To my Blog followers. I wrote the following to all my high school friends that my buddy, Dock Sewell, keeps me "attached" to. Rather than "edit" it, I just copied it over. It contains what I wanted to tell all of you, as the time for surgerey draws nigh. Love you all.

To my Levelland friends:
I know many of you have keep up with my cancer journey on my Blog and on Facebook (which my #2 daughter Angie updates), but there are many of you, like me, that only venture "over on those dark sides" accidentally.
To those, let me bring you up to date.
As you know I have esophageal cancer, right where the esophagus joins my stomach. I have had thirty days of rads and chemo and now that they've beat it up that way (plus beating up my body) the doc is going to remove it. They will take about four or five inches of my esophagus and one third of my stomach and sew them together. I will be in ICU for two or three days and in the hospital for no longer than eleven. The surgery, Nov. 4, 7:30 AM, will take a minimum of 6 hours. The reason for the longer hospital stay is that they want to make sure there are no "leaks" in their work. And I'm OK with that.
I have appreciated all your prayers but I request you hold Lynda and all my family up to the Lord during these trying times.
Your pal,
Leighton

Well, the die is cast. Wednesday, Nov. 4 is the day I will be operated on. Texas Health Resources HEB, Bedford, TX. 7:30 AM Had conversations with two docs today. Both agreed, as did I, now is the time because I'm stronger and ready. I will say I am anxious but I've committed the results to the Lord. I have joined my prayers with yours to ask His healing. The surgery will remove a portion of my esophagus plus a portion of my stomach and then they will sew those two together. For the rest of my life I will then be eating 5 or 6 meals a day. Or, better put, all the time. The doc sez I will be able to hike and run but I've got to learn to "eat on the run" but I've been doing that for years. I will be in ICU 2 or 3 days and then in the hospital for a max of 10 or 11 days. All the while checking for "leaks" which I don't plan on. Don't think I'm quiting this little process! Now, I plan on keeping you informed on "how" He has touched my life, again. Signing off for today. Love you all but Lynda the most!

Sorry team, I've fallen down on my job. The reason is that everyday is the same (which is good because I'm not slipping back), but, in hindsight, I should have reported that. My weight is steady, my color is coming back (per Lynda) and I feel strong every morning when I wake up. Oh yeah, #2 daughter Angie came down from Virginia and a day later her #3 daughter Lyndsey appeared. So with those two, plus Debbie, Claire and Clay (#1 daughter and children) all buzzing around I just haven't gotten close to the computer. Today I meet with the surgeon so he can evaluate my current status and see where he wants me to be before surgery. I do hope that soon food will start "tasting good" to me again. Thank God for feeding tubes. And, I did get out to two "gatherings", Friday and Saturday, and I'm none the worse for wear. Felt good to get out and about. Gone for now, will report on what doc sez!

Little confession right here. Last Saturday, Sunday and Monday I experieced a bit of nausea, each day, and didn't want to say anything about it. However on Tuesday morning I woke feeling better than I have in a month and each day, since then, is progressively better. Able to think with continuity and haven't been as tired each day. Actually, went the last two days without naps, just because they weren't called for. Am riding a stationary bike for about 15 minutes each day and taking walks. Will wonders never cease. As you know, I'm taking most of my nourishment via feeding tube. Five cans a day, 300 calories a can. Found a can that has 560 calories in it and have added one of those each day. Puts me to about 2000. Slowly but surely I'm getting where I can eat, but it's very little. But, I feel good so that will come in it's due time. God is Good! Oh yeah, the better I feel, the better Lynda feels. We, my friends, are in this together. Could not do it without her. Could not do it without you!

Here it is, Tuesday, and another day in paradise. Met with a person who scheduled some stuff for me to eat so that I (just) might gain a little weight and for sure some strength. Lynda made a pudding out of one her recipes today and I'm slowly but surely getting it down. Am scheduled to meet with the surgeon next Monday for him to evaluate exactly where I am on his "where does this guy need to be for me to operate on him." More information on that after I see him. Everybody tells me my color is better and I'm getting a little stronger every day. Took a walk yesterday and it felt good. Today I've not taken a nap, (which works in on getting back on a normal schedule of day and night), and I plan to hook up tonight and get a good night sleep. Love you all. God is Good!

