The Shaman -- Sticking a Fork In It - 03/20/23
One year ago, 20 March 2022, I was coming up out of my basement workshop when I felt a muscle pull in my left calf. I spent the next couple of weeks trying to baby it and spent a lot of time in the recliner. It did not get better. It got worse. It ended up with me flat on my back in the ICU, being told that if I moved I might die. It was a clot. By then, I'd already had one instance of a chunk of the clot breaking off and going to my lung. I was posting on the 'Campfire when it hit. I found myself on the floor with my chair on top of me and no idea how I got there.
They dissolved the clot well enough that I was able to go turkey hunting that weekend.
Then the test results came back: I had a malignant mass on top of one of my Kidneys. The cancer was what was causing the clots. In very short order, I went to SS and declared myself retired. I scheduled Chemo and went turkey hunting for what might be the last time. I bagged a nice bird, managed to drag it out (a lifetime achievement in and of itself), and then submitted myself to the IV-covered halls of the Chemo Clinic. You know the rest of the story.
I have been making progress reports on this august forum for a year. Today, I find myself feeling quite a bit better than a year ago. The major lingering effects are a small but permanent hearing loss. I also have peripheral neuropathy in my fingers and feet. The former has not affected my ability to hear turkey calls. The latter is down to a level where it is barely affecting me.
It is time to put a fork in this project. I go back to the oncologist in April, but I'm expecting he will tell me I'm still clean. The Turkey Opener is on the 15th. Pursuant to that, I'm meeting #1 grandchild, Mooselette down at the farm this week. It's her Spring Break and I'm bringing her a 20 Gauge shotgun to try out. I will be bringing my Brown Bess for some final tuning.
Thank each and every one of you for all the prayers, support, kind words and GFYs.
With apologies to Anonymous, the Scot, I leave you with my address to the IV Infusion Room on the day I rang the bell:
"Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They may be sorry for my going away
And all the nurses that e'er I had
They might wish me one more day
But since it fell unto my lot
That I should rise and y'all should not
I gently rise and softly call
Goodbye, and Joy be to you all."
They dissolved the clot well enough that I was able to go turkey hunting that weekend.
Then the test results came back: I had a malignant mass on top of one of my Kidneys. The cancer was what was causing the clots. In very short order, I went to SS and declared myself retired. I scheduled Chemo and went turkey hunting for what might be the last time. I bagged a nice bird, managed to drag it out (a lifetime achievement in and of itself), and then submitted myself to the IV-covered halls of the Chemo Clinic. You know the rest of the story.
I have been making progress reports on this august forum for a year. Today, I find myself feeling quite a bit better than a year ago. The major lingering effects are a small but permanent hearing loss. I also have peripheral neuropathy in my fingers and feet. The former has not affected my ability to hear turkey calls. The latter is down to a level where it is barely affecting me.
It is time to put a fork in this project. I go back to the oncologist in April, but I'm expecting he will tell me I'm still clean. The Turkey Opener is on the 15th. Pursuant to that, I'm meeting #1 grandchild, Mooselette down at the farm this week. It's her Spring Break and I'm bringing her a 20 Gauge shotgun to try out. I will be bringing my Brown Bess for some final tuning.
Thank each and every one of you for all the prayers, support, kind words and GFYs.
With apologies to Anonymous, the Scot, I leave you with my address to the IV Infusion Room on the day I rang the bell:
"Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They may be sorry for my going away
And all the nurses that e'er I had
They might wish me one more day
But since it fell unto my lot
That I should rise and y'all should not
I gently rise and softly call
Goodbye, and Joy be to you all."
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/aQJHe6g.jpg)
