Skip to main content

Most Days are Good, Some are Better!

 Today’s post should be a little lighter news…

This is the first time in a while we’ve had three days off without a single appointment or test!  It really makes us feel more normal.  Having Rachel visit us over the weekend was also a very special time (even though she did attend a few meetings with us)  She has been a huge support for us especially when it comes to nutrition.  I’m down around 10 pounds since November and going into Chemotherapy next week it’s important to not go any lower.  Rachel took Diane shopping and came home with a huge pile of healthy food.  Before and after Chemotherapy there’s a big need for hydration, particularly with electrolytes.  Rachel has a good friend, Emma who is part of a Boulder, CO company called Skratch Labs.  Today, we received a monster package of hydration products, healthy snacks and a recipe book!  Thanks Emma!



Many people ask me, “how are you feeling?” Or, “are you OK?”   I think you should know that I am yet to experience any real pain or symptoms from the actual cancer. I am currently still a little sore from last week’s laparoscopy procedure but today Diane and I got out and hit the pickleball around for an hour or so (the heat got to us quick)

 I asked my Oncologist, Dr Kalamadi if the cancer would begin to slow me down or cause pain.  He said, your only problem this summer will be the chemo we are going to be administrating.  In the words of Bill Murray in Caddyshack “So…I’ve got that going for me.”  

All that being said, I have had three incidents of a very upset stomach that resulted in vomiting and one hospital visit.  These three incidents were likely because of the cancer.  But in another glimpse of God’s hand, if it had not been for these incidents I never would have gone to a hospital for observation and CT scans.  

God is Good



  

Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 21, 2022 at 7:17 PM

    Thank you for sharing your journey. You and Diane are strong and your support group is enormous! I know God is hearing all our prayers since He is giving you indications of His intervention. Strength and prayers are coming your way from us. Love and hugs to you both. "You Got This"!
    Andi and Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mike BarfieldApril 22, 2022 at 5:45 AM

    Captain Mark, I have been blessed to call you a friend since the early 90s in Alaska.
    You shared your passion and love for rivers and rafting with me which for which I'm eternally grateful .

    I cherish the planning, waiting, discussions, and incrdible experiences of of all those world class river journeys in Alaska and the Grand Canyon we shared together.

    The same strength, skills and enthusiasm you displayed in completing those wilderness journeys, Im confident you will employ display on this journey in life as well.

    Faith, prayer and trust in the Lord, will get you through this journey in life brother, just like you avoided most of the the sweepers and obstacles in our river journeys.

    You are blessed with a tremendous wife Diane and daughter Rachel by your side.
    Stay in the "V" baby, you got this! Continued prayers each day for you!

    Mike n Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownApril 22, 2022 at 4:18 PM

    Love you Uncle Mark. You’re the strongest person I know in the family. You got this. Your positive attitude will shine and beat this nasty cancer.

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownApril 24, 2022 at 12:23 PM

    We love you. Sending love and prayers from Kentucky!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMay 5, 2022 at 9:28 AM

    Make sure to visit. Tustumena’s water and air have many benefits.
    We’re all wishing and wanting the best for you and Di.
    Love,
    PG

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Battle Begins

I’ve never tried to create a blog, in fact I’ve never even looked at someone else’s blog.  So, this project may start off a little slow.  My plan is to post frequently about what’s currently happening.  But, people also want to know when this started, what were my symptoms, and why did it take so long to get this diagnosis.  So I will, from time to time, create posts that will be labeled “Prologue”. That story will begin on November 19th, 2021 and I’ll add stories until I reach today’s date.  April 18th, 2022 Today I finally have a comprehensive diagnosis.  It’s not what we were hoping for but at least we can now proceed with the attack. I have Peritoneal Mesothelioma.  Most people think of Mesothelioma as a lung disease but of the 3000+ yearly cases of mesothelioma only10-15% occur in the abdomen.  The primary cause of mesothelioma is from exposure to asbestos.  Later, I will tell you the story of my time working around raw asbestos.   ...
12 comments
Read more

Tomorrow, 1954

“I had more fun on my 70th birthday than your average 10 year old!” The last blog we asked for prayers for a good scan on this new trial.  The scan was on the 19th and my doctor’s meeting was on the 20th.  Everything you do at a hospital begins with, “what’s your full name and birthdate?”  For every appointment on the 20th I had fun answering that question with, “Mark Daly, tomorrow 1954!” Before the doctor comes in for the consult, other members of the team visit to cover certain issues.  We were slowly put at ease as it seemed each person who came in to discuss something seemed to be in a good mood, especially when they learned my birthday was the next day.  One visitor was Patricia, my Research Coordinator.  She takes care of all my details including scheduling and she brought up details for April and May visits.  That seemed promising. Next, the Physician’s Assistant came in to discuss my bloodwork and the scan.   It was a little unnerving as ...
4 comments
Read more

Off Script

An Angel in the dugout? “Mark, do you read books?”  This question caught me off guard last month between softball games at the Southwest Championship tournament in Las Vegas.   “To be honest, not very often,” I replied to Cathy, our Sidewinder’s team scorekeeper.  When I asked why, she told me she had been thinking about my situation and brought me a book I might like to read.  I felt a little unrefined and recovered by saying, “Diane likes to read, what’s it about?”  She told me a little about the book when she handed it to me and I thanked her and stashed it in my softball bag. That was April 9th, the first day of our three day tournament.  We had a few more games later that day and on my way to the parking lot after the last game I got a phone call from Diane.  Our son-in-law Joel had been in a terrible accident.  She only had limited information at that time.   We soon found out that Joel had been on his way from Denver via Texas and on t...
4 comments
Read more