One down…
One infusion down and a week of chemo floating around in my system. It had me down for a few days, worse than what I thought it was going to be, but I’m out of the funk now and feeling a better. Two weeks till we do it all over again. Thanks to a few of you that got to me with some food and pampering etc. So grateful for all of you. To those that may have called/emailed/texted this week, please know that I’m having a tough time getting back to everyone. It’s not personal! Just back logged. That’s all.
One thing that I can guarantee in 2015. There is going to be a fiesta at the end of all this. A friggin big, fun, thumpin, rockin, grande fiesta. With friends. And family. And food. And drinks. And music. And dancing…play the attached video and you will get a very good idea of the feeling I’m going to have once this chemo bit is over with.
#TBT
In the spirit of Throw Back Thursday, a year ago today it snowed on WB. A rare sight. Had a good time playing for a bit with some friends. Had a few cocktails. Watched folks push their kids, and dogs, on sleds down the beach. There were a few guys surfing at Oceanic. I remember thinking “those dudes are nuts”. Too cold. A classic and memorable scene.
Fast forward a year and the weather is chilly again, but the scene has changed a bit (for me at least…some of you may be frolicking on the beach today, who knows. Still too cold). Yesterday I was randomly picked in the clintrial to start with chemo, so here we go. I have a chair at 2:30pm today. Dad and JoAnn will be with me on this first round and I’m ready to get the show started. If the chemo doesn’t work well over a matter of a few months, or gets me gnarly sick at some point, they will likely convert me over to the immunotherapy. That is an option we will have. Me thinks that won’t be the case and it’s going to work well, but only time will tell.
Last night I whipped up a few different drafts to post today. One had a bit of a hippie-ish mood to it. “This is gonna be a long, strange trip” kinda thing featuring the MW Bus that Josh drew. All aboard. The other was channeling Rick Flair, GAME ON, Rocky Balboa …Eye of the Tiger type mood. Really wasn’t feeling either one, I think because it was late and I was tired. I’ve been in the hospital 3 times this week, and have had two friends pass from cancer just in the last few days. Grrrrr. Will talk some about them down the road.
I checked FB for a message before hitting the sack and saw something that changed my attitude about today…
“Thanks for the company”…
As Frank Sulloway told me a few weeks ago, nothing really ever goes exactly as planned at these appointments:
Spent some time at the hospital today. About 7+ hours. We didn’t start treatment today, which was the plan, but, we did get some great news. I am a match for the immunotherapy PD1 drug. Boom! The mojo is workin’, people. Now we are waiting to see if I start with it, or with chemo, and have a few fertility things to handle. The PD1 drug treatment is a randomized deal with the clintrial. I’ll know this weekend what I start with. We are crossing fingers for the trial. But if it is indeed chemo, and it doesn’t work well, we can convert over to the immunotherapy. A bit wacky I know. But this is how it works.
3 down, 3 up…
Thanks to innumerable Warriors spreading the good, strong mojo across the earth, the MW tribal sign has gone world wide and there are some big plans being made for MW. Lots of fun and meaningful things coming. Apparel, signage, events.. heck, we may get a sweet VW tour van at this rate.
The Mojo is Risin’…
This is Hughes. Hughes is a longtime friend from freshman hall in ’89. Hughes is talented. Hughes is funny. Hughes is bringin’ major MOJO…and made my day.
Plus, a few of you Warriors made the video. Enjoy!
“We have a chemo chair reserved for you”…
For some reason the first thing this statement made me think of was the barber shop. Eastgate Barber Shop over off Franklin St.
Spent some time there back in the day. Hop in the chair, let the ol’ Wayne hack away for a bit while you tell him about your girlfriend, UNC sports, fishing, maybe your soccer game. Sit in fear as he shaved your neck with that super sharp, grande razor. Then about 20 minutes later he swings you around 180 degrees to look in the mirror…and boom. Bowl cut. Too short. Parted way too much. Nerdy looking. Something was never right. I remember walking out and rubbing my hands all through it, messing it up. Would always feel better after that. Enjoyed chatting with the barbers and listening to other guys in there yucking it up made you feel like you were older than you really were. It was cool.
Believe it or not, I don’t spend much time in those chairs any more. My DNA has evolved me into a barber myself, buzzing, cutting, clipping and shaving my own hair. Cheaper. Less surprises. But not the same experience. And now I’m going to be in a new chair due to my DNA (and just some shit luck). Certainly will be a new, and not so cool, experience.
It looks like I will be starting chemo late next week, or POSSIBLY the PD1 drug. Few more days of waiting on those biopsy results. There is a chair with my name on it reserved for Friday morning. So wheels are in motion. This cancer is in for a mean cut.
Word(Wright) Up!
A few weeks ago I asked my friends over at WordWright Web to put together this blog template for me. I wasn’t digging the cancer related templates out there. I wanted my own web address, look and feel. They jumped on it without hesitation, and had it all up in 36 hours.
This is the same crew that built the website for my start-up apparel company, Organic Lifestyle Apparel. They are friendly, knowledgable, fast and inexpensive. A nice combo. If you need assistance with SEO, web design, mobile, social media, etc, please consider them. They’ve helped me many times.
No news is…NO news, in this case.
Lots of folks asking about my PDL1 biopsy results. Do not have those back yet and pressing on UNC to see what’s up. Will have them posted as soon as we know. Anxious for a treatment schedule.
Instead, here is some news that may make you feel better today.
Ben & Jerry’s New Cookie Core Ice Cream Flavors Turn All Your Dreams Into A Reality
Ocean…
In case any of you need an inspirational song from an Australian dude who is all about the peace, love, harmony, environmentalism and kinda gnarly, long guitar-pick fingernails, here’s your answer. This is what’s channeling into the new Jawbone speaker today in Chapel Hill. The last 4 minutes or so are my favorite. Good Sunday tune.
Extra, extra, read all about it…
If you are in Wrightsville Beach area, pick up a Lumina News today. The Mojo Warriors are makin’ waves. If you can’t get a printed edition, here’s a link: http://luminanews.com/2015/01/calling-all-mojo-warriors/
Big thanks to Cole Dittmer for the inquiry and article. Won’t be the the last you hear from us!
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