The reality of what's ahead finally settled in, so away we go.
I have received so many wonderful messages of support and prayers, but Lynda has received many that has really helped her. The Lord has given all of you to us and I just keep thanking Him.
I'm feeling pretty doggone good and am looking forward to being with the part of my family that's in DC. Of course I will report on how they are doing.
Had a visit with my journey pal Gary C in, would you believe, in the doc's office. Gary is 50 and we met because he had the same cancer, treatment and surgery that I had, so we have a bond. Was visiting with his Mom and Dad the other day and they commented that he was in a band, and really had been playing with these guys since he was in high school. She pulled out a magazine that had their pictures in it. Boom, I knew most all of them. They were all friends of the son of one our best friends 30 years ago. For some reason I never meet Gary then. The Lord moves in mysterious ways doesn't He?
Just got word that Dock and Patti will be coming by to see me and by then I will have my "pack on my back."
Oh, is Life Good.

Isaiah 43:2 “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up….for I am the Lord, your God, and I am with you always.”

Now is time for Round 2. July 14. Start a four session of chemo to "hold in check" some cancer cells found in my omentum. (That's a cheesecloth type covering that covers the lower intestine.) Last time I did chemo in the office for about 4 hours once a week. This time I get a pack of chemo that I carry with me for four days. Depending on how I "tolerate" the treatment there will then be a three of four week gap on when the next one is. Right now, scheduled for 4 sessions.
I have worked with the doc and I will be at Erin's wedding, in good shape. We will actually start on the second treatment, most likely, after I return.
The Lord is Good.

Well, today is a "coasting" day. (Any day that's "Not Bad" is good, and this is one of those. Eating is a bitch. Two to four ounces at a setting. And, obviously I must choose where I use that energy produced from that little bit, with caution. Have been in touch with some of my "Cancer Pals" who are a year ahead of me and they have indicated that this phase lasts five to seven months. Just having a goal in that time frame helps. Obviously, I've got to "save" all the energy that I can for my two trips to DC. It does feel good to sleep and that's a new feeling. For a while I didn't do that very well.
Looking forward to having the 4th with Deb, Ed, Claire and Clay and watching some fireworks.
And, don't forget, Life is Good! Enjoy every second!
My wonderful caregiver is taking care of me like a baby. What a blessing she has been for the last 55 years! Only been married 53 but she was "setting me on the right path" two years before. As I've said many times, "I hardly remember not being married and not having kids." Since I was 20 at the time it kinda makes sense!
Love you all, God is Good!

Nothing new to report except that I'm still here and doing well. Still waiting for the chemo doc to give me a report on what he saw on the disc and what the "new and improved plans" are!
Had a wonderful call from my granddaughter (Erin) who is getting married in August. She told me that she and her husband were planning on having a "blessing prayer" right after they were married and that a lot of the times the preacher does it. She asked me it would do it. After I quit crying I said yes. I am a blessed man!
Lynda and I are off to DC 9th to attend a "Couples Shower" for Erin and Lynn. Life is good.
Plus, less that 30 days from now I will "run into" my 75th year.
What would I do without Lynda? What a girl! With me in the good times and even closer in the challenging times. With her, all my girls (Wow), the son in laws, all the grands, my bro and sis, my cousins, the inlaws, the outlaws and all my friends across the globe, I've got it made. (If you felt I left you out, U B one of the outlaws!)
God is good!
Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To all of you who have emailed me since I started this journey, I thought I would bring you "up to date" on where I am as we approach the one year anniversary on me finding out that the growth that was in my gut was cancer plus celebrating these past 12 months!
Three months ago I had a PET scan and at that time the docs could not see any cancer. Surprised my chemo doc but he did say congrats but let's do this again in a coupla months.
Two weeks ago, another PET. This time, the doc was not surprised because we found some "marbling" of cancer is some of my lynph nodes. Bah, Humbug! Well, that means Round 2 coming up. I should be getting with the chemo doc next week to plan our attack. The doc told me, after reading the results of the scan, "Hey, cancer does kill, but what I'm seeing right now is sure not gonna keep you from going to New Mexico in July and seeing your granddaughter married in DC in August. I'll check with my colleuges and we will get on with this deal of getting you well."
Now, I just hope he feels the same way after he reads the disc that he had not seen yet.
As for how I feel, good some days, better the next. Still having trouble eating. I kinda think that some of my current situation comes from not looking forward to the PET scan and then losing my buddy, Tommy T, to prostate cancer. Kinda takes the wind outa your sails. But, with all the people I have praying for me all over the world, let me tell you, I ain't giving up, no way Jose!
Last year, June 27, 2009, I ran my first race for that year, after breaking my leg on Jan. 3. I got up yesterday, went to the track and ran an "anniversary mile." Not as quick as last year but it's a place to start. This eating deal has me all messed up. I not a bit hungry but I know that if I wish to train to "go faster" I've got to take in some energy producing foods! You know, when you train, you condition your body to think that what you are doing is "normal" and it must step up to the challenge and get stronger. For example, if you lift weights daily your muscles "think" that's normal and correspondently the muscles get bigger. (Now, that's when your 60 and under.) But, along with that, your body asks for more fuel to accomplish the task, and that's where my challenge comes. Sure, I want to train to go faster --- BUT --- if you don't (or can't) eat you dang sure can't do it! Duh! Me, Lynda, my girls and the docs will figure this deal out!
Hmmm, I did leave out the Lord, but it was only out of that sentence! He has a plan and our job is to make it happen!
Hope this finds you all well and I'll keep you in the loop.
Love you all,
Your pal,
Leighton

