Ready for the Knife --    

In around twelve hours from now I'll be in the operating room for my cancer surgery (which is expected to take 4 to 5 hours).

I'm exhausted and ready for it to happen . . . and, yes, I know that the recovery will be long and painful . . . probably two weeks in hospital and another six weeks or more to become fairly functional and a couple of months more to be (more or less) back to normal.

On a "gaming" front, yesterday I finally received the Hotz River System pieces that I ordered a while back . . . and they look like they'll work very well when I am back to gaming again.

So, so long for a few weeks.  May your dice be friendly and your gaming companions even friendlier.

-- Jeff

After Radiation --

Well I am back home after five days of radiation therapy down in Victoria.

I must say that everyone I came into contact with there was upbeat and helpful. Transportation down and back was provided free of charge by the British Columbia Cancer Agency and Freemasons . . . which was very very welcome indeed.

I stayed at the Vancouver Island Cancer Lodge . . . which was fantastic. Again all of the staff and volunteers had a very positive helpful attitude; and the facility is very accommodating indeed.

As for the radiation treatments themselves, I didn't feel a thing while they were happening. I just lay there and heard the buzzing noise. But afterwards they sure caused me a lot of fatigue (I'd go back to my room and sleep for a few hours); and some skin irritation as well.

Anyway I'm back home and my surgery is currently scheduled for Thursday but might get rescheduled since I've returned with a chest cold . . . and my wife doesn't think they'll want to sedate me for an expected five-hour surgery with congested lungs . . . but, this being the weekend, the doctors aren't available . . . and I'm hoping that I'll be over this before Thursday anyway.

I'll try to keep you posted.

-- Jeff

Back to Hospital Again --

*sigh* . . . Last night a few friends were over to play a game . . . but it didn't happen . . . I started hemorrhaging again and so ended up in the Emergency Room once again . . . and was once again admitted to the hospital for monitoring.

I've now been released (the hemorrhaging has ended but I feel very tired and weak) . . . so I should be able to go down island for my week of radiation treatments on Monday . . . then back up for surgery on April 26.

But I'm not stressed out or anything . . . well, not much . . . eh, well maybe a bit . . . okay, quite a lot.

-- Jeff