Hey, Cameron. You realize if we played by the rules right now we'd be in gym? Ferris Bueller

Remember when I said that we had to set the surgery out to August 4^th due to some events that were already on the calendar?
Well here is Event #1!     May 27^th 12:10 PM.  Minnesota Twins VS Boston Red Sox. 

The sun is supposed to be shining for the first time this week and The Twins are playing the final game of the three game series!  Oh yea, and I am not at work.  Don’t get me wrong I love my job, but just not today.  A couple of Co-workers and I decided to take a page from Ferris Bueller, play a little hooky and take in a game.  

Mayo Clinic has been sending me recaps of every appointment I had down there in complete detail.  You know what?  At least for today, it doesn’t matter.  I will worry about that later.

 

Today’s agenda; Cowboy Jacks for a cold beer and then across the street for the game.  Once at the game, then few beers, a couple of dogs and a lot more sun.  

Happy Hump Day Everyone!  Come on Twins, lets sweep these Sox!

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,
I don't care if I never get back

(Take me out to the ballgame  Jack Norworth)  

My message to Dad

Hey Dad

21 years ago, cancer took you from us.  I really wish I could talk to you today, but I can’t so I will write this in hopes that somehow God has an internet connection up there that you can tap into.  These are the times where I wish I could just pick up the phone and hear your voice. 

First off, I hope wherever you are, you are enjoying yourself.  Maybe listening to some old Marty Robbins while fishing somewhere.  Heck, maybe old Marty Robbins is fishing with you.  Who knows.  I just hope that you are having a good time.  You would be amazed at how things are going down here.  You have grandkids running all over the place and even some of the grandkids have kids now.  We still hunt, fish, and work on cars just like you taught us.    

The kids have grown into amazing young adults.  Jennifer is married and living in Iowa.  Jackson serves our country in the National Guard and works part-time at a couple of jobs while he tries to discover his career calling.  Madelin is just finishing her Junior year in high school.  I know you never met her, but you would have loved her.  It is amazing how on certain days one of the kids will spin around to say something and I will catch that twinkle in their eyes.  That same one you used to get before you were going to tell a joke.  I can see you in their eyes. 

Cancer reared its ugly head in our family again and we continue to battle.  I am sure that cancer didn't know what it was getting into when it showed up this time.  We have discovered a gene that causes a particular style of cancer.   Mom, Mel and I have tested positive for it.  Don’t worry about us, we are taking the steps to make sure that we are not going anywhere anytime soon.  Mel had the surgery to remove her risk in January and I will follow suit in August.  We will be fine, you raised us not to give up and to fight for what we want.  

I could write more, but I just wanted to say Hi.  I have a good job, a place to live and a great family who keep me grounded.  The only thing missing is you.  21 years is a heck of a long time…. 

I miss you Dad…

Roger

And the pages of my life just keep on turning,
The way you always told me they would do.
There's lessons in this life that I'm still learning,
Oh I wish I was a little more like you.
(Dad    Skip Ewing)

My Birthday

Tomorrow, May 13^th, is my birthday.  I turn 53.   So after another year, what do I know? 

I know that this past year has been a challenging one for our family.  Yet I am amazed on how strong we have emerged.  We have been knocked down, but have gotten back up.   We have had loss, but have not let it defeat us.  We have been there as friends and family buried loved ones and yet we have never given up on the adventure that is life.  I have sat back in amazement as my little sister shows the rest of our family what true strength is.   We come from a family of warriors. Yes we sometimes fight and do stupid things, but at the end we will stick together no matter what. 

I know that  I am stronger than I have ever been.  I still have my days of doubts, but I know what I am going to do and in the long run all will be well. I also know that no matter how tough the rest of this year may be, it will not get the best of me.  I have a great family that is supportive of my decision (maybe not the squirrels).  I have two great jobs and am surrounded with strangely wonderful co-workers who keep me busy.  I know that at the end of this all; all will be well.

