Sunset at Fort Myers Beach, FloridaIt has been a week since our good news on Monday, and we are finally slowing down and allowing ourselves to adjust to our good fortune. We did make a quick trip to Springfield on Tuesday/Wednesday as I had an appointment at the Southern Illinois University Med Center to get my face "blasted" to remove a bunch of precancerous cells. They put me under a "blue light" for 20 minutes and for a couple of days my face was "on fire." It is now full of red blotches, and I'm staying inside so as to not scare the neighbor children. We thought about putting a photo of me on the blog, but it would make you ill to look at me. The good news is that this is all temporary and should clear up in a week or so. The dermatologist says this has nothing to do with base of tongue cancer.
Then on Thursday morning, and I'm quoting another tongue cancer survivor, I "broke up with PEG!" Dr. Card, my local surgeon, had me lie down on a table and he said, "if this doesn't come out easily, we will go over to the hospital and do it." And with that, a quick pull and PEG and I officially parted company. There has been a little bleeding but that was to be expected and, of course, Dr. Diane has been there to (1) change the dressing and (2) tell me to slow down--go figure. I had been warned that acute pain can accompany PEG removal but fortunately for me that was not the case. Way to go, Dr. Card!!
Thursday afternoon, it hit us head on. I laid in my bed glad that it was all over. No more radiation, no more chemo (we hope), PEG removed, and my face treated. It was over, really over. I have no more doctors to see in the near future. As I relaxed in bed, I did just that: relaxed and thought how lucky I am. Diane played some bridge that afternoon, and then it hit her. She walked in the house, had a bowl of cereal, and went to bed. I think for the first time she could put all this behind her. I know I've been through a lot but Diane has been there every step of the way and as caretaker, this has had to have taken a toll on her.
Diane and I both feel a sense of relief and tranquility. It is difficult to verbalize, but we feel we are gradually getting our lives back from this visit to the precipice. Mind you, the journey is probably never over as one never knows what the future holds, but for now a feeling of peace. Heck, last night I had a "mild" choking episode but nothing like in the past; I simply let my guard down and wasn't paying attention to my chewing then water regimen.
All of this good fortune has been made even more poignant to us by the death this week at age 62 from aggressive prostate cancer of our local State Representative who was one of the world's nicest, most thoughtful men. The world is diminished by his passing. At the visitation, it hit us like a ton of bricks as we paid our last respects. In an email I received this week from Chuck Vokral, he said "God has shined on Gordy." That pretty much says it all. I am aware that the recovery component of all this continues but for now we plan to savour the moment and simply enjoy life.
We are off to Chicago Tuesday to see family and friends and then to Corpus Christi prior to Christmas to see Jennifer and her bustling family. In January, Diane will return to Corpus and then we intend to head to Florida for 6 weeks or so from early February until mid March followed (I told you this doesn't entirely disappear) by a visit to the Ear, Nose,Throat doctor at the end of the month.
But for now, this feeling of peace is to be taken and digested one day at a time. Like no other time in our lives, Diane and I are cognizant of the fragility of life and the reality that it can be swept away at any time. This is a sobering reality but our experience has made us ever more appreciative of the gift of life.
Then on Thursday morning, and I'm quoting another tongue cancer survivor, I "broke up with PEG!" Dr. Card, my local surgeon, had me lie down on a table and he said, "if this doesn't come out easily, we will go over to the hospital and do it." And with that, a quick pull and PEG and I officially parted company. There has been a little bleeding but that was to be expected and, of course, Dr. Diane has been there to (1) change the dressing and (2) tell me to slow down--go figure. I had been warned that acute pain can accompany PEG removal but fortunately for me that was not the case. Way to go, Dr. Card!!
Thursday afternoon, it hit us head on. I laid in my bed glad that it was all over. No more radiation, no more chemo (we hope), PEG removed, and my face treated. It was over, really over. I have no more doctors to see in the near future. As I relaxed in bed, I did just that: relaxed and thought how lucky I am. Diane played some bridge that afternoon, and then it hit her. She walked in the house, had a bowl of cereal, and went to bed. I think for the first time she could put all this behind her. I know I've been through a lot but Diane has been there every step of the way and as caretaker, this has had to have taken a toll on her.
Diane and I both feel a sense of relief and tranquility. It is difficult to verbalize, but we feel we are gradually getting our lives back from this visit to the precipice. Mind you, the journey is probably never over as one never knows what the future holds, but for now a feeling of peace. Heck, last night I had a "mild" choking episode but nothing like in the past; I simply let my guard down and wasn't paying attention to my chewing then water regimen.
All of this good fortune has been made even more poignant to us by the death this week at age 62 from aggressive prostate cancer of our local State Representative who was one of the world's nicest, most thoughtful men. The world is diminished by his passing. At the visitation, it hit us like a ton of bricks as we paid our last respects. In an email I received this week from Chuck Vokral, he said "God has shined on Gordy." That pretty much says it all. I am aware that the recovery component of all this continues but for now we plan to savour the moment and simply enjoy life.
We are off to Chicago Tuesday to see family and friends and then to Corpus Christi prior to Christmas to see Jennifer and her bustling family. In January, Diane will return to Corpus and then we intend to head to Florida for 6 weeks or so from early February until mid March followed (I told you this doesn't entirely disappear) by a visit to the Ear, Nose,Throat doctor at the end of the month.
But for now, this feeling of peace is to be taken and digested one day at a time. Like no other time in our lives, Diane and I are cognizant of the fragility of life and the reality that it can be swept away at any time. This is a sobering reality but our experience has made us ever more appreciative of the gift of life.
