Archives For Miscellaneous

I Need Your Help

September 3, 2011 — Leave a comment

Scripture says we are made in the image of our Heavenly Father which leads me to believe that God has a sense of humor.

“Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” Genesis 1:26

As I type this post, which contains an invitation to join the Leveraging Life team, I’m sitting at the Northside-Forsyth hospital infusion center getting my 5th blood transfusion of the summer. I know I’m laughing and you probably are too!

But one thing I never laugh about is cancer, especially when it comes to raising awareness, raising money, and finding a cure!

Let me address what is a common question that comes my way when people find out I’m raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society and not the merkel cell cancer, something I’ve been battling for almost two years. Merkel Cell cancer is a rare form of skin cancer that affects only about 1500 people around the world each year. With so few cases there would be such a long learning curve just to educate the masses before there would be any traction towards raising donations. Leukemia and Lymphoma on the other hand is something most of us are familiar with and something that may have even touched mine and your families at some point. LLS is personal and relevant. All that being said there are two other reasons why I chose to participate with Leukemia and Lymphoma society:

1. Both are blood related cancers where significant strides have been made in research and more are around the corner. I believe that once they figure out the role the blood stream plays in how cancer is metastasized throughout the body it will only be a matter of time before cures start occurring for all cancers as they are isolated and contained.

2. When my merkel cell cancer spread it spread through the blood stream.

Facts are facts, when you were growing up it was rare to know anyone or to have a family member who had been touched by cancer. Today it’s rare to find someone who HAS NOT had a family member touched by cancer. And if that is the case for you and for me, cancer is personal and I don’t know about you, but if it’s personal I can’t sit on the sidelines when I can do something I feel could make a difference.

So I’m inviting you to also step off the sideline join the fight and join our Leveraging Life Light the Night Team which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. Every year LLS hosts one of the most unique fundraising events, The Light the Night Walk which is held at the Cumming Fairgrounds on October 1, 2011. Rather than walk in the heat of the day we will walk in the early evening with illuminated balloons which represent the person you are walking for; the fighter, the survivor, or in memory of someone who lost their battle with cancer.

Continue Reading…

In Community, Leading Well, Wellness
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Inconclusive

August 18, 2011 — 18 Comments
iStockphoto © Jacob Wackerhausen

For those of you who have been following the recent developments in my cancer journey, you know I had a PET scan last week and we were waiting on the results. Unfortunately, as the title of this post suggests, we don’t know much more than before, other than that something appeared on the horizon that warrants further review.

Much like a NFL instant replay, the PET results are under further review as a biopsy was perform yesterday to remove cells from the adrenal gland above my left kidney. While the size of the gland hasn’t changed from previous scans, the uptake during this last PET scan increased, meriting a closer look. Continue Reading…

In Faith, Wellness
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Derailed

July 25, 2011 — Leave a comment

As I said in my previous post, sometimes life gets in the way, and as was the case last week, sometimes “things” in the way of  life. But when cancer is in your world that in itself may derail life…or at least life as I know it…as this post is the result of spending four and half days in the hospital battling a blood infection that came out of nowhere.  

Somehow and or somewhere I picked up a Strep B infection in my blood system which then manifested itself in the lymphatic fluid that accumulates in my left arm, chest, and torso. This fluid accumulation is the byproduct and side effect of the lymphedema I have been dealing with since my lymph nodes were removed last June. While there was nothing overtly obvious, there were some signs I probably missed or just attributed to what chemo usual does to me post treatment. But once the infection took hold, in a window of about 20 minutes, I went from feeling OK to so-so to ‘call the doctor’, and we were off to the ER. I’ll spare you all the details, but I wanted you to see how quickly the events unfolded and how I will have to guard against it happening again to the best of my ability.

Continue Reading…

In Heath, Life Lessons
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How You Feeling?

July 6, 2011 — Leave a comment
iStockphoto credit © Jeffrey Smith

How are you feeling is a common question I get asked several times a day, and a few times there is a follow-up question that gets asked before I answer the first question, “bet you get tired of answering that question don’t you?”

Actually I don’t mind answering that question at all because the fact that someone asks shows they care!

