In case you are interested, here is the address for our NZ blog:
http://miketerrynz2014.blogspot.com/
We'll start posting shortly after we arrive in Christchurch and recover from the long flights. We arrive a few hours before the Super Bowl starts, so hope to be awake for that--if it can even be watched there.
FYI, in NZ they call it, "The no-one-gives-a-shit.com Bowl" because a) it's not rugby, and b) they don't understand the commercials, even the funny ones.
My hope is that it a) snows a foot during the game, b) ends in a 0-0 tie after five quarters in sub-zero temps, and c) Bruno Mars has the male version of a wardrobe malfunction during the halftime show.
After watching ATL kneel to the weather Gods this week, I wish the same for the NFL for even thinking they can have a Super Bowl in NJ/NY in February and get away with it--after declaring Atlanta too cold for another game here in the future.
Mike
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
T-minus 9 days
Kia Ora! (Maori phrase for "Hey, y'all")
In 9 days from right now Terry and I will be on a flight, somewhere between Los Angeles and Auckland, NZ, on our way to Christchurch, NZ, where we'll live for 9 weeks. It is hard to believe that it's nearly right around the corner. While we still have to finish planning our packing, we have done well to cross things off the to-do list, and should be able to avoid any undue stress as we get ready to leave. We'll have about a week in Christchurch to get settled in, before we go to a conference in Auckland for 5 days. When we return to CC we'll be in full Kiwi mode that will take us up to April 8. I'll post here for any health-related news, and you can check our NZ Blog for pictures and stories on other events. I'll post the blog address before we leave.
The last 2-3 weeks have been tough--one last bitch-slap from the Prairie Dogs to remind us that while we can go halfway around the world on the trip of our lives, we can never escape this far-reaching disease and its after effects once and for all. The pain and swelling in my left jaw has been a constant 6-8 on that 1-10 scale the doctors use to gauge it. Even with meds, it doesn't go below a 4 at any time. A small bone shard popped out about 10 days ago. And, the trismus has ratcheted up (or down, as it goes) to the point that I am now on about an 80% liquid diet. Eating anything with a fork or spoon is a struggle, usually ending up with a painful shriek, food stuck on my chin, and dropped food on my lap. (I know, I know--many of you have seen two out of those three lots of times).
If it were any other opportunity in my life, I would postpone the trip to NZ and have the surgery done right now. But, the reality is that my recovery is going to be almost a full year, and I'm afraid that I might never be able to go if I have the procedure before heading to NZ. So, but for the grace of God, and with a bagful of Schedule 1 narcotics, there go I and Terry. For now, it looks like our calculated gamble is working--the ORN is progressing, but slowly enough to get us home in time for the May 1 surgery.
We have not heard anything new about Maureen Vellia, but will see her before we leave and give you an update.
Mike
In 9 days from right now Terry and I will be on a flight, somewhere between Los Angeles and Auckland, NZ, on our way to Christchurch, NZ, where we'll live for 9 weeks. It is hard to believe that it's nearly right around the corner. While we still have to finish planning our packing, we have done well to cross things off the to-do list, and should be able to avoid any undue stress as we get ready to leave. We'll have about a week in Christchurch to get settled in, before we go to a conference in Auckland for 5 days. When we return to CC we'll be in full Kiwi mode that will take us up to April 8. I'll post here for any health-related news, and you can check our NZ Blog for pictures and stories on other events. I'll post the blog address before we leave.
The last 2-3 weeks have been tough--one last bitch-slap from the Prairie Dogs to remind us that while we can go halfway around the world on the trip of our lives, we can never escape this far-reaching disease and its after effects once and for all. The pain and swelling in my left jaw has been a constant 6-8 on that 1-10 scale the doctors use to gauge it. Even with meds, it doesn't go below a 4 at any time. A small bone shard popped out about 10 days ago. And, the trismus has ratcheted up (or down, as it goes) to the point that I am now on about an 80% liquid diet. Eating anything with a fork or spoon is a struggle, usually ending up with a painful shriek, food stuck on my chin, and dropped food on my lap. (I know, I know--many of you have seen two out of those three lots of times).