I have been asked to share my journey on the “No stomach for stomach cancer” website.   One of the great benefits of the site is that is allows people, who share this genetic mutation, a place to connect with others and learn about their options.  So soon my smiling mug will be on the site as a link to this blog for all to read.  I guess I will need to get a little better at writing these things.. 

As you step out in the night take a lesson from the trees
Watch the way they learn to bend with each breeze
Every time you make it through It's another little victory
Day by day minute by minute
Little victories

(Little Victories.  Bob Seger)

All right, you win. You win. I give. I'll say it. I'll say it. I'll say it. DESTINY! DESTINY! NO ESCAPING THAT FOR ME! DESTINY! DESTINY! NO ESCAPING THAT FOR ME! Dr. Fredrick Frankenstein

90 days. 
2160 hours.                                   
That is what I have left before I have my surgery.   

I have come to realize that, even on the days when I second guess my decision, the decision to remove my stomach is the only option I really had.  So the quote from the movie “Young Frankenstein” is appropriate.  In the movie, Gene Wilder’s character, Dr. Frankenstein, has done everything he can to change his identity from that of his Grandfather, Baron Victor Frankenstein, the mad Doctor who created the first monster.  In the end though it is in his DNA.  He is genetically destined to continue to carry on his Grandfather’s footsteps.  Genetics…

So here we sit, my sister Melanie, my Mom and myself, all with this genetic code buried deep within us.  Our Frankenstein monster just waiting to rear its ugly head.  All three of us carrying on the legacy from generations past.  Will it even show itself?  If it does, then in what form?  DESTINY, DESTINY….  You get the drift.

I also realize that as strange as this is to me on days, it must also sound pretty strange to you all.  The question I get the most is “can you live without your stomach?”.  I can and I will.  There will be some stuff that will need to come off my menu for a time.  Some of my favorite foods like prime rib and pizza will be the first to leave.  The pizza light at Roger’s Pizza Kitchen will be dark for a while.  However, the Doctors assure me that over time I should be able to eat all my favorite foods again.  It will just be in smaller portions.  Then there is beer.  Yes, I will drink beer again, someday.  Most likely sooner than the Doctors want me to, but the beer drinking gene, like the CDH-1 gene, is buried deep within my genetic makeup. 

So I am 90 days out.  Did I do anything to mark the date? Nope, May 6^th was just another day for me.  I guess I did write this blog, but there is no 90 day count down on a calendar.  No start of a food pilgrimage that would have me eat my way around the Twin Cities.  I did go out and by a Ninja juicer that I will need after the surgery.  I brought it home and couldn’t open it.  It just sat on the floor.

I spent some time on the phone this week with the founder of the “No Stomach for Stomach Cancer” organization.  The foundation is dedicated to the fight against stomach cancer and the support for people with the CDH-1 gene mutation.   There are stories on their website of folks just like me with the CDH-1 gene mutation.   What they have gone through and how their lives have changed.  There are also stories of people who found out about the CDH-1 mutation only after stomach cancer had been discovered.  In too many cases these stories only go on for a short time before they end.  Yet, all the stores are full of life and hope.  These stories reassure me that I am making the right decision.

The surgery is set for Tuesday August 4^th.   I need to be down to Mayo sometime on Monday 3^rd.   I will most likely be in the hospital 4-5 days.  After that I will be out of work for about six to eight weeks depending on how I heal and adapt to my new lifestyle. 

HOWEVER, on August 1^st Hanover is holding its annual Hanover Harvest Festival.  Food, Beer, Bands, and Fireworks.  Since it is the final weekend before my surgery, we are thinking of having one last blast to send my stomach off in style.  If we do, will you join us?  Let me know..

Maybe we will find a way to throw Young Frankenstein a wall or something and have a mass showing.  It is a fabulous movie. 

I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed
Get along with the voices inside of my head
You're trying to save me, stop holding your breath
And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy

(The Monster.  Eminem)