bedambedam
bendamron's Cancer Blog
April 13, 2008
| the weekend | Views: 360 |
angel was discharged from VM on friday with mixed answers about her distended stomach. this really frustrated angel, spending a week in the hospital to only leave with worsened pain and a prescription for more pain meds. angel and i spoke last thursday about finding a GI oncologist who specializes in colorectal cancer. as much as dr. otero and his team are amazing, their primary focus is head, neck and hard tumors. a week ago, dr. otero said it might take him three months to diagnose this new pain, and we’ve decided that is too long. we missed the appointment again at UW last wed (the first miss was due to another hospital stay), so we’ll reschedule it. i know that the GI doctor we meet with (i hope it is sam whiting, he is anita mitchell’s doctor too, and is also a huge advocate for colon cancer. i’ve seen him speak twice in the last month) he/she will tell us the same news. this cancer is aggressive, and that the dr. otero is doing everything we would do. but we are hoping the gang of specialists who focus primarily on colon cancer, will know how to help alleviate this pain and any new pain angel might experience.
i attended a seminar yesterday morning at fred hutch, a national tour the colon cancer alliance organized. i met with two new people who are in remission. ann from stage III and laura from stage IV. i told laura about angel’s new pain and she said it could be xxxxx (hopefully she’ll email this xxxxx to me tonight so i can bring it up with dr. otero) laura asked me to have angel call her too. this club no one ever wants to be a member of has been so generous to me the past few months. online and off. again, i want to advocate. i want to give back. i want to learn everything that i can about colon cancer. i don’t fear this disease as i once did, and with the knowledge, support groups and people i have met, i have become the strong advocate for angel as she would be for me if the roles were reversed.
i spoke with amber today about the upcoming fundraiser for angel’s cancer fund. it sounds amazing. they have the venue already and have scouted local business for donations for the silent auction and raffles they have in store. four bands are performing too. it’s very cool that a lot of angel’s friends from high school and beyond have surfaced out of nowhere to help out. angel’s god-brother brian is spearheading this fundraiser as he did so well last month at another one which raised a good sum of money. i can’t thank them enough. the outpour of love and hard work is astonishing. you can check out some pics from last months fundraiser here http://bp2.blogger.com/_Em4tIxBQS04/R_0qP3MshzI/AAAAAAAAAK4/Ds3RQfXIT20/s1600-h/collage.jpg
i saw the dalai lama yesterday with some friends who had spare tickets. stephen called the night before and asked if angel would like to go, he said that he would carry her on his back if need be! karma-love all around. due to angel’s pain she reluctantly opted out. the dalai lama was amazing, he is so gentle and genuine. the parade of cultures merging together, wearing their traditional clothing, formed a smorgasbord of colors showing off how different we all are, but how we can live amongst each other in peace. i welled up several times thinking about how much angel would’ve enjoyed this. she is constantly on my mind as many of you experience.
tomorrow angel has her full load of chemo, or as her friend jeffrey calls it ‘whack therapy’. he is also fighting colon cancer, and fighting like mad too. he is on the same regimen as angel, including the weekly infusion of cetuximab. dr. otero is back from vacation and angel is excited to see him and hopefully get some real answers about this new pain.
05.04.08 - 
Thanks for your support -
Hey man! Great to hear about the faith you are gaining in your self. I have gotten positive feedback from family that reflects growth on my part and man, does it feel good! I know it in my heart already, but to have others reflect that is a type of validation that is special.
In this painful process there really are a great deal of positive lessons and opportunities for us to rally together as your/Angel’s posse is doing.
Seeing the Dali Lama? Gee willikers! Yer psyched. What a great experience that had to be. Good friends you have young Jedi!
Keep doing your damn thang mang!
One Love! Timothy
Ben you are always so detailed in your adventures either at the hospital or on your new advertures in the world. The Dali Lama is big news in Canada and so far it looks like the message is getting out to the world that China has a lot to answer and to change. I heard a wonderful programe on Sunday. A woman who has recently written a book on the Dali and her friendship with him. Very moving leader of the world. He is longest leader in terms of years in history. That speaks volumes. He is not political except to say that he meets with world leaders to spread the message of tolerance. I hope your journey to see and hear him was one of wonder. Now on to clinical matters. I hope you do seek out a specialty Oncologist. It makes perfect sense and not to be ashamed of in any way. Let’s face it, your wife’s records can be transfered very easily and since she is in this much pain I can not see why you wouldn’t try anything that might make it easier for her. You love her so much I can hear in your words, so put your efforts boldly ahead and speak loudly and clearly. Squeeky wheels do get greased. Tres luck in Angel’s next chemo. My god she is a trooper and you are her soul mate. Love,prayers and hope. I will keep watching for any new developments. Weezie from Canada eh