WW: Say a Little Prayer for My Bro'

Today (Wednesday) brother Rod is having brain surgery via the gamma knife for cancerous lesions. 

So, would you say a little prayer for him?

Below is something he wrote a few months ago for his weekly newspapers and which I shared previously, but I thought this might be a good time to share it once again:

It’s Me Again, Jesus!

Last week, careful readers will have noticed, Yours Truly skipped his weekly assignment of penning this little column, which is something I try to accomplish each Monday morning. (Careless readers may not have noticed, because the usual space was filled in with a “re-run” from months gone by… just like the TV networks do!)
It was the first time I missed my deadline in over three years. I do not have a good excuse.

I guess, if I was a “dream-up-excuses” sort of guy, I could come up [with] one. I was, after all, strapped down to an operating table, undergoing a bit of brain surgery.





But that’s really no excuse. I’ve undergone similar surgeries two other times in the last couple of years, and I managed to meet the deadline for my column both of those times!

So no excuses. I’ll try to do better in the future, although there admittedly may be some new challenges ahead.

Back in August of 2008, when I first underwent surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor, I promised to keep you posted of my progress, much as my friend Jerry Fowler had done during his illness a couple of years earlier. He shared his personal battle with cancer each week, and helped a lot of people along the way.

I guess I’m just not as disciplined as Jerry was, because, try as I might, I can’t seem to work my health picture into my column but once or twice a year. There have, however, been some recent developments, and I thought I’d share them with you.

I won’t try to give you all the background on the melanoma that I was first diagnosed with in 1983, or the recurrence in the summer of 2008 that briefly impacted my communication skills. I will instead refer you to this column, which is now posted online as a blog at www.rodshealy.com. (Just go back to August, 2008, and you can read all about it.)

When we last updated my condition here (last November), I mentioned that I had chosen the treatment route of “clinical trials”… still-experimental treatments which have not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Although the my first round of trials -- an experimental vaccine designed to boost my immune system -- officially showed no response, there is some evidence that a partial response was achieved. In other words, some success, perhaps.

While searching for the next clinical trial, however, I was delayed by what appears to be multiple new recurrences of the melanoma in various areas: several spots in the lungs, where we already knew there was at least one large tumor; nine lesions in the brain, which were treated by gamma-knife last Monday at MUSC; and a number of brand new melanoma tumors in areas which do not appear to threaten any organs.

A biopsy of the large tumor in the lung, however, which had tested positive for cancer last June, suddenly came back negative, just a couple weeks ago. Hence, the possible partial success, perhaps.

As of now, I am scheduled to begin a new round of clinical trials next week. I’ll try to keep you posted better than I have been doing.

In the meantime, I am blessed to have no real side effects or disabilities, and am able to continue to work my normal schedule… with the obvious exception of last Monday, when I missed my deadline.

It’s also a good time for me to reflect a bit.

Given my several brushes with cancer, my odds of still being here are not good. In 1983, I was given a 35% chance of surviving five years. In 2008, my odds of making it through were described as maybe one in a thousand. And the couple of recurrences since then have been…well, let’s just say alarming to the technicians reading my scans. (You can always see it in their eyes!)

Still, here I am, starting on my next streak of writing a column every week for three years without missing a single one. I hope.

There are a few things I’ve learned through these experiences of the last two years.

First, none of the medical professionals and researchers can tell us what makes these cures and treatments work sometimes and not work other times. They’re striving to find out, but they just don’t know.

Secondly, a lot of really smart people – doctors, scientists, researchers – seem to think the “power of prayer” has a lot to do with it. I’m glad, because I think it has everything to do with it. When word of my diagnosis was revealed two years ago,

I was humbled by the number of prayer groups who helped me – friends and acquaintances, and total strangers alike. They prayed for me, and I assume that’s why I’m still here.

Although I’ve personally never stopped talking to Jesus about it, I do notice that our chats become a little more fervent and frequent each time I get a diagnosis with a new set of challenges. I’m praying as hard as I can, but I sure do appreciate those extra prayer-words from others (because yours might be the one that works!)

Thirdly, whatever my future holds is okay with me. It’s a great life, and I love this life, but I’ve certainly had my fair share of it -- probably more than my share -- so when my time comes, it comes. In my prayers, incidentally, I always address that exact point: I simply ask Jesus to use me as is His will. If that means going to Heaven sooner rather than later, then that’s what I’m ready for. After all, it’s not this life that really counts… it’s the next one. I believe. I am saved. And I am ready.

If I’m sounding a little more prayerful than usual in my column this week, I hope you’ll understand. Skipping my column last week gave me extra time to reflect on this week’s message… and I decided to talk to a larger audience this week.

