How has everyone been doing? I have popped in a few times since March, but now I am back.
Any major news that I missed? Links would be nice :). Last thing that I recall was the bad news about “The Scummy One”… Shortly after that, I kind of dropped off the net due to my own illness.
Just so there is no confusion about my illness, or he said she said… I will give a recap for those that want to know.
March 2010 I was diagnosed with stage 3 Melanoma, meaning the skin cancer made its way into my lymph nodes. Tests/scans showed potential for lung cancer, and spots on my liver. Melanoma treatment came to a halt till we figured out my lung and liver. Liver was fine, two lung biopsy’s later showed nothing was wrong (arg).
1st surgery on my neck we found a lymph node was infected. 2nd surgery a full blown “radical right neck dissection”. I might not have any lymph nodes on the right side of my neck, but at least we were able to stop it in its tracks!
1 week in the hospital (2nd surgery), 2 weeks recovery, week 3 I am back to work (yes, I push my own physical limits). Week 4: I am on my way into work and I was clipped (left side, in the rear) by another driver that lost control (at 65 mph). In turn I did 1.5 spins across the highway. On the bright side I was able to hold onto my coffee and not spill it :). Now I get to deal with back issues… Physical therapy was not a possibility, b/c I had to start my interferon therapy soon.
Interferon therapy is noting to play with! For 4 weeks I fought 102F fevers, unable to walk up and down stairs, migraines, and slept for close to 16-18 hr. a day.
A couple weeks after the therapy was done, I got MARRIED (9/18)!! :). Yes it was in the plans before we found out about the cancer… So we suck with it, determined to not let the cancer beat me.
Nov. 5th, I turned 30!
For the younger people just starting in the IT field: If you are offered a job, it doesn’t pay as well, but they pay for your insurance… Take the job! All I can say is: Thank god for my insurance, since march I have racked up 130,000 in medical bills… All of which was covered by my insurance, and all I had to pay was the co-pays.
Now here we are 12/13, I am alive and well, and ready to get my back fixed lol… On a serious note, I am doing excellent, in the clear (for now), and I am really ready for the new year!
So, to the readers and members of TR how have you all been? Hopefully better than me :)… Did I miss anything?
**I have to run for now, but I’ll be back on to reply to those that post up. Question & Comments are welcome, I don’t have a problem with them, I am a pretty open person.
Tim K.