My doctors are finally making some progress in resolving my stubborn prostrate healing issues. Unfortunately the lack of healing appears to be due to malignant cells in the prostrate. They did a biopsy after my second surgery and found non-hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the tissue. This is not prostrate cancer but is a common form of cancer (diffuse B cell) found typically in the lymph system. In fact it is only seen about 0.1% of the time in the prostrate.
The chances of recovery are good with chemotherapy and it looks like I will start the first of 6 treatments next week. But first they want to do a pet scan and bone marrow sample to see how far the cells have progressed. They wait about 3 weeks between each treatment so I hope to complete these by mid September. Needless to say that changes my departure plans completely for returning to Tanzania, which was scheduled for mid May.
I'm feeling fine except for some increasing pain in my lower back which may be due to the enlarged prostrate, which is nearly twice the normal size. It may be pressing on a nerve. This usually does not slow me down during the day but makes sleeping difficult at night. I thought it might be another kidney stone but everything checked out okay there. I also got a good report on my colonoscopy last week. That's always good to hear since mom had polyps removed at this age (66).
I purchased a large aquarium (75 gal)a few weeks ago with the intention of waiting to buy fish until my return from TZ. It looks like I'll have more time to tend the fish after all, so I hope to be getting some African Cichlids this week from friends of the family. Getting the tank and supplies set up has also helped to keep my mind occupied. It turns out the Cichlids are from Lake Malawi which is the long slender lake that borders Tanzania on the south. I hope to read more about them soon. I have had Cichlids before but never knew much about them, except that they are unusually colorful.
Last week-end we had a wonderful family celebration for my niece Natalie and soon to arrive first baby. Who ever heard of a baby shower for 125 people? It rained most of the day so 3 tents was erected. But my sister's backyard grass is a pretty big mess now. It lasted from 3 pm til 8 pm so people were feeling no pain by that time. I sure didn't make it that long. A bunch of party animals. Of equal excitement was the announcement of Natalie's sister's first pregnancy. Bridgette and Matt are expecting in early December. Great news. Natalie and Mike are expecting in mid May near the BD of me, twin brother Jim and son Kyle (21st). We are all hoping for that day.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
April 2010 Update
I guess the big news this month is my second prostrate surgery (this week), which is called a traditional TURP procedure. It's a little different that the green laser procedure of 6 weeks ago. Let's hope it's a little more successful, since I'm due to depart for Tanzania May 14. I delayed that departure a few weeks for this second surgery. I just hope I don't need another delay; time will tell.
On Easter Sunday we had a wonderful gathering of family at church followed by even more (14 + 2 guests) at my house for dinner. The weather was great so everyone enjoyed my new brick patio for eating out. I even got to break-in my new charcoal grill; an Easter gift from sister Peg. Brother-in-law John showed me how to use the grill and Jim's son-in-law Ben brought loads of great homemade ice cream. Sister Janice brought the strawberry shortcake. It was all delicious.
Last week I got another lot of 15 used Dell laptops to take with me to Tanzania and have slowly been checking them all before packing. I think I'll only have room for 26 on the plane and one bag for cloths. They all seem to be in good condition so far. I also bought 5 external hard drives and 30 optical mouse and a digital camera to take back. Most of this is for the teachers at Kowak Secondary.
I'm really enjoying the warm weather we've had these last 2 weeks and got in my first round of golf this week before the surgery. I've been watering my new grass seeds daily and did my first weed-eating this week, so Spring has sprung. It's delightful with lots of birds and squires to watch all day. This should be a quiet week-end but next Saturday my niece Natalie will have a big baby shower next door for 200. That should be fun.
On Easter Sunday we had a wonderful gathering of family at church followed by even more (14 + 2 guests) at my house for dinner. The weather was great so everyone enjoyed my new brick patio for eating out. I even got to break-in my new charcoal grill; an Easter gift from sister Peg. Brother-in-law John showed me how to use the grill and Jim's son-in-law Ben brought loads of great homemade ice cream. Sister Janice brought the strawberry shortcake. It was all delicious.
Last week I got another lot of 15 used Dell laptops to take with me to Tanzania and have slowly been checking them all before packing. I think I'll only have room for 26 on the plane and one bag for cloths. They all seem to be in good condition so far. I also bought 5 external hard drives and 30 optical mouse and a digital camera to take back. Most of this is for the teachers at Kowak Secondary.
