going down that route.  He did say that weight loss could help that.  IF Deb and I ever slow down our cruising schedule, I will be starting a diet in 2024.  

Overall, I am amazed at what has taken place in the last year.  My first abdominal pain was on December 8th.  I cannot express how GRATEFUL I am to have such wonderful friends.  

Here are some of the things that I can never Thank people enough for

1) My adopted Mother-in-Law Carol Hutchison, who was there to help get us pointed to the PERFECT doctors, when our head was spinning trying to come to terms with what was going on.

2) The people that came to our house the night before surgery. Hopefully I have returned all the HUGS you gave me that night.  If not, please ask, and I will GLADLY return it.  :-)

3) The wonderful group that was in my driveway at 4 AM the day of surgery.  You made BOTH Debbie and I cry with that.

4) My sisters for coming to be with me (and Debbie) on the day of my surgery.  I needed you guys there, and you were there for me.

5) The people that came to see me in the hospital.  (John and Andrea, Jim K, Chuck B, Cecile, Michelle, Chris).  Jim K, Want to see the incision?? 

6) The support I received on my walks as I was getting my strength back.

7) The MEAL TRAIN was amazing.  Thank You Jean Elliot for organizing, and for EVERYONE that made us food, and shared the meal with us.  It was wonderful.

8) The nurses in the neighborhood that looked after me when I was leaking.  Renee Soulsman, thank you for showing me the amazing way to cover everything up.

9) Larry and Alan, for coming down to Florida to play golf with me.

10) To all my Bradford golfers, thanks for running after my errant shots, letting me skip some holes, letting me go to my cart and sit to rest.  Special thanks to Joe Abbatello, for NEVER pointing out that I "occasionally" may not have finished the entire round.

I know there are probably 100 more things I could list.  All in All, I am so blessed to have such a wonderful group of people around me.