Posted on 09/24/2008 5:29:28 PM PDT by Rokke
Edited on 09/24/2008 5:53:36 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
I'm sure many Freepers have enjoyed reading posts by Common Tator. He's been a fixture on sites like FreeRepublic for years and always offers thoughtful and accurate insight on news and politics.
Common Tator has survived bouts with cancer in the past and beat huge odds before. But now he faces his largest challenge yet.
From Common Tator "Today I met with the doctor to hear the latest news. My cancer has spread to both lungs and my liver. It is also in at least 4 lympth nodes."
There is a blog set up for friends of Common Tator to post their support for him. If you have time tonight, please take the time to click on this link Comments for Commontator and leave a good word or two for him.
wow, what wisdom God has chosen to impart to you through your life’s experience. There have been many dark nights that your courage has been a source of inspiration over these past years, yet I didn’t know the full story of the suffering road you had traveled to receive that special grace.
It is so good to see you posting Ray & glad you did not have to go thru the lung/drain ordeal!
You know on the several threads you frequent you have a bevy of supporters who are lifting you up to the throne for God’s love & care as you begin chemo. Your family is there for you too I am sure. Pam & the others will be your backbone, if yours gets a little shaky
My prayers added for success in treatment & minimal problems for you along the way
Stay fiesty &
Thank you so much Dolly. You are a lovely and very talented person. I have so much enjoyed your company over the years. Your knowledge of so many areas in which I had little if any knowledge made knowing you a great learning experience for me.
The many things you have taught me over the years are treasured and your support in this difficult time is very appreciated.
Thank you Miss Dolly,
GOD BLESS
Ray
Prayers up!
Thinking of you and praying for your recovery!
Good to see you posting, CT. We “Class of 98’ers” have to stick together!
I’m saying a prayer for you in this difficult time, and will continue to support the fight against the scourge that is cancer.
I spent today taking CHEMO from 10:30AM until 4:30PM they put 5 liters of fluid in my arm. After doing tests here and deciding that I did not need an operation, they reduced my Chemo to Cisplatin. The Oncologists here thinks that TAXOL is too harsh a CHEMO and that Cisplatin will reduce the cancer to the point where it can be controlled by CHEMO pills that I will take once a day for the rest of my life.
They know that Cisplatin worked well and greatly reduced the tumor in my left lung eleven years ago. They had used TAXOL in 1997 to reduce the 1997 tumor to its present size and then used Cisplatin to take it down to controllable size and then used radiation to kill it. I can’t have radiation this time, but I can take Chemo pills.
It is now about 10 hours since my first CHEMO and I have not had an upset stomach at all. I just ate a pork chop, mashed potatoes and asparagus and pears and I feel OK.
I don’t think I am going to be sick. I do feel a little weak. But my blood was just fine today. The white and red cells were normal. They said I do not need oxygen.
All in all it was a good day.. and if as expected the Cisplatin works I will soon be back playing on the Paint Valley Jamboree. Today they offered to drive up to Canton to get me some Saturday and have me play on the Jamboree and then bring me back up Sunday. That really made me feel good.
My son Tom is putting some of the songs from my last Saturday appearance on the Jamboree on YouTube if anyone wants to hear what I sound like and see what I look like on Stage it will be on YouTube in a few days. When he gets it up I will post how to find it.
All in all this has been one of the better recent days. I get more CHEMO Tomorrow, Wednesday, and Friday. And if it works as expected I shall survive.
Thank your Rokke... you are indeed a very good friend. And thanks to all my friends on the net... you caring and support means a great deal to me.
Thank you all,
ray
Great to hear Ray. You’re a stud. They’re going to have to find something a lot worse than cancer to keep you down.
In your freetime, could you get in touch with the McCain campaign. They could use a little of your insight right now.
We love you, Ray, and are so glad to see you posting after the first chemo treatment. Please know that you are in my fervent and heartfelt prayers.
Another Class of 98 bump here!
Thank you all for your wonderful prayers and kind support.
Today I had my third dose of Chemo in 3 days. Once again I have had none of the bad side effects except the retention of fluids. They put me on a diuretic and potassium pills and I am now fine. I have not had the predicted upset stomach pains and nausea. I have been eating well.
The Doctor told me that I was to eat all the food I have been told not to eat. He said if it has a lot of calories and I like it eat all I want and then eat some more. Lots of other people taking CHEMO with me are skinny as a rail.
I had 3400 calories yesterday. My daughter Pamela went to a place that sells smoothies made with ice cream and asked for the one with the highest calories. They gave her a huge smoothie that had 1800 calories in just one huge serving. She brought it when she picked me up from CHEMO and I drank it in about 5 minutes. It was great.
I get my next doses of CHEMO in 2.5 weeks. I get a shot for white blood cells this Friday, and blood tests and needed shots on Monday.. then again a week from Monday and then I go back for 3 more days of chemo.
I am going home next Tuesday. My son and three other daughters are going to take care of me for a week. If I have recovered enough from the CHEMO I plan to play the Paint Valley Jamboree the 11th of October.
I think Luke McCoy and I are going to play a lead guitar duet.. we plan to improvise a version of the Old Bob Wills tune titled Pan Handle Rag. If my voice is good enough I may sing a few.
I spent about two hours this evening on the phone with my daughter Kelly. Kelly is very bright. She graduated cum laude from Ohio state in 1998 and has a very good job in the Ohio State government in Columbus. She like her grand daddy before her is very involved on the wrong side of the political isle. She wants to use government to help the poor and afflicted. She reminds me of my sister.. very very pretty and very leftist.
Oh well, I love her and am very proud of her... and her grandpa if he were alive would be asking me how I could ever have produced such a pretty, brilliant, and wonderful daughter. He would have added she is proof the good genes aways skip a generation.
My oldest Daughter is just as bright and very conservative.
Pamela was valedictorian of her high school class and a consistant Deans List student in college. I think Pamela was more into boys rather than hitting the books in college.
When the sisters start arguing politics I go hide under the bed.
I always tried to raise my daughters properly.. I always bought then two of anything they ever asked for, and 1 of anything they looked at more than once.
I know that when I am ill they are all here for me.And that is a great comfort.
Your daughters sound wonderful.
Have a good evening, CT. :-)
Thanks for the details on your condition, treatment, history and family, Ray. Thanks for your take on the blog of last night’s debate. Great commentary, as usual.
love
((((Hugs))))You’ll get to play I just know it,Fatima
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