Sid Bacon

Thank God I’m Feeling Good!  I had a little bout with nausea late this morning, but I took some medicine and a short rest and I’m feeling much better.   I even had a decent-sized lunch while sitting out in the back yard soaking up some sun.  All is good.
 

Cathy and I went on a nice walk in the desert, and then she went to yoga. She’s been busy at her computer since getting back from yoga.  She really can get a lot done at home, without interruption. It is fantastic that she has that flexibility.  ASU has been really good to both of us.
 

We had a wonderful surprise last night about 8:00.  Our dear friends Mary and John came by bringing a box of clean-burning logs and a plate full of home-baked chocolate chip cookies.  The cookies are delicious, and should help put on some pounds. (We finished the pie from Cheryl, so on to cookies!)  The logs will make for some cozy evenings.  What thoughtful friends we have. We love them and are so blessed to have them in our lives.
 

Today we received a box of goodies from friends/colleagues Lenore H and Pam S.  We now have some pancake mix and two different types of syrup to spread on the pancakes.  I know what we are having for breakfast tomorrow. I can’t thank Lenore and Pam enough for their thoughtfulness.  It is truly overwhelming.
 

All of your support is truly overwhelming. I can’t thank you enough for your love and support. It means so much to Cathy and me.  I do feel the strength of your support, and I truly believe it makes a difference in my recovery.  My short-term goal for now is to make it one more year, to be one of the few stage IV pancreatic cancer patients who live two years after diagnosis. I know I can do it. We need all of your support and we need the chemo regimen to work as well this time as it did the first time.   My long-term goal is to live long enough for a cure to be found.  I feel I am at the right place for all of that. It is a long shot, but I have hope. So, we need to fight. We need to throw everything reasonable at this pernicious disease.  You are doing your part. Cathy and I will do our part. And the people at Piper will do their part. Collectively, we’ll give me the best shot possible to reach my goals.
 

Thanks for doing your part, and all your love and support!
 

Have a great weekend.  I’ll write more on Monday.

I am still feeling good, despite the full-dose of chemotherapy last Wednesday.  I have been tired the last several days and nauseous occasionally, but for the most part things are going well.  I am grateful.
 

I am eating pretty well, although I probably did not eat as much as the average person during the Super Bowl yesterday. I did, however, munch throughout the game.  Cathy had quite a nice spread laid out for us, so we had plenty to eat!
 

We had a great weekend.  Dan and his dog Nashley drove over from San Diego on Friday evening.  (Liz was in Idaho visiting her grandparents.) They drove back to San Diego late Sunday morning.  It is always great to have Dan here.  He is so good about getting home to see us.  Dan has gotten into baking bread lately (something he picked up from Cathy’s brother John), so he baked buns for our hamburgers on Saturday night and he baked a couple loaves of bread Sunday morning – one for us, and one for him. The fresh-baked bread and buns were delicious.
 

Cathy’s brother John arrived Sunday morning from Denver. He will be here until Tuesday afternoon.  It is great to have him here.  Laura joined us for most of the Super Bowl.  It was fun to see her.
 

Because of my fatigue level, the walks this weekend were shorter than normal.  This morning, however, we went on our usual route in the desert, complete with a few steep climbs.  The last time I did that hike was Thursday, and I was winded on the uphill climbs.  Today I was not. I was pleased to feel stronger on the hike. We even went at a pretty good pace.
 

I am looking forward to another full dose of chemo on Wednesday.  I just hope my blood work is OK and that I can have chemo.  I worry a little about platelets and bilirubin count.   I guess I need to visualize a high platelet count and a low bilirubin count.  I think I can do that!
 

When I am getting chemo, I feel like I am fighting with all our weapons.  It is good to be in that fight.  And I appreciate the fact that you all are fighting with me.  It really helps.
 

Go Team Bacon!

Cathy is on a run with her brother, John.  We’ll go on a walk when she returns.  I feel even better today than yesterday … must be about time for another dose of those nasty, cancer-fighting chemicals.  I am ready!
 

I have been eating pretty well.  I may have lost a pound or two since going off the TPN, but I am now holding steady and am hopeful that my appetite will return in a big way so that I can start eating even bigger meals and more frequent snacks.  It is a challenge to gain weight when you aren’t feeling that hungry (and are sometime nauseous after eating), but Cathy is working hard to create meals that I will like and will be able to eat.  As has been the case all along, she is taking great care of me. I absolutely could not do this without her.
 

I am touched by the many ways in which you are supporting me in my journey.  For example, Lauren C. just donated in my honor to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation. These acts of kindness hit me out of the blue, and of course are much appreciated.I also so appreciate all the love, thoughts, and prayers sent my way.  And Cathy and I really enjoy reading the guestbook entries.  Your support for our fight comes shining through in all your acts of kindness.  I truly am overwhelmed.
 

Two of the nurses at Piper are pregnant with at least their second child. Yesterday we went to a local book store and got some children’s books that would be fun for the older siblings to read to the new babies.  We’ll miss those nurses when they are out on maternity leave, but I’m determined to be there when they return!
 

The weather today is going to be beautiful, with a high in the mid 70s.  We are going to take John to the Desert Botanical Garden for lunch and a stroll before taking him to the airport.  It has been a fun visit, but alas it must come to an end.  Our siblings have been so good about coming to visit.
 

Thank you again for all your support. I can’t really thank you enough, but I’m going to keep trying!

As we drove into Piper, we were greeted with Team Bacon signs posted all along the entrance to Piper.  What an amazing show of support!! We are truly overwhelmed.  I don’t think I’ll ever get over this feeling. Although I see it everyday, I still can’t believe the level of support we have. I feel so fortunate. Thank you to whomever put the signs up. They mean a lot to us. They made our day (week … month …).

Cathy took my picture by one of Team Bacon signs, and if I can get it uploaded while at Piper, I’ll include it with this blog. Otherwise, I’ll post it tomorrow. (Unless I decide to post after I get home today.)

The Team Bacon signs have the staff at Piper buzzing.  One went out and took pictures of all the signs.  They also want my picture of A mountain painted purple.  I just signed an informed consent to allow them to do a write-up about me, as they are hoping to do some type of a story.  The signs will be (even more) famous!

After the initial drop in weight after stopping TPN, my weight has held steady.  I am happy with that. I feel that I am getting more of an appetite, so I’m optimistic that I will start gaining weight soon. I’ll be even happier once I start gaining weight; that is for sure.

The blood work is back and all systems are “go” for a full dose of chemo. I’m very happy about that.  The platelet count was 99,000 – it only needs to be 50,000 (except for the first dosage of a cycle, when it needs to be 100,000 or greater) and my bilirubin count was well within normal limits.  That was a relief, given that we are draining the bile internally only (i.e., I no longer am draining externally into a bag).  It means my internal drainage is working well. The longer I can go without using a bag, the better.

I am humbled by the support I receive.  It helps me so much in my fight. Thank you to all my loyal supporters. And a special thanks to the individual(s) who posted the signs … that was truly a morale boost this morning. Fortunately, I’ll never get over the wonderful feeling I had when I saw all the signs.