Good news, then "news" that follows it!
Yesterday, Christmas dinner, I had my first piece of beef that tasted like beef in I don't know when. In the last week my taste buds had been "blossoming" so I hoped (and prayed) that is was only a matter of time before this happened. In that week I have been able to eat more and different stuff, but, along with that "privilege" another learning curve has presented itself, upset stomach (if that's what you call what I've got left.)
Doesn't bother me during the day it's just about 3 AM every night that "bubble, bubble, toil and trouble" visit. Called my surgery doc, who said this might happen, and he has me on Maalox Advanced and it's helping some. What I'm learning is that now I can't eat more that "one helping" at a time which is telling me that I will have to eat five times, or more, a day --- at least for a while. The doc sez that eventually my upper intestine will learn " to act as a stomach." Now, you tell me that we weren't "Designed" by a Supreme Being! You might try it but it will not work! Living (thank the Lord) and learning. More info on that, later, as it develops.
Now, one of the reasons the Lord has left me on the earth for now. Last week my (wonderful) Primary Care Physician called and asked if I would mind talking to a Mom (whose age showed her to be a contemporary of mine) whose son had just been designosed with exactly the same type of cancer in the same place that I "had" it and the Mom felt like this was the "end of the line." "Nope," I said, "I would be privileged to talk with her."
Made the call and we had a great visit. Told her, based on my experience --- which I shared with her extensively, there is life "with" cancer and the docs he has (which are the same as mine) are as good as one can get anywhere. I shared with her my Blog site. In about two hours I received this upbeat email to say that she had read it all and forwarded it to her son and many others of her family. Life is good and God is good!
Next Tuesday I have another scan (requested by the chemo doc.) The best scenario that could follow the results is that I'm "cancer free" enough, for now, that I will not have to have anymore chemo. Second option is that, based on the results, I would have to have four more rounds of chemo, one treatment every three weeks, starting just after the first of the year. We will know the results after my visit with that wonderful chemo doc after Jan. 10. You all will be the 2nd to know!
Wonderful Lynda continues to keep me on the "straight and narrow" --- as best she can.
Oh yes, fellow travelers, my oldest granddaughter called on December 23 to announce that she is engaged to a wonderful guy (which Lynda and I have met and he has "passed the test") and now there's a wedding in our future sometime late 2010. Praise the Lord and I'm going to live to see it!
Love you all!

Today is the day for "asides."
Why do I keep updating this Blog when it looks like I've "cleared all the hurdles"? Because I only think I have. And if someone discovering they have this dang esophageal cancer stuff (and they find out about the Blog) they will have some idea what to expect and hopefully how to deal with it as they travel the journey.
May I revisit 2009 in the Railsback household. In January, (the 3rd to be exact), I fell and broke my right femur. This was just a month after Lynda and I had volunteered to be the working chairs for the Harris Hospital Gala, Dec. 4, 2009. (Lynda was pulled fighting and screaming into that responsibility, because our business was taking a lot of our time and we had some major travel plans for 2009.) However, Lynda stepped into the major part of the leadership role when I "went down." The doc pinned my femur back together and finally by June 20 I ran my first foot race in 2009. Eight days later I found out I had cancer, which started the second half of 09 with a bang.
You know what has happened since then. The Lord took care of cutting my work schedule back and with cancer our major travel plans hit the waste basket, so, what was there to do? Concentrate on the Gala. (Ain't it great how the Lord puts you where He feels you can do some good, whether you think you should be there are not?)
Our goal was to sponsor the two scheduled Adult Cancer Camps for 2010. When we walked into the event on that Friday night we were at a Net of $50,000 for the camps. We were at about 60% of where we had hoped to be when we created our budget, Jan. 2009. Plus, instead of having 600 at Gala our actual attendance was about 350. Businesses that we had approached replied, "How can we be a major part in your endeavor when we are laying off people?" The answer was, "You can't." The Gala had no silent or live auctions, just two five minute pleas at the band breaks. The final results are in. We will net over $80,000 for the camps, which will take care of them both. Will miracles ever cease? Not in my lifetime! I'm still flabbergasted. And, there are still some gifts coming in. I kinda think the Lord had Lynda and I where He wanted us. We are proud and humbled to have been a part of a project that will touch the lives of our friends with cancer.
OK, need to add a coupla of names to your prayer lists. I thank you for your prayers for Tommy T. He had a hopeful report from the doc this last week. Answer to prayers. Please add Jimmy D and Tracy P, both facing challenges that place them on this journey with me.
Love you all!
Oh yes, Lynda has forgiven me for committing "us" to the Gala. You should have heard her extemporaneous "pitch" that night at the second band break. She had me crying, but really, that's no big deal I guess. I cry all the time, just lately from joy!
Final "aside." The night of the Gala one of my long time pals came in wearing (the theme that night was "Blue Christmas" because the name of the camp in the Bluebonnet camp) wearing a blue Santa Claus suit that he had made. He was a hit! Just kept bringing back checks from people that he had "buttonholed" all night. Life is Good.

