Negative PET scan!

Yup, I'm done with chemo. The PET scan came back yesterday...negative with the exception of a few spots in my lungs which are most likely due to the pneumonia infection. "Tyrone" the tumor has disappeared! Many months ago he tried to kill me and due to the chemo he almost succeeded. But we have poisoned him to death and it is now time to move on to a month of radiation which I start next Tuesday 9/4/07. I have no idea why Tyrone ever wanted to hang out with me in the first place, but there have been a lot of positive things that happened because of him. Now its time to zap him with some x-rays to make sure he is dead!

It seems like the hard part's over but as with all cancer survivors there is a worry in the back of my mind that Tyrone could resurface. But I am celebrating the good news and Meghan and I are going on vacation to FL this weekend.

Here's what Tyrone and cancer in general has taught me so far(in no particular order):

1)I have spent way too much time in front of a computer the last 8 years establishing relationships with others (myspace, email distro lists, etc). When it comes down to it, life is about face-to-face relationships and friendships, even if it is just a small group of friends. Computers are good for some things, such as this blog, but at the end of the day I don’t want to say the computer was my best friend in life. Success isn’t about money or accumulation of things, but quality relationships with those you love and trust.

2)I need to spend more time in the Word and bible study, establishing the bridge to the next life, as this one is very temporary.

3)I need to eat better foods and cut out more meat, even if it costs more. If it wasn't around 100 years ago, it probably is not a food and just refined sugars and chemicals. Wild Oats will make a lot of money off me in the next few years.

4) Whatever product I produce in life…i.e. writing songs, teaching, producing artists; it is not about the quantity, but rather the quality – how much emotional impact it has made on others. For example, it is better to write 5 songs that really move people, than 100 songs that say just a little. This also goes back to being able to say “no” to certain projects and to say “yes” to projects and experiences that will have the most impact.

5)I need to exercise every day, even if I don’t want to.

6)I want to spend more time in God’s creation (nature) and less in the studio.

7)I want to have more quality time with my family, because at the end of the day, these are the people that best understand me, have my best interest in mind and will be there for me. That is what family is for.

I have attached a couple of recent pics...one of Meghan and I at a Bueller show and the other of me in my new pimped out ride. The Beamer, along with Tyrone, had to leave my life last month.

No Hair

I have had some requests for pics with no hair so I am posting one. I completed chemo #6 last week (maybe the last?)I am now just getting ready for school to start and finishing up some music projects. I will post an in depth blog after my next PET scan at the end of the month.

Treatment #5

It has been more than a month since I updated this blog. My main priority was getting through chemo #4 and having my doctor in Nashville review my updated CT scan to show my progress. I am happy to say that we traveled back to Nashville and my doctor at Vandi reviewed my CT and was very pleased with the results. The tumor has shrunk significantly. He said “whatever you are doing, keep it up.” I will keep up the exercise and good nutrition on my end if you guys keep up the prayers! I went through chemo #5 in Springfield last week on 7/18/07.

I am feeling good, almost quite normal. I have made the decision to go back to teach in the fall. Belmont has been very understanding to the whole situation and I am so thankful for them. I will teach part time in the fall at Belmont and possibly take a couple of classes towards my doctorate at TSU while resting and recouperating.

The only scary part is that I MAY have to have 2 more chemos (8 total) depending on what the PET scan says after treatment #6 at Vandi on 8/8. After that comes a month of radiation. It will be a hard semester but I think teaching will lift my spirits rather than just sitting and staring at a wall for 4 months.

From my reading I have learned that one in two males will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime; one in three women will hear the diagnosis as well. These are scary statistics and I know it is important for me to continue to stay positive and stay focused. Thank you so much for your cards, prayers and care packages.

Below are some individuals that have had non-hodgkins lymphoma, perhaps you know of them.

Rowdy Roddy Piper
Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran
Joey Ramone, lead singer for The Ramones
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Tim Tobias, jazz pianist
Gene Wilder, diagnosed in 1999, made a full recovery in 2000
U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas
Fred Dalton Thompson, former United States Senator, actor and potential 2008 presidential candidate
Hussein of Jordan, former king of Jordan
British soap opera star Anne Kirkbride
Velvet Underground guitar player Sterling Morrison
Australian opera and musical theatre star Anthony Warlow
Golda Meir former prime minister of Israel
U.S. Nobel Prize laureate Jack S. Kilby, inventor of the integrated circuit
Croatian basketball player, coach, and diplomat Krešimir Ćosić
Saku Koivu, NHL star, captain of the Montreal Canadiens
British politician Menzies Campbell
American political commentator and movie critic Steve Sailer, diagnosed with Stage IV NHL in 1997, made a full recovery after getting into a clinical trial, and has been cancer-free ever since
Ernie Johnson Jr., American sports broadcaster for TNT and TBS
Andres Galarraga, MLB first baseman
Saul Bass, American graphic designer
Scott Rentrop, professional stuntman of Louisiana
Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox pitcher
David Rocastle, English footballer
Cesar Castillo, American Actor
John Hartford, American country / bluegrass composer and musician. Died June 4, 2001; after long battle with NHL
Mike Tetrault, blues musician
Bruce Gary, rock drummer (The Knack, My Sharona). Died Aug 22, 2006 from NHL.
John Cullen, NHL star, played for and captained the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Tampa Bay Lightning