But something you probably should know, and I don’t think I’m alone feeling this way, is that the answer you get may not always be totally truthful at all times. There are a few reasons why, and I’d like to share them:

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National Cancer Survivors Day – June 5th

June 4, 2011 — Leave a comment

There are 28 million people living with cancer right now across the globe. Each day, in the U.S. alone, over 4000 more people are diagnosed.

Stand Up To Cancer and LIVESTRONG are joining forces in recognition of the bravery of those in the fight and those who have won the battle. We are calling for survivors to declare themselves and inspire everyone living with cancer to stand up and keep fighting.

Chances are, cancer has touched you in one way or another in your lifetime. In honor of National Cancer Survivors Day, here is your chance to give cancer a piece of your mind. Whether you are fighting the battle, standing in support of a loved one or if you just hate cancer, we all have something to say. 

So join us, declare yourself, and donate your Facebook status by clicking here.

 

Continue Reading…

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Prayers In Play

May 12, 2011 — 4 Comments
iStockphoto credit © Sean_Warren

Monday was a pivotal day in my cancer battle as I had my first PET scan since beginning Chemotherapy in March. Early on my team of doctors prepared me for two initial cycles of chemo to see how the cancer would react to the “cocktail” they prescribed and this scan would be used to measure the progress. Funny thing was as the PET scan was being  scheduled, my third cycle of chemo was already set to begin without having the results of the scan, which became yet another cancer lesson learned.

Assume Nothing and Question Everything!

That being said, Shari and I figured there were more chemo treatments on the horizon and I’d better stop in at the local drug store to stock up on more….”sunscreen” for my now bald head. Continue Reading…

In Community, Faith, Heath , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Ten Things I’ve Learned Since Starting Chemo

April 29, 2011 — 3 Comments

 

iStockphoto © Denis Vorob

Last week I completed my 2nd cycle of chemotherapy, something I never thought I would have to experience, yet became a reality thanks to merkel cell cancer. For those who don’t know chemotherapy is drug which acts like a poison, genetically manufactured to kill cancer cells. Only problem is it also kills healthy cells as well, but I’m learning the side effects are real and are something to be respected.

 

“While I must respect the treatment itself for what it will do to my body, I will never respect the cancer.”

And I vow not to let any of what I’m experiencing diminish how I leverage my faith or how I plan to keep me laughing in the face of it. 

“This is the day OUR Lord has made

WE WILL CHOOSE to rejoice and be glad”

This is how my wife and I begin each day in our battle with my cancer, with our rewrite of Psalm 118:24

Top 10 Things I’ve Learned Since Starting Chemo

10. No Grey hair concern because I have no hair period.
9. The money you think you’ll save on hair gel gets spent on sunscreen.
8. Shorter showers = less water usage = better steward of the environment.
7. Howie Mandel’s germaphobia/mysophobia isn’t as silly as I once thought.
6. Just because you lose your hair and take steroids to fight the nausea doesn’t guaranty you’ll be mistaken for Vin Diesel.
5. You CAN convince woman that massaging your scalp brings them good luck.
4. You no longer have an excuse not to audition for the Blue Man Group.
3. The list of characters to dress up as for Halloween is mind-boggling.
2. Safe sex is a real concern during chemo and buying condoms is embarrassing (no matter how old you are).
1. If you dress like this & learn to dance like this you can get free rides at Six Flags.

I’m sure there are plenty more so feel free to add yours in the comment section below!

On a more serious note…I would like to thank everyone for their comments on the blog, emails via the website, and for sharing Leveraging Life with friends on Facebook and Twitter. A big thank you to everyone who prayed for me, and is now praying for Shari & I, your prayers are felt and appreciated beyond what we can express with words!!

~Tom                                                          

trusting God period!!

Next up: Cancer Confessional – Why Me? Why Now? 

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In Wellness
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Atheist Don’t Have No Songs

January 14, 2011 — Leave a comment

On Friday I feature a website or a blog that for me has the potential to become a favorite. It maybe a resource, a source of inspiration, or just some distraction I frequent. Give the Friday Favorite a look, read, or listen, and please feel free to comment about mine and share a favorite or two of your own in the comment section. Who knows maybe we will feature one of yours as a future Friday Favorite.