Great news! Had a PET Scan done last Friday. Went to the chemo doc today and he advised that only a small area showed a hint of what could be cancer. Is that an answer to prayer or what? His thought was to check back in three of four weeks to see if it had changed and then think about some more chemo if it indicated any type of growth. What a relief --- for now.
Just getting to where I can eat some food. Had half of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese at lunch yesterday, half of a chili cheeseburger yesterday afternoon and three quarters of a Subway BMT for lunch today. More total food than I have eaten in any week, for the last two months. I know it's all fast food but I have to keep experimenting just to see.
Continuing with my "workouts" (if that's what one would call them) and my strength and energy level keeps "inching" up. Did a mile in 18:02 today.
And guess what? All of this is making Lynda extremely happy. This will mean that we can go out with all our pals again --- to eat! Chemo doc said I was doing exceptionally well. I loved that.
Gone again. Love you all. And thanks to all of you for your prayers because they are paying off. Please keep praying for my pal Tommy T.

Slowly up the mountain you go. Savoring every extra foot of altitude. Knowing that you had seen the peak as you traveled to the base you look forward to reaching it. And then you step thru the trees and the terrain is as flat as a pool table as far as you can see. Suddenly, you panic. Further in the distance you see the top but you begin to doubt if you can get there in the time you have. Quit and go back or travel on? A quick prayer answers that. We started this journey we'll finish it!
All that to say this. I swore I wouldn't write another word until I had something to report --- and today I do. I ate the first solid food in four months that tasted like it was supposed to. A chicken wing. Now, I sure hope some of my tastes come back because it going to be kinda challenging eating chicken all the time!
Went to the surgery doc last week and he released me to start working out. On the orders: "This patient is very deconditioned." Don't know if that's even a word but he was dang sure right. First, they had me walk a mile. Took me 19 minutes and 8 seconds. (Compared to 8:30 last year.) Next came a twenty workout at weights that my wife would have felt were too light. But guess what? I barely made it thru --- and then I went home and slept like a baby for two hours, but it was a start. Small steps but toward the top, which I could never have taken without the prayer support that all you have given me.
Enough for today. But before I go I ask that you add my fellow cancer traveler, Tom Tennery, to you prayer lists. Prostate. Miracles do happen as I'm a living testament. With God, all things are possible! Love you all.

Now we have hit that plateau. Up every AM, feel great (like a real person) until about 11 AM and then it's nap time. Holding my weight at 135. Taste buds are still whacked out. Not much that's solid tastes worth eating. Went to the chemo doc last week and he told (actually "retold") me that at surgery they did some biopises and there was still some cancer cells in my lymph nodes. That means more chemo after I begin to get my strength back. Hopefully, after the first of the year. Went to the surgery doc yesterday and he tells me that where he took out the cancer he also (had no choice) took out the area of the stomach that produces the "thought" that tells me I'm hungry. No more hunger pains for me. I must program myself to eat. (I will be glad to do that when stuff tastes good.} But, even with all that I am feeling better. Received a release so that I can began to work out again. On my note from the doc it said, "Patient is very deconditioned." Boy, is that an understatement!
Tonight is a special night. As I told you earlier, Lynda and I agreed to be the working chairs for the Hospital Gala (non Gala) that benefits an Adult Cancer Camp, and that's tonight. We are staying at the hotel and this afternoon I will rest and "feed" in preparation for the festivities. Who would have thought, last January, that I would be elgible to go that camp, as a camper? It is going to be a fun night and we have already raised enough money to fund a camp for 2010. Love you all and Lynda is surviving well and I couldn't do without her. God is Good.