Two weeks ago I went in to BTHC to get another 5 moles removed. 19 stiches in all. Dr W removed them on Monday ofthis week. The incisions were getting a little angry but the redness is now slowly subsiding. Each of the moles will trek to either Wpg or Toronto for testing.

I am assisting the coaching on Mac's baseball team. I really enjoy it! Makes me wonder why I stopped playing.....

SOme things are starting to wrap up for our family - basketball is done, hockye windups are finishing this weekend, music lessons coming to a crawl etc. Kel is outside as much as possible working in her gardens. She is part of the Winkler Horticultural C'tee. She has also consented to serving on the search c'tee at church as they try to select a great youth pastor. She is also on the worship c'tee at church. She has almost as many meetings as i do!

I enjoy playing in the FoG. The worship band at church - we practice Monday nights after i work the evening shift at Courtesy. The Flyers hockey off-season stuff is still a regualr item on my agenda. Recently we went to Brandon to meet a couple of very nice families. We are making some decision regarding the future of the team as well. Lots of fun.

I hope to get on the golf course a few tiems this summer. I bought Mac a seson ticket/jr membership - he loves it. He is paying me back with babysiting during the summer when Kel works . It is nice having a responsable kid of our own to help out with child care. We thought this day might never come.

I go back to the oncologist in June and the dermatologist in July or August. I will try to post a little more regualr between now and then. Feel free to comment if you are still reading.....

I'm back.

I did go soee my oncologist and a dermatologist this week. The suggestion was made to have 4 more moles removed. We will do that. Every thing is good to go at this time and I will see the docs again in summer.

Very cool.

For those of you who have been checking regularly I apologize for my non-blogging. In regards to the surgery etc: I have been going to the physiotherapist three times a week until last week when we went down to twice a week. We are still working on my shoulder to regain movement lost with the nerve damage. My lip nerve damage is still there but not as noticeable. The scars from the surgery are healing up as well as can be expected. I go in on March 19th to see the surgeon and a dermatologist.

At home things have been busy. Mac and Maria are both in Pee Wee hockey this year and are enjoying it. Lani is playing Tim Bits hockey and likes it as well. Dude/Luc plays more mini sticks than you might imagine. He has learned to skate this year with Kel's help on Tuesdays. WE'll get him on rollerblades in summer and he'll be ready for hockey in the fall.

Kel is working a .3; mostly day shifts. I have been back to work pretty steady since Christmas.

I had the good fortune of meeting my friend Trevor at dealer meetings this past week. He looks great and is doing very well. He says that his next step is harvesting of bone marrow from his hip (just in case). He is also back at work. He thanks those of you that have been praying and supporting him; he thought that it was so neat to have our oldest adopted son Jordie email him.

On Dec 31st my brother Steve and his wife Carla and their children Katy, Hank and Harry moved to Cape Town SA. We are missing them and look forward to their return in Dec of next year. Steve called me Saturday and it was great to visit with him. He has a great blog at http://www.nz16.blogspot.com/ Looks like you'll have to cut and paste. He's the computer techie - not me.

Kel and I hope to take a short holiday togetehr south in april before the next busy season - basketball and then baseball start with the kids. We'll see what we find.

Thanks for all of your support over the last half year as we have been dealing with the Cancer. SOme of it already feels like a memory; we hope it stays that way!

Good News! We did get to see the surgeon yesterday. It was a brief visit - we reviewed the pathology report, he checked my neck and incision area over, and suggested "eat, drink and be merry". The good news is I know how to do that! There were no traces of cancer in any of the 32 lymph nodes that were tested. Of course the possibility exists that they could have travelled elsewhere - but - the doc was comfortable in suggesting - "Come see me in three months". So, no chemo, no radiation, no interferon. That is great.

I do want to thank all of you who have been praying, communciating your thoughts and concerns and caring for me and our family. Kel and I really appreciate it.

The physio is still going on three times a week. I have a fantasitc physiotherapist. She works on regaining the mobility in my neck, reducing the internal scarring (which there was lots of and there is still quite a bit of), and regaining the full use of my left shoulder. That one is slower because of the damage to the nerves. I have some stretching and rubber band tugging going on at home to do my part in this recovery.

I'll continue to post on this site here - I don't know what I'll post - but I will. Thanks again for your support.

Greg

Hello everyone. We have an appt to see the surgeon December 20th in Winterpeg - which is quite mild right now. The last of the results should be there. Those will be reviewed as well as discussion about further visits, a dermatologist recommendation and whatever else he may have in mind. We are optimistic that the cancer is no longer around.....

Dr Nason called us at home this morning to let us know that the initial results were in and all came back negative (no cancer found anywhere). They will review the three hot spot nodes more in depth over the next couple of weeks but these first results are very positive news.

We expect to receive another call about an appt shortly to review the results, inspect and discuss healing and the steps from here on in.

Psalm 27:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.

The music is going! Kelly and I are very grateful for the care and support you have shown and will continue to show us. We are not officially out of the woods just yet but we can see an opening in the underbrush.

The physio is going well and we have made great strides in improving my neck movement. My shoulder is coming along more slowly. My lip has improved a bit - I still bite it a lot when eating (maybe I should eat less) and looks a little funny when smiling - I can deal with that. The nerves take some time but I understand that they will improve with time.

I'll keep you posted on what is next.

Ok - here is the brownish/reddish grizzly adams growth in bloom. It hides the scar pretty well for the most part. I think I may take it off after I see the surgeon for the pathology report - we'll see. He nor his office have yet to call - so I have nothing to report as far as that is concerned.

I have been going to work - often between 5-6 hours per day. I haven't really got into any major projects or anything - I feel I should wait until I have the report from the surgery.

I called the Docs office today - left a msg. I continue to hurry up and wait.;

As I am typing my nurse called and said they sent my "stuff" to Toronto as Winnipeg was too busy so I could be waiting another two weeks. Isn't that neat!

I guess it could be lot worse - they could have lost the "stuff" and had to go back in....

I'll keep you posted.