The Best 5 Dollars I've Ever Spent

8/16/2009

We planned on going to the Northampton Pool today; Jacob and I that is, because they have 3 diving boards. Every once in awhile (with the help of Jacob’s coaxing) I stop living in my head and start living in the world again. Maybe it comes from being “on disability”? If you cannot work because of your condition then you think you’re not allowed in other parts of the world as well.

Today was different. It was hot and the water was not that cold. I knew I could swim a little while because I got put to the test by the cub scout camp that Jacob and I attended 2 weeks ago. I read this time-management book way back when that advised sharpening your pencil is sometimes all you need to start using it for productive work. Well my pencil sharpening today was going to the neighbors house after church to take-in their mail and water their plants while vacationing as promised. I went in the garage to check on things and I saw Kyle’s exercise machine. I did a set of bench pressing and a set of chest flies that put me in the longing mode for the fitness level that I once had. This could be the start of a comeback, physically at least. It cannot hurt to be stronger no matter what the future holds. I certainly did my share of hiking around Camp Akelaland earlier this month and really held my own. It took my legs more than a week (instead of a day or two) to recover from those miles trekked but recover I did and felt stronger for it.

If only they would give me a longer reprieve between treatments or surgery or radiation to recover to the point of doing the things I used to do for fitness and health before having my legs knocked out from under me (not literally) too soon.

Back to the 5 dollars well spent. That’s what it costs for me to go to the Northampton Pool. We mistakingly went in the season-pass entrance and were directed to go through the men’s locker room to the front entrance (for walkers) to pay-up: 4 for Jake, 5 for me. Was I tempted to just set-up our chair in the shade and not pay the teenager behind the cage out front ? Not for a second—I think Jacob may have contemplated it but kept silent. You just don’t do those influential things in front of your kids, even if it could save 9 bucks! Besides this day we chose to live in this world and what it had to offer and not in our heads.

So Jacob got right-in and was content for almost a half-hour. Then he came to get me and asked me to join him. Today I would swim in that pool if it was boiling water because today we made a choice. So out of my head and to the locker room (again) to change into swimwear and hit the pool !

I learned back at camp not to just jump in and shock myself and all my atrophied muscles. I went to the entrance ramp (for handicapped?) and approached the deeper water slowly and Jacob found me almost immediately and before I knew it I was not only swimming and becoming dizzy (who cares) but I actually went to one of the diving boards and jumped in with Jake even though I did not have my eye mask on to protect my non-blinking right eye (but thankfully had precautiously plugged my right ear ahead of time). The shock of submersion brought back some high-dive memories from a time and place where only my siblings’ imaginations meet.

“Today I have lived” (stolen from Leo Buscaglia) without thoughts of the past or the future (stolen from Tom Drummer)—and it only cost me 5 bucks. Well spent.

LBI

We were invited to stay with friends in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island New Jersey for Independence Day. My many doctors have me recovering from recent infection and kidney failure. So I was released from the Visiting Nurses care and recommended to rest, eat, drink and be merry and what better place to go than LBI. Unfortunately Cindy had to work the holiday weekend at Target and did not go with us. My brother, Tom, offered to take me to an appt. in Hershey and then drive us to LBI and help during our 5-day stay. The hardest part was not having Cindy with us but we hope to visit as a complete family before Summer's end. It looks like any Imaging (CAT scans, MRI's) will be postponed until September when I will be considered for additional chemotherapy (with less toxic med.) and/or radiation treatment (CyberKnife or Trilogy). I am still tired due to the anemia from chemo but the vertigo and pain are under better control.

The picture shows Jacob and Keara (half-burried) and their pseudo-cousins Olivia (Libby) and Noah on the Beach Haven shore. May their expressions of happiness fill you with the joy of childhood. Special thanks to Tom for getting us to LBI and back home safe and sound (despite the breakdown of his car fortunately as we arrived and not before). Also, thanks to our friends and their family for having us including meals, lodging and pool-side celebrations and fireworks. And special thanks to all for your healing thoughts and epecially your prayers.

Half-Century Club Member

50 ! I guess I can also join AARP now. My birthday was 6/23/2009, Tuesday. To all the well-wishers who contacted me--thank you. I tried to deflect the big milestone birthday with Jacob's birthday party last week but it only provided another opportunity for my family to tell more people about the big 50 on my horizon.

I am doing well (considering my advanced age) since my recent hospitalizations to get rid of infection and help get my kidneys back to normal from chemo and meds.

Summer is very busy already with the kids wanting to go and do everything so we have accepted a lot of help from family, neighbors and friends. All the support keeps us motivated to deal with all our challenges.

Home from the Sweetest Place on Earth

(such irony) I am home from the hospital (or should I say hospitals, but that is a longer story). I got home Wednesday (5/27/2009) from Hershey Medical Center with my antibiotics to ensure infection eradication. I promise to tell the longer story when I have more time and am feeling better.

My sister is coming for a visit today, Saturday. Jacob has a baseball game; our neighbor, Kyle, took him and stayed to watch (Kyle is 17 and Jacob's pseudo-sibbling. Keara had a school dance last night. Our cat, Lenny, had a grooming for the first time ever yesterday; his fur was so matted that they had to shave most of his fur down to the skin so he looks like a lion-cat. Cindy is at a church yard sale at Saint Paul's church in Catasauqua to try and sell some of our outdated stuff. She is also working 2nd-shift at Target. She has been taken to the limit in the past 2 weeks. My sincere thanks to all who have offered and helped with our recent challenges.

Recovering from yet another battle in the war against cancer, sincere thanks for your healing thoughts and especially your prayers,

Frank D.