If it were any other opportunity in my life, I would postpone the trip to NZ and have the surgery done right now. But, the reality is that my recovery is going to be almost a full year, and I'm afraid that I might never be able to go if I have the procedure before heading to NZ. So, but for the grace of God, and with a bagful of Schedule 1 narcotics, there go I and Terry. For now, it looks like our calculated gamble is working--the ORN is progressing, but slowly enough to get us home in time for the May 1 surgery.
We have not heard anything new about Maureen Vellia, but will see her before we leave and give you an update.
Mike
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Cancer Strikes Close Again
Terry and I have been seeing a great chiropractor for several years--Maureen Vellia, who has become a good friend to both of us, especially Terry. Maureen helped Terry with her two scarecrows this past fall for the contest at the ATL Botanical Gardens. About two weeks ago Maureen revealed to Terry that she has advanced colon cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. We are stunned by this news.
Maureen is one of those people who lives a very clean and healthy life. She is almost a total vegetarian, exercises regularly, doesn't smoke, rarely drinks alcohol, and does other things that she herself recommends to her patients. It's just not fair that she should get this horrible disease.
Terry went by Maureen's office today to drop off some homemade soup. Maureen was taking a nap on her treatment table, between patients, due to her fatigue from the chemo+radiation. That Maureen is still seeing patients during all of this shows her dedication to the health of others.
We are asking Team Mike to send your very best Good Vibes to Maureen so that she can stay strong through her treatments, and more importantly that they work.
Terry and I can count almost 15 friends and family whose lives have been affected or taken by cancer since my own diagnosis five years ago. All of them hit close to home, but this one hurts a lot because Maureen is a healer, and it's not just her life that is being affected when she can't continue to put in her usual long-hour days. She has been a godsend to both of us many times when we could not have functioned without her knowledge and skills.
On the local front, we got confirmation today that May 1 will be the date for the jaw resecting--and in the nick of time. I am having one of those periods of increased pain, swelling, restricted jaw movement, and dead bone loss. Three days ago, two small bone shards popped out, and it feels like more will follow. If we were going someplace else other than New Zealand (say, Cleveland) for nine weeks, I would have the procedure tomorrow. In the meantime I think I can make it to May 1 with vicodin, gabapentin, antibiotics, and atavin--all washed down twice daily with a nice New Zealand Pinot Noir. You know--dirty work, but someone has to do it.
We will post here while in NZ, and on our Kiwi blog, so stop in from time to time, and please send your best Good Vibes to Maureen.
Mike
Maureen is one of those people who lives a very clean and healthy life. She is almost a total vegetarian, exercises regularly, doesn't smoke, rarely drinks alcohol, and does other things that she herself recommends to her patients. It's just not fair that she should get this horrible disease.
Terry went by Maureen's office today to drop off some homemade soup. Maureen was taking a nap on her treatment table, between patients, due to her fatigue from the chemo+radiation. That Maureen is still seeing patients during all of this shows her dedication to the health of others.
We are asking Team Mike to send your very best Good Vibes to Maureen so that she can stay strong through her treatments, and more importantly that they work.
Terry and I can count almost 15 friends and family whose lives have been affected or taken by cancer since my own diagnosis five years ago. All of them hit close to home, but this one hurts a lot because Maureen is a healer, and it's not just her life that is being affected when she can't continue to put in her usual long-hour days. She has been a godsend to both of us many times when we could not have functioned without her knowledge and skills.
On the local front, we got confirmation today that May 1 will be the date for the jaw resecting--and in the nick of time. I am having one of those periods of increased pain, swelling, restricted jaw movement, and dead bone loss. Three days ago, two small bone shards popped out, and it feels like more will follow. If we were going someplace else other than New Zealand (say, Cleveland) for nine weeks, I would have the procedure tomorrow. In the meantime I think I can make it to May 1 with vicodin, gabapentin, antibiotics, and atavin--all washed down twice daily with a nice New Zealand Pinot Noir. You know--dirty work, but someone has to do it.
We will post here while in NZ, and on our Kiwi blog, so stop in from time to time, and please send your best Good Vibes to Maureen.
Mike
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