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.

Everything going as planned. Feeling great, working, playing but still really enjoying an occasional "rest." FPU slowly but surely coming around and adjusting to have food flow thru it. Some days I really want to eat and then there are the others. But, I can't complain because I sleep great and I have Lynda with me almost all the time and I have Deb and Ed and two of my wonderful grandkids close all the time. OK, that brings up a story that I have to tell, about yesterday. I may have shared with you that I set as a goal, running a 5 K on April 10, when I started my rehab in January. If you could have seen me then you (as well as all my friends who did see me) would have thought I was crazy, and perhaps I was. (As an "aside" here, I believe one works harder at what one does if on has a goal, regardless how small or ridiculous.) Well, yesterday was the day, and with the encouragement of Lynda (plus Debbie, Claire and Clay went with me) I did it. The kids ran the 1 K which was at 8 AM and I chugged off on my 5 K at 8:30. The furtherist I have run since Jan. 1 was 1 1/2 miles so I had no idea how well my energy would hold up. I had worked my mile time down to 12:20 but that was only one time. Thought the first mile marker would never come. My whole body was tight as a drum. Finally it appeared and I began to relax and I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would. Time for that mile was less that 13 minutes. Surprise to me. Clicked on thru the second mile the same way and now I'm feeling confident. Third mile was the fastest of all, 12:32 and with a good push the last 1/10 of a mile I "beat" the 40 minute mark. And then the "crowning achievement" was that there were only three people in my age group (70-99) and I got a third place trophy. I had been discussing my last year with the guy that handles the timing of the race (that I've known for about 25 years) why he had not seen me in over a year and it turned out he was handling the trophy presentation and he mentioned my challenge to the crowd and my grandkids said, "Pops, your famous. Everybody knows you and likes you." Put tears in my eyes!
Came home from the race and then Lynda and I went to visit our buddy, which you all have been praying for, Tommy T and I'm sorry to report that it looks like he will be received by the Lord in the next few days. I'm proud to report that he and I shared our childhood experiences, which were very similar in our Baptist upbringing, and he is a Christian. We will celebrate his life. God is good.

Last time I said, "Hurdle # 2", what was I thinking? I've been hurdling obstacles ever since this deal started!
Yesterday, the chemo Doc validated the results of a great scan. No changes, except for the better. More info on that later. Will come back in 60 days and if everything is still the same then we pull the chemo port. Man, let me tell you, that's my goal for now. God is good!
Keep my pals Jimmy D, Tommy T and now Ronnie R, in your prayers.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. Hurdle #2, my next chemo doc appointment. I feel it will go well. All systems seem to be going well. Biggest challenge is wanting to eat, which just doesn't happen. I do have my taste buds back and food tastes like it did but it just doesn't "summon" me like it used to. I find myself eating only because I know I have to. Just like putting gas in a car. No fuel, no go. And, when I do, my FPU "asks" me why I put it in there. Double Whammy. Even with all that I'm feeling well enough to work and play. Even as I write I'm in Las Vegas after just having finished an inventory here, yesterday. But, let me tell you, I've got some rest while I was here --- easy job. Still keep my buddies Tommy T and Jimmy D in your prayers. More to follow after tomorrow's appointment.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. Hurdle #2, my next chemo doc appointment. I feel it will go well. All systems seem to be going well. Biggest challenge is wanting to eat, which just doesn't happen. I do have my taste buds back and food tastes like it did but it just doesn't "summon" me like it used to. I find myself eating only because I know I have to. Just like putting gas in a car. No fuel, no go. And, when I do, my FPU "asks" me why I put it in there. Double Whammy. Even with all that I'm feeling well enough to work and play. Even as I write I'm in Las Vegas after just having finished an inventory here, yesterday. But, let me tell you, I've got some rest while I was here --- easy job. Still keep my buddies Tommy T and Jimmy D in your prayers. More to follow after tomorrow's appointment.