Happy Radiation Day!!!!

20 up, 20 down.   My last day of radiation was Monday.  Very kind and sweet people at UTSW that I'll miss.   From Jerry the valet kid that just got engaged and has his bible open on his stand every morning.   To the girls in back that asked about soccer every Monday morning and the entire staff there that couldn't have been kinder or more professional.  If you have to get strapped to a Mega Radiator 2000, I would highly rec UTSW for all your "radiator" needs.   Even if you feel like you are "teetering on the verge of insanity", they will get you through the treatment.   (you're welcome Bart)

The side of my face and neck are still really burned.   Especially my ear and behind my ear.......so bad in fact that behind my ear started bleeding this morning.   Poor K in my office......she is a mom of 3, so I immediately call her in the kitchen to look at my ear, assuming correctly, that a mom could check it out and offer swift medical advice, which she did.   "Don't touch it and switch ears when answering the phone."   Good advice......thanks K!!!!!!   My throat feels better but my taste is completely jacked up.......everything tastes like paste or cardboard with a hint of metallic. 

So I head home after work on Monday to two very excited little girls that had made posters.    (is "that had made" correct, not sure......Mrs Ward or Becky, can you chime in here?)   Here are the posters:

 

 

 

The first one is from Campbell......."Let's have a party"  "Radiation's Over"  "No More" with the 'buster' thingy through it is my favorite.   And the second one is Avery's.........."Happy Radiation Day" and "Peace Love Joy" are the highlights.   Both of them came down to UTSW early on and got to see the machine and me getting strapped down, so they both attempted to draw a picture of that......so the stick figure with the mesh is ME!!!

 

Very sweet girls and I'm very blessed.

 

Dasha and I met with Dr. F yesterday, and we set a plan for treatment going forward.   In March I'll start back on Sylatron, but will try and do every other week to reduce side effects.   If they get bad again and start to affect quality of life, I'll stop all together.   (again, is it affect or effect and when??......M.A.W. help me out here)   We are keeping Yervoy as the drug to use if there is a reoccurance, and some other bad mamma jamma that puts you in the hospital for 10 days.  Over all very happy with Dr. F and the plan going forward.

 

So on to bigger and better things.    My boy Nicholas won Top Chef.    If I ever need an assistant for Full Draw BBQ you'll be in the running Nick!   And if Brad screws up the turn in times again, I just may be!!!!!!!!

 

Don Juan has his pick of 30 chicks on The Bachelor.   So I have a party trick........I can pick the finalists getting out of the limos......but only on Bachelors, not Bachelorettes.  Nobody cares about 30 dudes, they just hang out like a fraternity and have a great time.   Now the chicks on the other hand, they fight like rabid dogs........which makes it watchable.   So, back to the limos......the last 3 Bachelors I've been able to pick 3 of the 4 finalists, 4 of 4, and 3 of 4 as they got OUT of the limo.   It just shows, guys don't care if you have a kid, are psycho, talk like a duck or have wooden leg.......if you are smoking hot, you will have a shot at winning his heart!!!!!!!!!

 

I don't have a Big Momma or Lincee with I Hate Green Beans following, but I'm working on it!!!!    Hmmmmmmmmm..........Big Daddy or "I Hate Sweet Potatoes"......it has a nice ring to it!

 

Thank you to everyone for your emails, texts, calls and most importantly prayers.   I feel covered in prayer constantly, and am humbled and blessed daily.

 

Mike

 

(now as I hit "post" I also call Mindy to tell her there is a new post, my twin likes to be the first to read it...........it's a twin thing)