Since Thursday life has been on an even keel. Trying to "set a plan" on getting stronger, which is a challenge. On Tueday I see a person who will advise me on nutrients. I guess I just need someone to slap me up side the head and tell me to get on with it. I'm holding my weight steady but not at the level I need for it to be. Yesterday, had a great visit with my sister and brother in law, from Oklahoma, plus my brother and his wife, two of his daughters, one of his son in laws, two of his grandchildren plus two of my daughters and two of my grandchildren. If that doesn't give one reasons to live then I don't know what would! Oh yeah, have I ever told you that I would be lost without Lynda? Well, I would be. Could not love her any more than I do. She is by my side at all times. Amazing how the things that seemed so important fade from your thoughts when you face life decisions. Love you all, too. God is good.

May I start with, "Today will be a great day?" Yesterday was what it was but it's now gone, praise the Lord! Am gaining stength, but not weight. Looking forward to (kinda) the middle of next month when I get this dang thing cut out. But as we all know, God is good and we accept his His love! Had a great visit with a friend of 60 years yesterday. Love you all. Did I tell you that I would be lost without Lynda?

Today saw two doc visits. One, to take out the stiches on my feeding tube (which it looks like I'll have untill long after the surgery to remove the cancer) and two, to visit the oncologist for him to check my blood levels and overall feelings about what I'm going thru. The On doc told me to not worry about the fact that I couldn't eat solid food right now. Just concentrate on getting the "soup" down and add a an extra can some days. Blood counts were good. Now my responsibility is to get stronger each day and then we plan the surgery. I'm thinking in about a month. Today was a very good day and I expect tomorrow to be better! Lord I love Lynda!

I guess, every once in a while, one must "wallow in your pity." And, the last coupla days were mine. Feeling sorry for myself, feeling alone, feeling scared and just feeling crapy! Did it help? I don't know but I've got it behind me! What I can do is up to me and this morning I just got up doing what I can do. Yesterday I had about 2 ounces of Malt a Meal for breakfast and then 4 ounces of soup for lunch. Today I decided that an scrambled egg should be on the menu, and it was. First time I've chewed anything in 3 or 4 weeks. Now I'm gonna start gaining at least a little weight!

The weekend came and went with not major changes. Opps, let me back up. Started eating a bit. Will add some everyday. Will go to doc on Tuesday. Will report back then. Right now I'm tired and I'm going to bed.

Last post kind of put the next few weeks in prospective. Slow, incremental changes, for the better. Am on my feeding tube regime from 7 to 7. Allows me to "wander" for 12 hours, but, where to "wander?" All the flu going around and with my immune system all comprimised I just hang out at the house. I do ride with Lynda when she goes out on errands, but I just hang in the car. We did go out, for the first time in a month, with two couples last night, and it was a bit spooky at first? Who would have thought that? It was fun but exhausting. Wednesday was a good day, Thursday was a "push" day, not so bad, not so good, but Friday was better than both.
Many of you have asked about the times I add info to the Blog. Seems that getting all this fluid, at night, demands that you get up about 3 or 4 times each night and sometimes you are just not ready to go back to bed. I do get good nights sleep.
Love you all, but Lynda my caregiver, the most.

Incremental change. Less soreness in my tummy. (Thanks for the prayers) Less "upsetness" in my stomach. Feeding rate is now at 120 ml per hour. I have a bit more energy each day. Talked with the wife of a pal, Mike J, and she reported that it was at least two weeks, after rad and chemo, that he began to feel like "his real self." (Mike had exactly the same stuff I have plus he had the surgery, so he's my poster boy.) She also reported that by 5 weeks he really felt good, and then they did the surgery. Can't wait! (Tougue in cheek.)
Thanks for the comments that you add. They cheer me up everyday.

Another day, another pound! Where the doc put in the feeding tube is getting less sore and each day I have a little more energy. Not a thing smells or tastes good so adding anymore calories is a challenge. Have the feeding tube up to 105 ml per hour with a goal of 120 or 125. That allows me to "get down" a bag of "food" in 14 hours working down to where I'm not tethered but 12. Feels good when I can "unhook." Even tho the "food" is going into my intestine, I still feel like I have something in my stomach. And sometimes it's upset. Well, that wore me out just trying to expain it. I sometimes dream that when I wake up my bag will be empty. Please pray for the soreness to finally go away and that I start being able to get something else down. And pray for additional stength for Lynda. Love you all.

Hooray, I'm home. Came home yesterday and home health came by and fixed me up with a feeding pump. Now I get to "get fat." The plan is for me to pick (back) up at least 10 of the 20 pounds I lost and then have surgery to remove the cancer. Hopefully, in about 6 weeks. I feel a 100% better sleeping in my own bed and just cooling it around the house. Lynda and the girls are taking excellent care of me. Lynda and I had planned on leaving on a Meditrranean cruise tomorrow so Tuesday will be a sad day for us both. Twelve of our friends and us had planned on it being fun for 20 days.

Sometimes there is a pivotal day, and yesterday was it. Over the past 5 weeks, Thursdays and Fridays have been the most challenging. Wednesday night I would crash after my Tuesday chemo and Th and Fr would be a stuggle. Plus, every Monday, even tho I would have two day without treatment to recover, I would be weaker that the prior Monday. So, when this last Thursday I woke up with a carved up belly, getting the feeding tube in, I was a "whipped puppy." I oould not see up! And, then I begin to get nourshment and my stomach began to get "unsore" and the fight came back.
Yesterday I was ready to go home but the doc said, "One more day" and I'm glad she did. Last night my back got to hurting (from laying in bed four days) and I got up and sat in a chair. Nurse came in and asked, "Are you hurting?" "Yep" I sez and explain why. She checks to see if the doc has left any pain medication orders. I thought perhaps Tyenol. Nope, morphine. So much for that restless night. It got me from 11:30 to 4:30. Longest stretch of sleep since I've been here. But I believe I'll pass on doing that again.
Can't wait to get home with my sweetie.

Sure enough, it happened. Rad doc came in at 9 AM and discussed the possiblility of putting in the tube, we said yes and at 11 AM they took me to pre op. By, 12 noon I'm back in my room. So, now I'm tethered to a pole with nutrition going in. Oh yeah, with a sore belly. Cut me about an inch each way above my belly button and inseted the tube. I will have to get used to this. The plan is for me to "feed" from 7 PM to 7 AM and then be off my tether during the day. Will drink some on my own during the day. Hoped to go home today however it's the weekend and get all the stuff rounded up for me to have all off what I need doesn't look like it will happen. I can hardly wait to go home.

Hard to believe, looking at the date of yesterday's post, it's only been one month that I've been on the rad/chemo journey. I have to force myself to remember "life before cancer." Not to worry, I can imagine myself out running with my kids and grandkids and escaping to a mountain cabin with my sweetie. The future is what counts, isn't it!
Yesterday did bring us to a crossroads. Endo doc did a dilitation and found that the rads and chemo were not bringing (all) the desired results that had been expected. (My endo doc did the procedure and my chemo doc was there and observed, which was cool and unexpected.) Because my opening closed up 18 hours later on the last dilitation they decided to keep me overnight. Now, here I sit, taking fluids, and my best guess is (based on conversations before the procedure with those two docs) is that I will be the proud recipient of a feeding tube and I may have seen (for this round anyway) the end of rad and chemo. Looks like the "new" protocol of choice is to "fatten" me up and then cut the cancer out. Better than a kick in the butt! Funny how earlier the thought of surgery scared me and now, after the rad and chemo has beat the heck out of me, it would be a welcome alternative.
Your prayers surround me.

Have I said before that cancer sucks? Well, if I haven't, it does. The lastest news its that I'm really doing a bad job getting nutrition down.
Wait, I jumping ahead of my self. Yesterday, being tired of wearing pants that look like they come from my big brother, I went to Steinmart to get some that fit. Knowing full well what I need, I walk in and ask Brenda, my personal shopper, (just kidding), where to find some 30 X 30. "Hon", she said, "Don't belive we've got any today, but you can look." Proved her wrong, after about 45 minutes. Found one pair. However they are "Hip" jeans. Skinny legs, faded, bell bottom, low waist, form fitting, cool, Chuck Schultz jeans. Lynda sez I look like James Dean. What I trying to say, I'm at 137, which is 1953 weight.
Well, the doc sez this will not work. We've got to attempt another dialation as see if we can push that hole to be somewhat bigger and this time it's in the hospital. So, that's where I'm reporting from, a hospital bed. This time they are going to keep me overnight to "observe" me.
Only have 6 more rads and one more chemo. Knocking them down one day at a time. Hmm, wonder if they will let me go down stairs for rad in the AM? Shucks, they can just push me down in this bed.
Thanks again for all your prayers.