It's Spring!

Well, not according to the calendar, but try telling that to the thick, rich yellow daffodils fighting for space in our raised bed to the right of our driveway! And, try telling that to the pink and white Camellias that are pushing hard on the redwood fence that surrounds the garden. The warm, moist air won't listen. The low hanging fog around Point Lobos will just continue to slide by in it's springtime easterly direction whispering "Itsss ssspringggg!" ever so softly.

Exactly one year ago I was half way through chemo and radiation. Only now do I have the stomach to go back and read what I wrote. It is an out of body experience. It's about 10 months from surgery and I'm doing very well. The doctors told me that it would take a year to get my energy back, and I think I'm a little ahead of schedule. I feel great!

There are still occasional problems. I've had increasing problems swallowing and digesting certain foods. It's unpredictable. I'm going to have a second endoscopy with a balloon dilation this Thursday at Stanford. I'm sure it will help. It may take a few of these procedures to beat back the scar tissue that continues to grow around the area where my remaining esophagus meets my stomach.

There is evidence of a pseudo-cyst in there somewhere as a result of surgery. We have to scan it every 6 months to make sure it doesn't grow and require more surgery. These things are more hassle than danger. They often go away on their own. I can tune out the hassles and get back to work.

I'm going to try to work four days instead of two this week and next. I believe I can do that without getting too tired. We'll see.

I feel born again....physically, emotionally and spiritually. Like Spring!

I can breath again...

When you have a day scheduled such as last Friday you hold your breath as the day approaches. I was to hear about the status of the Pulmonary Emboli that was discovered three months ago. I was also to hear the results of the ultra sound scan of my legs where the clots were produced. I needed another breathing test. And then, there is the dreaded contrast CT scan and those results.

And, at the end of 48 hours of breathless anxiety, I could sigh with relief. My lung capacity went from 82% six weeks ago to 97% on Friday. That's amazing! I had been gaining 2-3 % every six weeks and I thought it would take a lot longer to get back to normal.

I also passed another scan with no sign of cancer. They don't need another scan for six months. The pulonary emboli are cleared up. My legs are clear. My weight is stable. I'm working out a lot and gaining muscle back a lot faster than I imagined I would.

I probably need to go back and have my esophagus dilated again in a few weeks, but that is expected, routine, and relatively easy to get done.

Life is getting better and better.