I'm really enjoying the warm weather we've had these last 2 weeks and got in my first round of golf this week before the surgery. I've been watering my new grass seeds daily and did my first weed-eating this week, so Spring has sprung. It's delightful with lots of birds and squires to watch all day. This should be a quiet week-end but next Saturday my niece Natalie will have a big baby shower next door for 200. That should be fun.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
March Update from Kansas
Well, it's been 4 weeks since my prostrate surgery and still having some problems. I hope to get it resolved this week when I have my next doctors appointment. This could possibly slow down my departure date (4-18) to Tanzania by a few weeks. Wish me luck.
The weather has been pretty cool all month (40's) and really felt cold during the 2 hr St Pat's Parade this week. Wow. It was an impressive parade. I had no idea how many Irish decendants (clubs) and supporters there are in this city (KC). And I could not believe the skimpy outfits that some of the high school bands and dance teams were wearing for this weather. But they were good and seemed to be enjoying themselves just like the crowd, who was dressed much warmer, but just as silly looking.
By Friday (2 days later) it was up to 68F and sunny and everyone was glad to see that Spring was just a day away. Then the front came thru and by 5 pm it was raining and down to 38F. The next morning we had 6 inches of snow on the ground. Today (Sun.) we have 2 more inches but the temp is coming back up. I'm getting a lot of use out of my new snow shovel and lots of help from my brother-in-law. Sure is different than Texas or TZ, but enjoying the change. We took my sisters grandchildren (5 and 7 yr) sledding and they had a ball. So did we.
I really enjoyed the NCAA basketball this week, with the victory of K State over a good BYU team. That puts them in the sweet 16 in Houston next week. There are lots of happy fans here, but even more very sad KU fans, since they were upset last night by a very good Northern Iowa team. They sure had a great season and great team (beat K Sate 3 times).
I got the first half of my used laptop order this week (15 of 30) so I'll be busy checking them all out before I start shipping them to TZ. The prices were higher than last year but still reasonable and still climbing. I hope they all make it undamaged to TZ. Between damages and theft this could be an expensive project. Wish me luck. I hope the insurance works. I'm loading AVG anti-virus, Skype and Mozilla on all of them, checking the wifi, battery life and key functions, etc.
The weather has been pretty cool all month (40's) and really felt cold during the 2 hr St Pat's Parade this week. Wow. It was an impressive parade. I had no idea how many Irish decendants (clubs) and supporters there are in this city (KC). And I could not believe the skimpy outfits that some of the high school bands and dance teams were wearing for this weather. But they were good and seemed to be enjoying themselves just like the crowd, who was dressed much warmer, but just as silly looking.
By Friday (2 days later) it was up to 68F and sunny and everyone was glad to see that Spring was just a day away. Then the front came thru and by 5 pm it was raining and down to 38F. The next morning we had 6 inches of snow on the ground. Today (Sun.) we have 2 more inches but the temp is coming back up. I'm getting a lot of use out of my new snow shovel and lots of help from my brother-in-law. Sure is different than Texas or TZ, but enjoying the change. We took my sisters grandchildren (5 and 7 yr) sledding and they had a ball. So did we.
I really enjoyed the NCAA basketball this week, with the victory of K State over a good BYU team. That puts them in the sweet 16 in Houston next week. There are lots of happy fans here, but even more very sad KU fans, since they were upset last night by a very good Northern Iowa team. They sure had a great season and great team (beat K Sate 3 times).
I got the first half of my used laptop order this week (15 of 30) so I'll be busy checking them all out before I start shipping them to TZ. The prices were higher than last year but still reasonable and still climbing. I hope they all make it undamaged to TZ. Between damages and theft this could be an expensive project. Wish me luck. I hope the insurance works. I'm loading AVG anti-virus, Skype and Mozilla on all of them, checking the wifi, battery life and key functions, etc.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Update on March 10
Hope this finds you Mwanzans all well and dry. I hear it is raining a lot in Kowak. This is just a brief update, while I wait for the big game at 5 pm (KU vs K State for Big 12 bragging rights. It'll be be a difficult game since KU is ranked #1 in the country and KSU # 9. KSU won a late game agains t Baylor last night so will brobably still be tied. That's my excuss and I'm sticking with it. The National playoffs start next week, aka March Madness.
My lazer surgery went well 2 1/2 weeks ago but still incontinent. Started wearing Always yesterday to keep my jeans dry. At least I know where to buy them now in TZ. Hope I don't need them, or any meds. I just stopped taking BP meds and Flomax last week. So far so good. I'm eating fish every day with rice and steamed veg. Trying to get my Cholestrol down. Probably won't work but worth a try and I sure like it. Wish Fr Jim did. Back to meat and potatoes twice a day when I return.