In memory of Anna Marie

We have gotten a few calls and "letters" from loved ones worried that my blog was not updated. Time flies when you're having fun. I received my 3rd chemo infusion on Thurs., May 7th, based on a CT scan that showed enough of a favorable affect from chemo to warrant another 2 infusions then a repeat CT. I had more discomfort after this last infusion than the previous 2. The antibiotic that I was taking for a Staph. throat infection contributed to the GI discomforts. I am much more tired as well and have a low-grade fever. I will get some labwork this coming week to monitor anemia, etc..

Despite the pains of post chemo I had the pleasure of my family visiting and viewing The Music Man show on Sunday afternoon and its last weekend. It was good to see my Aunt Catherine (my mom's sister) and my sister's family (except for Sarah away at college) who always cheer us up. Cindy and I helped out in the dressing rooms but got to see the last show together as members of the audience. I wasn't well enough to help-out during scheduled break-down but we all got to go to the cast part last Friday.

We have had a lot of help in the last 2 weeks. Sincere thanks to our neighbor and friend, Dave Burker, for cutting our grass. Dave is a 4th grade teacher at our son's elementary school. Also thanks to my Mom for coming-up last week to help. She actually drove-up herself this time, which was a bit of a surprise (Tommy was not available to bring her.) I thought we all agreed that interstate travel was too challenging for Mom but apparently she's still got it.

Sad news ended this weekend. My Mom called to tell us that Anna Marie, my cousin Kenny's wife, died Friday evening. It was expected after a long battle with brain cancer but sad nonetheless leaving 2 young children behind. My Mom and Aunt Catherine will be going to the funeral services this Wed. and Thurs..

One of the things that cancer does is take a big chunk of your life and leaves you seemingly somewhere in the future before you expected to be there. For example, the other day I got a mailing from the government; "welcome to Medicare." I didn't expect to deal with Medicare until I retired 15+ plus years from now. Long-term disability leaves you with no ability to work, provides limited income, and out-of-pocket expenses without an adequate "nest-egg". I guess when you are transported to the future you can't put any money aside because you skipped those earning years. I can't even imagine how Kenny must feel. He must be weary enough having gone through the terminal illness of his wife but now the children are still young and need to be raised without Anna Marie.

Please join me in praying for the Carey family, that God will guide them through this period of grieving and help them meet the challenges of life without Anna Marie.

The Show Must Go On

A challenging last couple of days for the Drummer family. The Music Man show opened last Friday night. Saturday nights show had to go on without Jacob. He woke up with a sore throat EARLY Saturday morning and also had trouble breathing. Cindy took him to the Emergency Dept. at Sacred Heart and he was diagnosed with a recurrence of the Strep throat infection that he had already been treated for the previous week.
Fortunately he was OK otherwise and rebounded on a new antibiotic well enough to perform at the Sunday Matinee. I attended the Friday show while Cindy helped-out in the dressing room. My Mom attended the same show even though she had tickets to attend with my brother, Tommy, and my Aunt Catherine on Sunday. Cindy and I both helped-out in the dressing rooms during the matinee. We were all exhausted by Monday. Then on Monday afternoon my Oncology Nurse from St. Luke's called to notify me of a Staph infection detected by the throat culture obtained last Thursday. So I had to start an antibiotic. I also had a scheduled CT scan Monday to see if the Chemotherapy is helping "shrink" my recurrent tumors. Between the antibiotic and the contrast media my stomach is rebelling but as my nurse says "there's a med for that" (like the cell phone commercial).
But the show must go on; the kids have one last rehearsal on Wednesday evening then 2 final shows Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 pm. I hope you can make it; it's like going to Broadway without the pain of travel.
My next challenge is chemo infusion #3 this Thursday. We are hoping the CT scan will show favorable progress. Thanks to all for your healing thoughts and especially your prayers, Frank and family.

Graduation Day for Tigers (to Wolves)

Today was not just another Thursday. Our son, Jacob, became a Wolf cub scout from orange to yellow/black. His Pack 94 graduated on the last meeting day until Fall. I remember Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts when I was Jacob's age but I shared "graduation" days with my brother Mike who blazed the trail for me to follow (like a good mentor). Mike shared his scripture, word and prayer today so I share it with you. It awakened the Wolf in me to help me fight the discomforts from acquiring a cold virus the past few days. I dreaded my medical team's assessment because I was afraid they were going to tell me I might have the flu! (I didn't want to become the first one in PA to be confirmed infected with the Swine Flu.) Today my belly discomforts were worse than my stuffy nose. I had some labwork done and I will get results tomorrow.

Sincere thanks to my brother, Tom, for bringing our mother up to help us this week while Cindy worked. And of course, thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers (and keep your hands washed). Love, Frank and family

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain" (John 12:24, NKJ)

TODAY'S WORD

We all face difficulties and challenges in life. But you have to remember, as a believer in Jesus, you have the life-giving seed of Almighty God on the inside of you. When you go through disappointments or tough times, you may feel like you’ve been buried. You may feel like you’re in a dark, lonely place. You may feel like it’s the end, but in reality, it’s only the beginning. The fact is, you haven’t been buried; you have been planted. That means you’re coming back. And not only are you coming back, but you’re coming back in increase, better and stronger than before.

In those tough times, you’ve got to draw the line in the sand. Make a declaration, “This difficulty is not going to bury me. This loss, this disappointment, this injustice is not going to cause me to give up on my dreams. I refuse to live in self-pity. I know I am a seed. That means I cannot be buried. I can only be planted. I may be down, but it’s only temporary. I know I’m not only coming back, I’m coming back even better than I was before!”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for filling me with Your life-giving seed. I choose today to focus on the potential for my future. I know that I will overcome every obstacle by Your power that is at work in me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Michael Drummer