I traveled back to Springfield, MO with my family this week. I made it through the 3rd chemo in Nashville with flying colors. In fact, I am feeling better than the last 2 chemos, I just get tired in the early evenings. My Dad and I are walking 2 miles down to the farm and back everyday and I am trying to stay active. I do miss Meghan though.

I plan to stay in MO and get the rest of my chemos here as I am eating well (lots of greens and brown rice) and need to stay away from people for my immune system's sake. I will go to back to Nashville mid July to get an updated CT scan. To be honest, my May experience scared me a little but now I feel more confident that I will make it through all of this. If I can be on a ventilator for 12 days and survive, I can beat cancer. I have told many of you before, life takes on different
priorities once you realize how brief it can be... I'm still reassigning those in my mind. I will keep you updated.

Dave

Hey everyone,

Thank you for your prayers, God is good! I made it through one of the most difficult experiences of my life thanks to your prayers. I wanted to let everyone that I am at home as of Wed. I got out of the ICU and went to Stallworth rehab hospital for a week to relearn how to walk,
climb stairs, etc.

I dont remember much of the month of May, which is probably a good thing. I have a wonderful family and girlfriend that were there at every moment during my struggle. At this point I just want to move forward with treatment. Being in a hospital bed for 3 weeks can take it out of you. I am still tired but I try to walk the neighborhood everyday to regain my strength. I plan to resume chemo next Wed 6/6/07, which will be my 3rd treatment out of six. I have a feeling that all will go smoothly now that all that has happened could happen and we have the kinks worked out. I am watching what I eat, using a mask for public places and vistors and have become a hand washing freak. My last chemo is August 8th and I plan to teach in the Fall as I go through
radiation, which I hear is far less demanding than chemo. There is a chance I could get my last couple of treatments in MO in order to stay with my parents but I am still deciding what the best option is.

Please continue praying for Meghan and I and my family and PLEASE call me during the days! I am sitting at home with not much to do and get lonely so I would love to hear from everyone (615) 554-6693.

Dave

Well I have some great news to report. On Wednesday, May 23rd Dave gave his dad a great birthday present and moved out of the ICU into a rehabilitation center across the street from the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. He starts his first physical therapy today. He should have about 3 hours a day of PT work, on the weekends it will be a little lighter. They have promised us that Dave will be cooking, cleaning and ironing before he leaves!!! I am looking forward to having Dave iron for me! :)

We don’t know when his chemo will start back up again. The doctors are waiting to see how he does with his rehab first.

I know Dave is looking forward to reading up on his blog, he doesn’t remember a lot that went on these last 3 weeks. The doctors say it will take sometime before he remembers what happened. For now he just remembers what he was dreaming, which was a lot better then what he was going through.

I know that I have learned a lot from this time in our lives. Dave is the strongest man in the world, as far as I am concerned, and I am so proud of him. He never gave up and I am so glad to have him back. God has been so good to us. You hear of how awesome He is, but when you go through this experience you see His faithfulness and His healing power. Words can not describe how it feels to see Dave talking, laughing and walking around. Thanks to everyone again for all the thoughts, prayers, e-mails and cards that you sent. We are grateful and truly blessed to have all of you.

Hello All-

Thank you for all your prayers. These two days have been incredible for Dave and his progress. Yesterday, Dave got put on pressure support and turn down to 40 on the ventilator. He was doing so well that they said he would have gotten him off then, but it was too late in the day. So this morning they took Dave off of his sedatives and decided that they would take the breathing tube out. About 11am Dave came off the ventilator, but the breathing mask they had for was working for him and they thought they were going to have to put in back on the ventilator. However, they tried another breathing mask and with a little coaching from the team (Dave parents and me) we were able to get him to stick with the mask. It will take Dave a couple days to come off all his sedatives that he is on. He keeps going in and out with sleeping. He has tried to talk, but we are not sure what he is saying. I know that he doesn't like this mask from the time they tried it before he went on the ventilator. So we just have to keep praying and hoping that as his when his sedatibes ware off that he will be able to use his lungs better and wouldn't have to go back on the ventilator. One of his doctors did say that Dave has turn around 180 degrees from where he was in the beginning (these doctors don't give compliments out too much so that is wonderful). Again please keep us in your prayers there is a lot that has to happen before we are out of the woods, but we are taking great steps in the right directions.

Meghan