Day 1 – I’m Still Alive: But I thought I was a Libra! Doctor’s diagnosis- Cancer. Prognosis without treatment- 3 months. News report today (June 3)- Jack Kavorkian died at age 83 (liver cancer, etc).
Day 4 – I’m Still Alive: The Plan. I don’t have any issues with dying; I’ve packed a lifetime and a half into mine and feel like I got my money’s worth. I’m not interested in tradingnquality of life for quantity. This new info gives me a specific timeframe to clean up all the lists. I begin by shipping off the dining room furniture, freezer and other big stuff to my son. Lots of new lists started.
Day 11 – I’m Still Alive: Sold the bike today… too big and dangerous to handle. I guess that now makes me “bikerless bill”.
Day 13 – I’m Still Alive: More than I was led to believe. Met with the Oncologist today. Real nice guy; I trust his recommendations. Life opinion with chemo treatment- maybe a couple years. Dang!!! That really messes up my
plan! Now I gotta replan & reschedule everything. What an inconvenience.
Day 15 – I’m Still Alive: Looked in the mirror after a shower and saw Monte Burns looking back… excellent! Went out and bought a much smaller shirt.
Day 18 – I’m Still Alive: Began IV-iron treatments to offset anemia; needle work is surprisingly difficult & painful.
Day 21 – I’m Still Alive: Qualified for SSDI & Food Stamps. Got handicapped parking tag. I’m officially a gimp, but a gimp still without medical insurance.
Day 26 – I’m Still Alive: Despite my intentions to be fairly private about my “condition”, I’ve begun to get a lot
of uninvited advice from a broad swath of people… “when my father had cancer, he saw Dr…; what’s your current marker number and white blood count…; have you found Jesus…” It’s very annoying. A distraction from what I want & need. Unlike a lot of other patients I’ve been exposed to, I have no interest in becoming an expert on any of this cancer mumbo-jumbo; I trust my doctor and what he has to say is good enough for me. I’ve got a life to live; not a battle to fight. I also don’t need a lot of people pissing in my ear about how I should live the rest of my life; or how I’ve lived the past 20 or 30 years. I’m on today, heading toward tomorrow, and that’s good enough for me.
Day 29 – I’m Still Alive: Good family visit (BBQ) with both brothers, et al.
