Part 24--Muchas Gracias to All!

I just completed such a fantastic visit with so many people that I will never be able to convey what it meant to me. All I can do is express my sincere thanks for everyone's kind wishes. What an amazing treat to see and talk to all of you!

Of course this never would have happened without the efforts of some hardworking people. Number one in the list has to be my amazing wife Pam. A close second is my sincere and true best friend John Leo. Thanks, too, to Dave and Cindy and to number one brother Russ for making it happen.

And thanks to all the following for their kind wishes.

Thursday evening, June 19

Pizza Art Cafe

Jim and Laura, June, Dave

Friday  evening, June 20

Peggy’s

Peggy and John, Judy and Kelly, Ken and Lori and Adam, Joan, Trish and Mike, Matt, Tim and Sharon

Saturday afternoon, June 21

Quenchers

Deb, Maureen and Donald, Joann, Bill and Betty and Madeline, Mike, Ricky, Charlyne, Kent, Josie and Edna, Earl, Ted (all the way from New Jersey), Baker, Doug and Leona, Dave, et al.

Saturday evening, June 21

Psistaria Greek Taverna

The Spudeas clan: Pam and Spero, Chrissee, John and Donna and Philip, Kim

Sunday afternoon, June 22

Trish Bliss’s

The Bliss clan: Trish and Zoe and Samantha, Nike, Deno, Charlie and Clarissa and little Charlie, Butch, Theresa, Rick and Donna and Kathleen, Vinnie and Sabrina and Gavin, Stephanie

Monday afternoon, June 23

Downtown

Met cousin Mit for lunch at Miller’s Pub with Russ and John

Walked in Millennium Park

Monday night, June 23

Cubs game on a rooftop—courtesy of Charlie Bliss (thanks, Charlie!)

John, Ken, and Dave

Part 23--My Kind of Town

In a couple of days, Pam and I will be traveling to Chicago for a visit. I'm thankful to everyone who has made themselves available, and I'm looking forward to seeing all of you.

I wish I could convey to you the difficulty of what was previously as simple as breathing. Imagine dealing in complex concepts like humor, irony, tension, and the gamut of emotions that humans can experience. Now try it when you are unable to complete a full sentence.

What are you talking about, you say? That sounds like a complete sentence to me. And yes, thank goodness, I am able to complete a sentence in this manner, dictating to Dragon. But it's not how we talk, is it?

Fortunately, I am able to converse in normal dialogue. Well close, but give me a nudge from time to time, and I will be off and rolling again. I wish I could explain how this works, but unfortunately I find myself at a loss. Try talking about people and things when you can’t remember their names, if you're looking for a quick laugh. Fortunately, Pam is close enough to me that she can often fill in the names through a mix of hints and guesswork.

In any event, don't let me scare you. It's pretty astonishing how you can forget someone or something you've known for over 60 years, and then they can come back to you in a snap. I'm looking forward to a lot of conversations with a lot of people I love in the next week. Can't wait to see you all!

Love,

Steve

Part 22--New Treatment and Travel Plans

It's been a while since I checked in with the news about my alleged brain. You may recall that our most previous episode ended with new and decidedly gloomy news about my most recent check up. While this month's update will not offer unbridled optimism to anyone, there is at least reason to keep the mood in the upswing for the immediate future.

 

Trying to keep these various treatments and dates straight. As far as I can recall, I had my last MRI on May 12. On May 16 we met with Dr. Lee for the results and found out that the tumor had unquestionably progressed, and I began new treatments with something called Irinotecan.

 

To be honest, I haven't spent a lot of time studying up on this stuff. I guess it is used primarily to treat people with  rectal cancer and colon cancer, but other types as well. My first treatment was an infusion that lasted about three hours. I felt no ill effect until about two days afterward, but then the chemo clobbered me hard. I did nothing but sleep for about five days,  except for the few hours each day when I was awake but couldn't remember much, like what my cellphone was used for or who my best friend was. Then I began to emerge from the drowsiness I felt. I gradually recovered my strength and felt pretty good for the next two weeks.

 

This leads into my most recent checkup, which occurred on Friday, June 6. I guess the best way to describe  the news is good, with guarded optimism. We learned that the sudden decline may have been due as much to the chemo as it may have been to the tumor. Lee called it chemo brain. We also learned that it may or may not happen again. That is often what we hear from the oncologist--may or may not, possibly but we can't say for sure. I will need to get an injection on Monday to help increase my white blood cell count, which was dramatically lowered by the chemo.

Irinotecan

Now for the really good news. Road Trip! Yes it's true, the eagerly awaited Pam and Steve world tour 2014 kicks off on June 19, when we board a plane bound for Chicago and parts unknown. A star-studded cast awaits your visit with lustful anticipation. I sincerely hope my wish to enjoy the company of each and every one of you is granted. I cannot think of any stronger juju that will make me well again.

 

Love you all, can't wait to be with you again. Steve, Pam, (and Caroline guarding Fort Bliss pending our safe return).

 

 

(Composed with loving care via Dragon!)