I hope Liz made it back okay and has taken the tubing fittings to Kowak that I sent her. Dr John (aka Lock Jaw) is returning for a month of volunteer dental work in mid May. I may delay my return til then to save the Kowak folks a trip to Nairobi. Right now I'm scheduled to return to Nairobi 19 April but can change it without penalty. I have order 30 used Dell (D610) laptops and they should arrive next week. 25 were ordered by the KGSS teachers. I hope to start examining all of them next week and shipping them as soon as possible. I may bring 4 or 5 with me for the school classroom. They cost $260 each plus $50 for shipping and insurance. Hope it works.
I'll been having some repairs done to my house. I just moved in mid Dec after 8 yrs of renting to relatives. The roof leaks and electrical repairs are done. Need to refinish the hardwood floors but that can wait. I love having a basement. Sure can't have them in Houston. We (twin brother and in-laws) had the boys over for cards last weekend in the basement. It's was a kick. I'd never played Pitch before. Boy is it different. The snow season seems to be over. Just a little rain now and in the 40's everyday, all day. They say it's been a very snowy winter but it doesn't seem much different than in than mid 60's in Manhattan (aka the Little Apple). That shoveling has been good exercise, but I'm glad it finished before I had surgery.
Alex in Kowak tells me they just installed 12 new Vodacom modems at the school (8 for students) and have some kind of contract for 20,000/+ per month. So they shut down the satelite dish which was costing a fortune ($200m+ per mo). I'm on facebook now, but not sure that is a good idea. I've got about 115 "friends" now. One of them is Fr Bill Vos in MN. He is coming back to TZ in April, as you probably know. I hope to see him and his donors in Kowak on 27th of April if I'm back by then. If not maybe in Nairobi later. Hope all is well with each of you.. keep in touch ya'all. I guess plural (all ya'all) would be better English.
--
My lazer surgery went well 2 1/2 weeks ago but still incontinent. Started wearing Always yesterday to keep my jeans dry. At least I know where to buy them now in TZ. Hope I don't need them, or any meds. I just stopped taking BP meds and Flomax last week. So far so good. I'm eating fish every day with rice and steamed veg. Trying to get my Cholestrol down. Probably won't work but worth a try and I sure like it. Wish Fr Jim did. Back to meat and potatoes twice a day when I return.
I hope Liz made it back okay and has taken the tubing fittings to Kowak that I sent her. Dr John (aka Lock Jaw) is returning for a month of volunteer dental work in mid May. I may delay my return til then to save the Kowak folks a trip to Nairobi. Right now I'm scheduled to return to Nairobi 19 April but can change it without penalty. I have order 30 used Dell (D610) laptops and they should arrive next week. 25 were ordered by the KGSS teachers. I hope to start examining all of them next week and shipping them as soon as possible. I may bring 4 or 5 with me for the school classroom. They cost $260 each plus $50 for shipping and insurance. Hope it works.
I'll been having some repairs done to my house. I just moved in mid Dec after 8 yrs of renting to relatives. The roof leaks and electrical repairs are done. Need to refinish the hardwood floors but that can wait. I love having a basement. Sure can't have them in Houston. We (twin brother and in-laws) had the boys over for cards last weekend in the basement. It's was a kick. I'd never played Pitch before. Boy is it different. The snow season seems to be over. Just a little rain now and in the 40's everyday, all day. They say it's been a very snowy winter but it doesn't seem much different than in than mid 60's in Manhattan (aka the Little Apple). That shoveling has been good exercise, but I'm glad it finished before I had surgery.
Alex in Kowak tells me they just installed 12 new Vodacom modems at the school (8 for students) and have some kind of contract for 20,000/+ per month. So they shut down the satelite dish which was costing a fortune ($200m+ per mo). I'm on facebook now, but not sure that is a good idea. I've got about 115 "friends" now. One of them is Fr Bill Vos in MN. He is coming back to TZ in April, as you probably know. I hope to see him and his donors in Kowak on 27th of April if I'm back by then. If not maybe in Nairobi later. Hope all is well with each of you.. keep in touch ya'all. I guess plural (all ya'all) would be better English.
--
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Medical Status
Things are finally improving, health wise. My blood pressure is way down (120/70) and I don't have to catheterize everyday to urinate. I have an enlarged prostrate (benign) called BPH. I just had minor lazer surgery 2 days ago and got home yesterday from St Lukes Hospital. I should be fully recovered in a week or two.
