Mike,

Best of luck with this round! I'm saying a prayer for God to carry you through this last 1/3d of your time of suffering.


"One night a man had a dream.

He dreamt he was walking along the beach with Jesus.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.

For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:

one belonging to him, and the other to Jesus.



When the last scene of his life flashed before him,

he looked back at the footprints in the sand.



He noticed that many times along the path of

his life there was only one set of footprints.



He also noticed that it happened at the very

lowest and saddest times in his life.



This really bothered him and he

questioned Jesus about it:



"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow

you, you'd walk with me all the way.

But I have noticed that during the most

troublesome times in my life,

there is only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why when

I needed you most you would leave me."



Jesus replied:



"I would never leave you.

During your times of trial and suffering,

when you see only one set of footprints,

I carried you."

_________________
"Now, bring me that horizon."
-Capt. Jack Sparrow

Thanks strat58cat and to all.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Just stoppin' in for a quick visit before I'm off to chemo.

I'm back into a regular routine with the full chemo regime. It's not a very comfortable feeling with the neuropathy and fatigue along with this post nasal drip, cough and the usual side effects and a few surprise ones.

My oncologist examined me and said that my lungs were clear and thought that the drip and cough might be allergy related. I tend to disagree with him, but after thinking about it, I suppose that it could be?

He said to continue to use the saline nasal spray and Delsym cough medicine and if I thought it would help, I could try Flonase, which is loaded with steroids...

"For best results, use FLONASE daily. Your nasal symptoms may begin to improve in as few as 12 hours. Maximum relief may take several days. Results may vary. If side effects occur, they are generally mild and may include headache, nosebleed, or sore throat. FLONASE is available by prescription only; ask your healthcare professional if FLONASE is right for you."

I chose to hold off because I DO think the cough and post nasal drip is getting better and want to try the saline spray and Delsym (which I only started with last Friday night) for a bit longer.

http://www.delsym.com/

In looking at the calendar today, it appears that if all goes well (and that's a big "IF") that I will finish my chemotherapy treatments the week of December 30th.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Mike, that will be a brilliant way to close out this chapter, and start the New Year already cured. Remember that the treatment, although brutal, works. That's why they do it. As you go through the holidays in a state of disrepair from the cancer and the chemo side-effects, it can be kind of a bummer. That was around the middle for me and I still had forever to go then, it seemed. Just keep in mind that the end of the chemotherapy is at hand, and spring is right around the corner.

From the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam -

VII
Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring
Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling:
The Bird of Time bas but a little way
To flutter--and the Bird is on the Wing.


VIII
Whether at Naishapur or Babylon,
Whether the Cup with sweet or bitter run,
The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop,
The Leaves of Life keep falling one by one.


IX
Each Morn a thousand Roses brings, you say;
Yes, but where leaves the Rose of Yesterday?
And this first Summer month that brings the Rose
Shall take Jamshyd and Kaikobad away.


X
Well, let it take them! What have we to do
With Kaikobad the Great, or Kaikhosru?
Let Zal and Rustum bluster as they will,
Or Hatim call to Supper--heed not you


XI
With me along the strip of Herbage strown
That just divides the desert from the sown,
Where name of Slave and Sultan is forgot--
And Peace to Mahmud on his golden Throne!


XII
A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread--and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness--
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!

_________________
"Now, bring me that horizon."
-Capt. Jack Sparrow

[quote="strat58cat"]Mike, that will be a brilliant way to close out this chapter, and start the New Year already cured. Remember that the treatment, although brutal, works. That's why they do it. As you go through the holidays in a state of disrepair from the cancer and the chemo side-effects, it can be kind of a bummer. That was around the middle for me and I still had forever to go then, it seemed. Just keep in mind that the end of the chemotherapy is at hand, and spring is right around the corner.
[quote]

Yeah man! I'll be finishing my 8th cycle tomorrow...that means 2/3rds of the way there...I've already scheduled my 9th and 10th cycles for November and that will leave the 11th and 12th for December.

I can see that light at the end of the tunnel getting a little bit brighter with each passing day.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

(((((((TA DA))))))

I'm 2/3 through chemo now!

This week has hit me a little harder, so I'll be laying low and starting to work on what's become a virtual annual holiday recording collaboration project with several others around the globe.

I've booked my next 2 cycles for November and was able to get my dis-connect day (from portable infusion pump) for the day before Thanksgiving.

After that, 2 weeks in December....then I'm done.

Happy Halloween to all!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Good for you Mike. I wish you were feeling better, but you sound very upbeat and optomistic. An inspirations to us all.

_________________
I played on stage once, they kicked me off when the band arrived

Thanks Pat! I've tried to express the feelings that I've had throughout the whole journey mainly for the benefit of those who find themselves, or a loved one, in a similiar situation.

I *am* glad that with only 4 cycles left, that I will end this thread with a hopefully positive report.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Mike,

It has been a long time since I have been knocking on the Fender Forum door.

I have been extremely busy finishing up my new CD.

My apologies for not taking time to catch up on you and your life. As I have read all the posts here, it sounds as though all is still pointing in the most positive direction and you are going to lick this medical challenge in your life out for good.

Hey, if you would ever like to hear what I have been doing musically, please visit my MySpace site, listed below my signature. If you like any of the songs, let me know... I would gladly send you a free CD.

God Bless you and your family!

_________________
BP

Hats Off To You Blessed Musicians

• '07 Fender Standard Strat HSS (Midnight Wine)
• '03 Epiphone LP Special (White)
• '86 Charvel Model 2 (Black)

www.myspace.com/brattscovil
www.starvingpencil.com

Thanks Barry...I had a thread not too long ago asking if anyone had heard from you. Glad that everything is okay with you and yes, I'm progressing very well, or as well as can be expected at this point. I have just listened to your myspace posted tunes and I like them all, especially the one titled, "Cherished Aspirations".

Nice use of loops along with your live playing! I've been somewhat busy in the recording mode myself lately. I'm currently working on some holiday collaborations with others from around the world. This is our third year of doing it. It's all engineered by a guitarist in Southern Sweden using Cubase and he sets up a secure site where we communicate and exchange files and then he does the final mix, consults with us and eventually masters the tunes. Kind of like a "virtual" band.

I'll shoot you an email soon!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

well at least your still alive man.

_________________
Eat, sleep, ditch class, jam on the guitar all nite--- my life

she said: "Lie to me."
he said: "I love you."
haha

First off, strat58cat, that's one of my favorite poems.

Second, my family has a history of cancer problems and it really warms my heart to see a 22 page forum that's full of positivity and hope.

Best wishes to everyone who has been affected by cancer in any way.

Welcome to the forum, Tim, and thanks for the well wishes. I have 4 cycle left of chemo and then I'm hoping that some of the side effects will subside.

I'm hoping that this thread has been informative for anyone else, or a loved one, that finds themselves in a similiar situation.

Chemo is uncomfortable at times, and seems like it lasts forever, but it is tolerable and I'm hoping that I get a clean report when all is said and done after the scans and follow-ups.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Mike,

Hang in there buddy! We are all pulling for you! Since you are going to be done in mid-December, when is the party going to be? Hmm, I think I have December 31st open!

Keep the faith brother!

_________________
Bill

"Show me a crowd where the band is loud and my drunken ballet is in fashion!" Jerry Riopelle