Update:  Since surgery is today, maybe it's not really a little prayer that's needed.  How 'bout a BIG one?

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Wordless Wednesday participants are here.

Wordful Wednesday participants are here. 

WW: Stages of a Sunset

The stages of a sunset - July 27, 2010 - Corolla, North Carolina

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Wordless Wednesday participants
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WW: Why Is This Man's Photo on My Blog?

Every Wednesday in the blogging world, many bloggers participate in either Wordless Wednesday or Wordful Wednesday.  It's very difficult for me to be "wordless." 

I know, I know.  A picture is supposed to be worth a thousand words.  But I like to talk, and I like to 'splain things.

Today I'm doing more of a Wordful Wednesday than a Wordless Wednesay 'cause this picture needs some 'splaining.

Earlier this week, I mentioned both good and bad experiences with on-line dating. There were few details about those experiences, which spanned almost two decades, off and on.


One thing that always turned me off was the profile information that sounded trite or fake. Do you know how many men say they like holding hands while walking on the beach, or sitting in front of a fireplace with a special someone, or enjoying candlelight and romantic dinners? And most contend to be strong, handsome and athletic.

Those profiles are a dime a dozen.

Having grown up in a different time with far-different rules, I’ve always been hesitant to be the first to make contact with a potential date. It took a long time for me to overcome that hesitancy, but I finally did – sort of. I still proceeded with caution - if I ever made the first contact.

Not long ago, though, I came across a profile that was quite different. I wasn’t looking to date the guy but just wanted to let him know how refreshing his profile was.

There was one particular sentence that really caught my attention. This man said he liked to play golf but was only allowed on the golf course when they needed the earth moved around!!!

Here was a man with a sense of humor. This was someone who could laugh at himself. How refreshing!

And I told him so.

And then, he responded.

And now we’re getting married! Actually, not “now” but in a few weeks – on June 6th.

Did all of this happen rather quickly? Oh, yes, most definitely.

But, once you reach this age, it’s risky to put off anything you really want to do. 

Besides, at our ages, we both know what we like and what we don't like, what we should expect and what we shouldn't, what to overlook and what not to overlook. 

And this is why there’s a picture up above of Karl J. Duppstadt. I’ll be writing about him from time to time, including sharing more later this week.

So, now that you’ve been introduced to “Dupp,” come on back to find out more about him. The Duppster is a very special person, whether you need the earth moved around or not! 

One thing is certain: he moves the earth under me.


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More Wordful Wednesday participants are here.
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WW: "It's Me Again, Jesus"

These are rather strange pictures to post for the weekly Wordless Wednesday & Wordful Wednesday submissions.  This post will be way more wordful than those of previous Wednesdays -- and most of the words won't be my own.
The pictures above are of my brother Rod, who is four years younger than I am, which is one reason he always refers to me as his "eldest" sister.  
Besides being a very successful political consultant, he is the publisher of six weekly newspapers, for which he always has his own funny column. 
Today, I want to share what he wrote last week:

It’s Me Again, Jesus!

Last week, careful readers will have noticed, Yours Truly skipped his weekly assignment of penning this little column, which is something I try to accomplish each Monday morning. (Careless readers may not have noticed, because the usual space was filled in with a “re-run” from months gone by… just like the TV networks do!)

It was the first time I missed my deadline in over three years. I do not have a good excuse.

I guess, if I was a “dream-up-excuses” sort of guy, I could come up [with] one. I was, after all, strapped down to an operating table, undergoing a bit of brain surgery.

But that’s really no excuse. I’ve undergone similar surgeries two other times in the last couple of years, and I managed to meet the deadline for my column both of those times!

So no excuses. I’ll try to do better in the future, although there admittedly may be some new challenges ahead.

Back in August of 2008, when I first underwent surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor, I promised to keep you posted of my progress, much as my friend Jerry Fowler had done during his illness a couple of years earlier. He shared his personal battle with cancer each week, and helped a lot of people along the way.

I guess I’m just not as disciplined as Jerry was, because, try as I might, I can’t seem to work my health picture into my column but once or twice a year. There have, however, been some recent developments, and I thought I’d share them with you.

I won’t try to give you all the background on the melanoma that I was first diagnosed with in 1983, or the recurrence in the summer of 2008 that briefly impacted my communication skills. I will instead refer you to this column, which is now posted online as a blog at www.rodshealy.com. (Just go back to August, 2008, and you can read all about it.)

When we last updated my condition here (last November), I mentioned that I had chosen the treatment route of “clinical trials”… still-experimental treatments which have not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Although the my first round of trials -- an experimental vaccine designed to boost my immune system -- officially showed no response, there is some evidence that a partial response was achieved. In other words, some success, perhaps.