~Atheist Don’t Have No Songs~

Steve Martin with Steep Canyon Rangers

 

Big thanks Way Kidd for sharing this clever take which poses an interesting fact about there being no atheist’s songs; the lyrics are listed below.

Christians have their hymns in pages.

Hava Nagila’s for the Jews.

Baptists have the Rock of Ages.

Atheists just sing the Blues.

 

Romantics play Claire de Lune.

Born-agains sing He is Risen.

But no one ever wrote a tune

for godless Existentialism.

 

For Atheists there’s no Good News;

They’ll never sing a song of Faith.

In their songs they have a rule:

the “he” is always lower case.

 

Some folks sing a Bach cantata.

Lutherans get Christmas trees.

Atheist songs add up to nada.

But they do have Sundays free.

 

Pentecostals sing, sing to heaven.

Coptics have the book of scrolls.

Numerologists count to seven.

Atheists have rock and roll.

 

For Atheists there’s no Good News;

They’ll never sing a song of Faith.

In their songs they have a rule:

the “he” is always lower case.

Atheists don’t have no songs.

 

Christians have their hymns in pages.

Hava Nagila’s for the Jews.

Baptists have the Rock of Ages.

Atheists just sing the Blues.

 

Catholics dress up for mass

and listen to Gregorian chants.

Atheists just take a pass,

watch football in their underpants.

 

Atheists don’t have no songs.

 

~Tom

trusting God period 

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Troncalli Subaru Blood Drive

October 29, 2010 — 1 Comment

Most Fridays I feature a website or a blog that for me has become a favorite. It maybe a favorite resource, a source of inspiration, or just some distraction I frequent. Give the Friday Favorite a look, read, or listen, and please feel free to comment about mine and share a favorite or two of your own in the comment section. Who knows maybe we will feature one of yours as a future Friday Favorite.

  

Friday October 29, 2010

Three times a year Troncalli Subaru holds a blood drive in partnership with LifeSouth community blood centers. The October drive is critical because there tends to be a drop off in donations once everyone gets busy and set in the holiday season mode.

LifeSouth is committed to meeting the blood supply needs of local hospitals in each of the communities we serve by providing the highest quality blood components and services.

Quite often I get asked why LifeSouth and not some other organization for our blood drive; but for me community helping community is what it’s all about. The blood that is donated today will be used to save lives right here in North Georgia, and as someone who was the recipient  of several blood transfusions in 2007 I know first hand the impact your donation of blood makes!

Just one pint of donated blood can help save as many as three people’s lives!

 

So please make some time tomorrow to stop by Troncalli to help save a life. There will be refreshments provided by Lanier Crossing ChickFilA, LifeSouth shirts and hats, and every Subaru on the showroom will have a trunk full of Halloween Candy.

Thanks!

~Tom

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Life Lessons Part 4-Fast Forward

October 18, 2010 — 2 Comments

As promised Fast Forward does just that, brings my merkel cell cancer journey to the present tense and picks up where Off Season left off.

New Season

A routine follow up on the skin graft of my hand afforded me the opportunity to ask my surgeon to look at the scar under my arm where they removed three lymph nodes in December. This for all practical purposes should have been a visual check and was initially, but in his words: ”something told me to not only look at the scar but to also feel under the arm as well.” He said he felt a lump, but the look on his face told the story a biopsy later confirmed, that cancer was back in my life. A key thing not to miss and what I consider to be a blessing, had the surgeon only looked and not felt, most likely the cancer would have continued to spread unchecked for at least another six months when my next follow-up appointment was scheduled.

When cancer re-enters the picture you really can’t have another “Pin Drop” moment, but a fist through the wall moment is certainly justified. Unfortunately or fortunately there really isn’t too much time for that because your life becomes very scripted at that point and you follow the sequence laid before you. Biopsy’s bridge to scans, CT & PET; tests are followed by more tests confirming what your heart already knows. A script and a sequence are what you need to navigate those days because an idle mind is the breeding ground for doubt and fear….not only in the skills of your medical team but also in where God is in all this. The purpose of the scans was to see if cancer was present anywhere else including my organs and thankfully it was not. For me both scans lit up for cancer under my arm but in no other area of the arm. I took that as great news because that would have opened the door to a conversation that could have included the word amputation.

Continue Reading…

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