Well, here it is, June 21, and finally I'm coming to my senses and writing again. Part of the reason I haven't is that I lost my good pal, Tommy, to cancer. Kinda knocks the wind out of your sails. Then I went thru a time that I had the energy of a sloth. Up in the AM, grab a book and start reading and read and sleep all day and then go to bed. My head was on backwards. Plus, I knew I was going to do another PET scan and I was having some doubts. Wanted that chemo port out so I could began to prepare to go to DC in July (for a couples shower) and August (for the wedding).
Well, the scan was done and it turns out I have some "marbling" of cancer in some of my nodes. The port stays in. Bah Humbug! Well, as my chemo doc and I discussed, Round 2 coming up. He told me that of course cancer is life threatening (duh) but this stuff I have now (which he really expected when they did a scan two months ago) is just going to take some more chemo to knock it down. We will putting together a plan this week but he also told me, "Don't worry, you'll be going to the wedding."
Love you all and I'm glad I've finally (partially) "got it together."
Don't know what God has in store for me but I'm His boy and we're moving on down the trail together. But, I haven't started on my "Bucket List" yet!

Had a guy remark to me last week, "You're looking great. How do you feel?" I thought on that, and finally replied. "If I told you I feel great, I'd be lying, but, I'm still "feeling" and that's great!"
Honestly, I still have to remind myself that where I am is so much better that where I have been and so, so much better that where I could be.
I was doubly reminded of that the last coupla of days. I had "met" the mother of man who had esophageal cancer as like me. Has all the same doctors. And yesterday, he had his surgery. Visiting him yesterday reminded me (again) how blessed I am. He is doing great. (And I use that term "in context" because laying in a hospital bed having been flayed ain't fun Magee!") Seeing him lying there and listening to the experiences that he was having brought back a flood of memories that I had "deep sixed." Wow, that was not a fun time. Makes me realize that dealing with not being to be able to gain weight and "grow" my energy are minor problems. Plus trying to figure out what my FPC is going to do!
Lost my buddy Tommy T last week. Tough. He was one of those great guys. He was great friend and a dentist. What I like to say about Tom is that he lived his life "in the plural." Tom's life was never about Tom. First, and foremost, it was about his sweetie of over 40 years, Patti. Then is was about his family. His Mom and Dad, until he lost them, then his son, daughter in law and his two grandboys, plus his sister. And, it was his team at work. No one ever worked "for" him, they worked "with" him. Then there was the charity work that he did. Was a Rotarian for more years than I know. Plus, he was a founding member of the Lawn Chair Drill Team, of which I had the honor of being there with him. (And that may be a chapter for another day.) Tommy had a great Baptist upbringing like I did. Met and accepted the Lord years ago and I'm confident that he's in a much happier place right now. Knowing that makes it easier for those of us who loved him.
Please keep me and my buddy Jimmy D, who is doing well I might add, and now my cancer journey partner Gary C. Obviously what you have been doing is working and I love you all for it.
God is good.