While searching for the next clinical trial, however, I was delayed by what appears to be multiple new recurrences of the melanoma in various areas: several spots in the lungs, where we already knew there was at least one large tumor; nine lesions in the brain, which were treated by gamma-knife last Monday at MUSC; and a number of brand new melanoma tumors in areas which do not appear to threaten any organs.

A biopsy of the large tumor in the lung, however, which had tested positive for cancer last June, suddenly came back negative, just a couple weeks ago. Hence, the possible partial success, perhaps.
As of now, I am scheduled to begin a new round of clinical trials next week. I’ll try to keep you posted better than I have been doing.
In the meantime, I am blessed to have no real side effects or disabilities, and am able to continue to work my normal schedule… with the obvious exception of last Monday, when I missed my deadline.
It’s also a good time for me to reflect a bit.
Given my several brushes with cancer, my odds of still being here are not good. In 1983, I was given a 35% chance of surviving five years. In 2008, my odds of making it through were described as maybe one in a thousand. And the couple of recurrences since then have been…well, let’s just say alarming to the technicians reading my scans. (You can always see it in their eyes!)
Still, here I am, starting on my next streak of writing a column every week for three years without missing a single one. I hope.
There are a few things I’ve learned through these experiences of the last two years.

First, none of the medical professionals and researchers can tell us what makes these cures and treatments work sometimes and not work other times. They’re striving to find out, but they just don’t know.

Secondly, a lot of really smart people – doctors, scientists, researchers – seem to think the “power of prayer” has a lot to do with it. I’m glad, because I think it has everything to do with it. When word of my diagnosis was revealed two years ago,

I was humbled by the number of prayer groups who helped me – friends and acquaintances, and total strangers alike. They prayed for me, and I assume that’s why I’m still here.

Although I’ve personally never stopped talking to Jesus about it, I do notice that our chats become a little more fervent and frequent each time I get a diagnosis with a new set of challenges. I’m praying as hard as I can, but I sure do appreciate those extra prayer-words from others (because yours might be the one that works!)

Thirdly, whatever my future holds is okay with me. It’s a great life, and I love this life, but I’ve certainly had my fair share of it -- probably more than my share -- so when my time comes, it comes. In my prayers, incidentally, I always address that exact point: I simply ask Jesus to use me as is His will. If that means going to Heaven sooner rather than later, then that’s what I’m ready for. After all, it’s not this life that really counts… it’s the next one. I believe. I am saved. And I am ready.

If I’m sounding a little more prayerful than usual in my column this week, I hope you’ll understand. Skipping my column last week gave me extra time to reflect on this week’s message… and I decided to talk to a larger audience this week.





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Other Wordless Wednesday participants are here.  Other Wordful Wednesday participants are here.

WW: Who's That Behind Those Foster Grants?

Remember that ad for Foster Grant sunglasses? 
Well, today, it's not sunglasses but a handsome straw hat, and the question is: "Who's that under the handsome straw hat?"

Here's a little more of the subject; now can you tell?

Perhaps a glimpse of some of the face will help.

Ah, there he is.  It's two-year-old Harrison!

Harrison likes his hat, partly because it looks like his daddy's hat.

Isn't he adorable - and can't you tell that this grandma has no interest in him whatsoever? 

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Other Wordful Wednesday participants are here.

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WW: Triviaholics

It's an understatement to say that I'm a triviaholic.
Fortunately, I've got friends who fit into the same category and I've made new friends when playing trivia.
I play live or team trivia at some places and also participate in nationwide (and more) Buzztime Trivia. 

On most Wednesdays, some of us get together for team trivia at Firewater Grille.  Here are some of the other triviaholics.  (Actually, team trivia is played there every Wednesday; I am able to show up only most Wednesdays.)

On Thursdays, I host team trivia at Ivory Moon.  That's 6:30 - 7:30 pm.  Some of these same people join us on Thursdays as well. 

First is our funny trivia host at Firewater, Shane Griffin. 

One of the Wednesday teams is The Bill-Z.

 

Another regular team - The Mulligans:

Our team is regular but we can't decide on a regular name; we change every week:

And here's one shot with various members of some of the teams:

It's what you'd call competitive friendship!

WordlessWednesday participants are here.

Wordful Wednesday participants are here. 

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WW: Flowertown

Our town, Summerville, just held its annual Flowertown Festival.  Here are just a few reasons Summerville is known as Flowertown.  Believe me, I could fill many blogs with the beauty of this place.

Come back tomorrow for "Thirk Thursday."  Yes, that word is "thirk."  "Thirk" is short for "things that irk me." If you're a blogger, join in; Mr. Linky will be here each Thursday for you to link your post about one thing that irks you.



Other Wordless Wednesday participants are here.
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