I'm now working on purchasing 30+ laptops to be shipped to Tanzania for the Kowak Secondary teachers. That is finally starting to come together, although the prices are a little higher than I paid last Sept (used Dell D610's). I just shipped some tubing fittings to TZ to repair our hospital water purifier (RO) since it's impossible to find those parts there. They finally got the power supply rewired for the same RO that burned up last July due to a voltage surge.
I called Fr Jim at the mission last week. They have a new clinical officer (CO) now at the hospital and are expecting a new doctor (AMO) in May which will make it a real hospital instead of a 50 bed healthcare center. He is now busy building 2 new wings on the hospital for a new surgery theatre and room for 50 more beds. He is very busy, as usual.
Barbara just returned to Kowak from a month at home in Poland and is now calling Kowak "home". Alex must be thrilled to have her back. I'm sure the hospital is also very glad to see her. Dr John from So Carolina is talking about coming again in May for a month to do dental work at the hospital and Fr Jim has approved two more American volunteer nurses to come for 2 months about May also.
I'm now working on purchasing 30+ laptops to be shipped to Tanzania for the Kowak Secondary teachers. That is finally starting to come together, although the prices are a little higher than I paid last Sept (used Dell D610's). I just shipped some tubing fittings to TZ to repair our hospital water purifier (RO) since it's impossible to find those parts there. They finally got the power supply rewired for the same RO that burned up last July due to a voltage surge.
I called Fr Jim at the mission last week. They have a new clinical officer (CO) now at the hospital and are expecting a new doctor (AMO) in May which will make it a real hospital instead of a 50 bed healthcare center. He is now busy building 2 new wings on the hospital for a new surgery theatre and room for 50 more beds. He is very busy, as usual.
Barbara just returned to Kowak from a month at home in Poland and is now calling Kowak "home". Alex must be thrilled to have her back. I'm sure the hospital is also very glad to see her. Dr John from So Carolina is talking about coming again in May for a month to do dental work at the hospital and Fr Jim has approved two more American volunteer nurses to come for 2 months about May also.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Preparing to Return to Tanzania
I'm enjoying my stay here in Kansas City very much, especially the cold, snowy weather. I returned from my last trip toTanzania in early December and moved into my house here in Merriam. Actually I did not have much furniture, but my brother and sisters have been helping me in that area. My son, Kyle graduated from K State about a week after I returned and then I moved his bedroom furniture into one of my spare bedrooms. He headed back to Texas to look for a job and spend some time living with his mom. I think he will also be looking for a job in Kansas also, as they develop. His major was Finance, so that should give him a few options.
Besides shopping for used furniture, I've been visiting a local doctor to get my blood pressure down. That has been a problem in Tanzania for the last year or so. I may also have to start some meds for high cholestrol. I hope to get that all under control before I return to Tanzania in April. I've also been getting my bank set up for paying the monthly bills on-line and transferring investments to the KC area. One of my biggest concerns has been locating 30 used laptop computers to take back to Tanzania. I think I finally found a good source for those recently. Now I need to find an inexpensive way to get them shipped.
These computers are mostly for teachers at Kowak Girls Secondary where I have been working the last 3 years. They are each paying me when I return by a salary deductions over a 4 month period. After they saw the 3 laptops I brought back in October they decided it was too cheap to pass up. It appears the cheapest way to get these to TZ is to take them with me on the plane, but what a hassle that will be (4 extra 50 lb boxes).
That's about it for now. Keep in touch.
Besides shopping for used furniture, I've been visiting a local doctor to get my blood pressure down. That has been a problem in Tanzania for the last year or so. I may also have to start some meds for high cholestrol. I hope to get that all under control before I return to Tanzania in April. I've also been getting my bank set up for paying the monthly bills on-line and transferring investments to the KC area. One of my biggest concerns has been locating 30 used laptop computers to take back to Tanzania. I think I finally found a good source for those recently. Now I need to find an inexpensive way to get them shipped.
These computers are mostly for teachers at Kowak Girls Secondary where I have been working the last 3 years. They are each paying me when I return by a salary deductions over a 4 month period. After they saw the 3 laptops I brought back in October they decided it was too cheap to pass up. It appears the cheapest way to get these to TZ is to take them with me on the plane, but what a hassle that will be (4 extra 50 lb boxes).
That's about it for now. Keep in touch.
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