I have gotten a few pm's concerned about my well being since I haven't been on the boards for a while. I appreciate the concern very much. Actually I have been very busy consulting and getting my life back on track. I have been very busy in the entertainment aspect of my life. My singing voice has finally recovered and the 2 bands that I am playing in have been doing very well.

My total recovery from the whole cancer adventure took longer than I thought because even though I recovered relatively quickly from treatment it took much longer to heal the emotional scars. From time to time I need to take a break from cancer. I can assure everyone that I am in good health and just passed all of my 5 1/2 year scans, scope and lab tests.

Good to see you here again. Congratulations on the 5.5 years
Gabriele

Hi Gary!

Just sitting around and thought I would make a quick appearance myself and low and behold I see you are pretty busy tonight. Like you, I had to take a break. I have gone through a period of losing a few and then in June my brother was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He thought he had pulled a muscle that turned out to be metastatic renal cell cancer from his kidney and is in his liver, lungs and a few lymph nodes. It was very tough to face for me. I can truly relate to the emotional scars but I have found myself busy enough to almost forget sometimes.

I am working in Neewpawa, Manitoba, Canada right now as the Vice President of Finance and Information Systems. I truly believe at this point in time I have the absolute dream job! I have been commuting from Dallas every week since July and soon will move to every other week working out of the home in Dallas. I tackled a real challenging opportunity working for a really great company and I am really happy to be working with my pigs again. I doubt many could say that but after 23 years working with pigs and pork, I am once again in the industry I have spent most of my life in. Life is grand!

I have been told I could get life insurance pretty regularly since 3 years out but they turn me down each time. The last sales slug told me without fail I will have life insurance 10/08/08, the magical 5 year point. I had a bit of extra work to get a work permit in Canada because of the cancer and hep C and I don't really know if I can get the 2 year permit extended or make it through the -40 winter but I can't ask for much more in life other than have Susan in the same house M-F.

It is really good to hear from you and I am glad you are also keeping busy LIVING! Hardly a week goes by I don't think of you and many more and the joy I feel knowing the friends I have made during the darkest of times.

Take care and may our paths cross again someday soon.

Ed

It is truly great to get messages from two familiar old friends,and even better to read your brilliant news.

love and congratulations

Liz

Ed,
interesting that I too have been working/consulting for a company in Canada that has developed a CAD system for early detection of breast cancer (2mm lesion). I will probably need a Candadian work visa at some point.

Thanks Cookie,
I hope that all is well with you also.

Gabe,
thank you.

Gary & Ed,

Great to see you back and both doing well.

Ed, I am so sorry to hear what your brother has been through.

Congratulations to both of you on reaching your latest milestones.

I'm sure we have all needed to take a break now and then. I have done it a few times myself and then I find that when I do come back, I read through all of the posts that I've missed. This take so long, that I have decided not to take any more breaks.

Jerry

Don't be such strangers. Not only do those of us who know you worry about your well being, but we all miss the wealth of knowledge that you both have. Gary has forgotten more about radiation that I will ever know, and Ed has a depth of emotional understanding that a science nerd such as myself will never approach nor be able to offer. For sure people need to move on.... but stick your heads in once in awhile, we all care about you guys and miss your presence.

Thank you all for the kind words! I almost forgot to mention that I completed training as a hospital chaplain and start an internship as soon as I get over this short term hump at work. I also participated in a couple of health fairs representing OCF. I was invited to another in the inner city of Dallas around high-risk people for oral cancer sometime in the next few months. I (actually Susan!) made up a board of many oral cancer "victims" from the website and play both the Jack Klugman and the Blythe Danner PSA's. Thanks Brian for giving me an opportunity to give back just a little bit.

Somehow in this world, I have found myself face-to-face with cancer survivors at various stages of their journey on a very regular basis. The stories go on and on but the common theme has been steadfast. I have had many friends and family battle cancer and so many have reached out for a guiding hand, a shoulder to lean on or just a pair of ears to sit and listen. People I didn't know have come to me telling me how I have inspired them and have even asked me to walk with them through their journey. I am touched each and every time.

I will drop in from time to time but know I will always carry all of you in my heart and thoughts throughout life.

I still would like to make some type of get together soon.

Ed

So good to see you both on the board and doing well. You are both so knowledgeable and compassionate. Love from Helen

Gary and Ed:

You both have been missed here. Its so inspiring to see people who have moved on in such positive ways. Best of luck to both of you. Please stop in time to time even if just to say hello.

Hi Gary and Ed,

Good to see you back even if it is only briefly. Maybe the telepathy will extend to Mark and Kris. Neither of them have been heard from in a while either. I've been of having my carotid artery stented so am a little late on catching up here.

Take care,
Eileen