12 days til Mayo for Treatment...

So I wanted to take this opportunity to post a new blog to update people on how things have been progressing over the past few weeks since the Memorial Day posting.

I have slowly been able to tolerate more and more liquids and some solids by mouth rather than having to use the feeding tube as much each night. I'm still usually giving myself some nutrition thru the tube at night a couple days each week, but as I've been able to tolerate more by mouth that amount has decreased. I'm able to tolerate the following types of foods so far: grilled cheese, chicken breast, turkey breast, tuna, milkshakes, some soda, lots of water and Vitamin Waters to stay hydrated properly.

I've had 1 hospitalization since I've been home from Mayo the initial visit in May. So that definitely is a drastic improvement from what was the norm before that (every 3-4 days). I was just in from June 5th to 10th (I had to get out the 10th so that I could go on the BPS @ OJIBWA weekend with the 90 other guys). So for those few days in the hospital I was getting a little pain medicine when needed, some nausea medicine when needed, and tons of IV fluids, as well as eating some jello and getting some tube feedings.

I just got home this past Sunday from the BPS @ OJIBWA weekend. We had 90 guys go up to camp for Thurs to Sunday for a 2-day basketball tournament, as well as to hang out and all bond as a group of guys to honor the passing of Brian P. Schwartz. He will never be forgotten as 1 of the group and his memory lives on in all of us who had a chance to know Brian. It was a great lift for me mentally to be able to make this trip with this group of guys. I hadn't seen some guys in over a year since I've been ill, and some not for almost 15 years since we were at Camp Ojibwa together. I had a great weekend and was able to take a lot of my memories from this trip and support of all the guys with me thru these next 4 weeks of treatment and rehab. Thanks to all who were there and lifted me up. DJA always puts on a good show!

I am scheduled to go back to Mayo in about 12 days, June 28th, to begin a 2-week rehab program there until July 11th. The 1st week I'll be in rehab for 3 hours / day and then the 2nd week I'll be in rehab 2 hours / day. My mom will be with me the 1st week and then a friend of mine is going to meet me there the 2nd week. I'll also see Dr. Camilleri while I'm there to have him evaluate the progress and treatment plan for future. I'm both excited and nervous for this next step, but I will remain strong and take with me all of the support that I have and get thru the rehab to be whole once again.

I'll make sure to update the blog more regularly from Mayo when I am there starting June 28th...