See Ya Soon

Welp, I’m heading into the hospital shortly (3am) to have my cancer [tumor removal] surgery and although the odds are stacked against me (30-40% chance of survival), I feel that my are odds are really like, 100%.

With ALL the love and support I’ve received from family and friends; how can I not be successful?  I have SO many people thinking about me, praying for me and even throwing some of that magical juju my way that it warms my heart just thinking about it…well, that and all the coffee I’ve drank in the last few hours.

As for the technical aspects, they will open up the left side of my chest, spread apart my ribs, deflate my lung and go in to remove the tumor and another small spot on the back of the lung that looks suspicious.  They will then put me back together again, reinflate my lung and I’ll be on life support until I can breathe on my own (1-3 days).

After getting out of ICU, I would then spend the next 6-10 days in the hospital recovering until there’s no more bleeding, leaking or whatever else those tubes are for.  Then it’s homeward bound where I’ll continue to recover for another two to four weeks.  Teresa will help me manage the pain, help with wound care and ward off any evil spirits….LoL  😉

The surgery itself should (in theory) be a walk in the park as my surgeon has done a ton of these before so…. but typically, where things tend to go south for most patients is …getting off life support.  I need my lungs to work and to be able to breathe on my own so I’m hoping that my lung will respond well and, I can return to the world of the living in record time.

However, like I said, the odds are not that great.  But the surgeon says I’m “young” enough and “healthy” enough to pull through it and doesn’t think I have anything to worry about.  So hopefully he’s right and you’ll see me (podcasting – LoL) again real soon.

So anyway, as I head into my darkest hour, pray for a successful outcome (if you’re a believer) and keep me (and my family) in your thoughts as I battle through the toughest part of my journey and with God’s help, death [as it says] will be swallowed up in victory. 

Now, as most of you know, I’ve been down this road before but, I wasn’t afraid of not waking up, I was afraid that colorectal cancer would take me before I had a chance to fight the good fight.  I mean, I was only given 6 to 9 months to live and yet I was successful and spent the last two years cancer FREE. 

Until…..last fall they discovered a tumor growing (partying it up all warm and happy like) in my left lung. Upon receiving the bad news of the biopsy, I knew immediately that I would have to go through everything ALL over again. It was devastating for the whole family and has been so stressful having to get my “affairs” in order yet again as I fight for my life a second time.

So once again, I return to the battlefield to wage war against cancer.  Why me?? Why now? Why again? Why me??  Well, I honestly believe that things happen for a reason and although we may not understand the reasons why or agree with the reasons why, there is a GOOD reason.  And if God wants to use me to inspire others to get screened, get tested, decide to fight, continue to fight or whatever it is I’m supposed to do, then that’s okay with me …or in other words, why NOT me?

So anyway, I just wanted to say thank you to ALL of those who have reached out and supported me and my battle against cancer over the last four years and to those of you who have shown SO much love and encouragement.  It means the world to me (and my family) and is appreciated more that you’ll ever know.

Like I said the first time, I got this cancer shit right where I want it.

So, worry not, as long as I have ALL of you thinkn’ about me, pulln’ for me and prayn’ for me, I can’t lose…no matter what.  At least I know I’m NOT going into battle alone and you ALL have my back. 

So, let’s do this!

And, AND, hopefully this time around will be the last time I have to deal with cancer, and we can ALL move on with our lives as we have a lot of living to do and, we don’t have time for this BS so……see ya again real soon.   Take care my friends.  I Love You ALL and, see ya again real soon.   ~JR