The past two weeks have been perfect weather to work on outside projects or to throw open the garage doors and after a hot summer enjoy comfortable fall days while working on my car. Unfortunately, I've spent my time doctoring and recovering from Melanoma surgery. They removed a cancerous tumor on my arm and two lymph nodes under my right arm. To patch the hole in my arm, they stripped a 10 X 2-inch piece of skin from my waist and grafted it over the approximate 3-inch diameter hole in my arm. No, I don't know what they did with the leftovers!
Good news is there were no cancer cells in the lymph nodes, so it appears they got everything. Bad news is that it was an aggressive strain, and I could have a recurrence in the same general area within a year or two. In the meantime, I can't do any work on the car or in the yard for at least another two or three weeks while the graft heals.
I will also have to receive Cancer immunotherapy treatments, but they will be done in a local hospital, by a different oncologist. I have no idea what is involved with this process.
Meanwhile, about all I can do with the old Plymouth is catch up on the paperwork that details the work I've done to restore what was original, and to document everything that was drastically modified. That's the kind of job I wanted to leave for winter weather, no for some of the best days of the year!
I really had hoped to have the engine running and being able to drive in and out of the garage before cold weather hit, but that looks like just one more crushed dream. Did I mention that getting old sucks?
I have become aware that bad news sometimes becomes not that bad because it could have been worse. Not a very positive outlook but we have to deal with what we are dealt. This you can beat.
ReplyDeleteI had one of those weeks were I hit a brick wall and couldn't go to the shop. I am doing body work (hate it) on the lower rockers which requires laying on the cold concrete floor and grinding body filler dust into my eyes. Wonder why my almost 80 year old bones don't like it? Also we had our first snow fall of the year today. I have come to the obvious conclusion that the only one that really cares and stresses out is the same old guy that has makes these unreasonable expectations, .... ME.
Glad to hear you're back home Gary ! My older brother had the same surgery about two years back,and he's doing fine ! So,take it easy for as long as it takes,and keep the brain occupied with the wiring diagrams..
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Geir
Gary, how you doing? Updates please, thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Gary,
ReplyDeleteYou may remember me; you sent me a nice set of sill plates in the mail, which I was able to use on my 56 Belvedere. I remember that kind act to this day, and have since done similar favours to other guys restoring their cars.
I hope you are recovering, and continue your fine work. Best of luck to you, Gary!
Thanks for thinking of me guys! Sorry for not responding, but I posted a better health update today. Maybe by the time the new year arrives, I'll be feeling more like working on the car. Glenn, glad to hear you are passing it forward. Thank you!
ReplyDelete