Friday

January 30, 2026

    Today is the one-year anniversary of receiving the phone call. Last January 23rd I had visited the dermatologist's office to have a "cyst" removed. One week later, January 30, 2025, the dermatologist called to tell me that the pathology report had identified my "cyst" as Merkel cell carcinoma. And that started my year long journey through surgery, radiation, and regular check-ups and tests. One year later I am very grateful to say that it appears I am still cancer free and doing well. 

    I say appears because there will still be tests and check-ups to go for at least another year. The oncology surgeon told me to throw the first party at the two-year mark and then throw the big bash at the five-year mark. Between now and March 3rd I have a follow-up with the oncology radiologist, the surgical oncologist, a CT scan and a PET scan. I will also have the specialty blood test.  It was supposed to have happened this past week, but the test kit comes from Rhode Island and got stuck in Connecticut for a few days because of the weather. 

    I also had my first Medicare glitch. I took the blood test for my hematologist, and I was a little low in my Ferritin, stored iron. I was in the "range" but low, and a drop from where I was six months ago. She wanted me to get Venofer infusions, but it was denied by Medicare because I wasn't low enough. Instead, we will wait a month, I'll eat lots of steak and spinach and then have another blood test and appointment with my doctor. 

Galatians 5:22-23... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

    I did have a fun small world moment when I went to the hematologist office. One of the nurses there used to work for my previous hematologist and was often the one who hooked me up for my iron infusions.  I call Courtney the nurse that saved my life because when I was having trouble breathing once, she immediately called the other doctor in (mine wasn't working in the office that day) and he sent me to the clinic to be checked.  Turned out I had developed my second set of pulmonary embolisms. They doubled my dose of blood thinners, and I was soon back to normal. It was great to see her and get caught up. She saw my name and said she had to come in and say hello. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11... Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 

    Cathy and I had a great time celebrating my birthday last week. I thought a great way to celebrate becoming a senior citizen was to relive a little of my youth. The one vacation my mom and I took every year was to San Diego. We upgraded the memory by staying at a nice hotel in La Jolla and eating in some fun spots and a couple of nice restaurants. I would highly recommend the Stratford Court Cafe in Del Mar and Sugar and Scribe in La Jolla for great breakfasts and brunches. For dinner, Isola and Le Coq in La Jolla are excellent. 

    On Thursday we went to Sea World.  It was the one mediocre part of the trip. It wasn't crowded, which was nice, but being the off-season, quite a few of the attractions were unavailable because of maintenance and remodeling. I wouldn't have minded except they still charged full price, and it isn't cheap. It was a great way to get steps in.  Friday, we visited the San Diego Zoo. It has changed so much but was a great experience. You don't see as much from the bus as you used too, but walking around and visiting the different areas there is more of an up close and personal vibe with the animals. It was another great way to get steps in. 

    I'm on day 74 of walking five miles every day. I will get to 76 before I have to take a day off. Monday I'm having my colonoscopy and I won't be walking that day for a variety of reasons. Hopefully I can start right up again. I may have mentioned that Cathy and I bought a treadmill to be able to walk every day, even when the weather is bad. I have to give a shoutout plug to a youtube channel called Simply Hiking.  The have 20-60+ minute videos of trails around the world. It's a lot more fun to watch then just concentrating on that little ball working its way around the track oval. 

    During my walks in January, I was able to listen to the entire New Testament.  It's amazing the things you pick up listening to the scriptures that you don't catch when reading. I've now started listening to the Old Testament. I think that will take more than a month. I'm hoping I can finish by June 30 and then start against for the second half of the year. 

2 Timothy 3:16... All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

Romans 15:4... For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 

    Next week it will be my turn to celebrate Cathy as it will be her birthday. We're going to L'Opera in Long Beach, one of our favorite, upscale Italian restaurants. 

Proverbs 31:10... A wife of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies.