Okay, we're helping Kevin...Now Johnco?

[pwd72s]

johnco

ain't skeered, me




Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 916 wow. a couple days in the hospital.. try 1 operation to remove tumor in lymph node and tonsil, several biopsies, 2 ct scans, 1 mri, numerous visits with specialists, 4 teeth removed by oral surgeon for radiation treatments, 36 radiation treatments with 4 more to go, 3 chemo treatments, 100 miles a day 5 days a week for radiation, no work for 2 months, no food for 2 months, lost 30 lbs, lost several jobs I had lined up, no savings, no insurance, an $8000 pet scan after treatments end, no paycheck for 2 months and most probably another month of recovery before I can gain enough weight and strength to go back to work. looking at the bright side of things... there's all that money I've saved by not eating for 2 months. on the bad side.. chance of developing cancer again is 50% the first year. oh yeah.. there's the diabetes I now have to deal with. consider yourself one lucky guy having friends like that.
__________________
John
74 911s
Better to die a tiger than live like a pussy

This Pelican is willing to chip in...even though I doubt we could make a dent in the tab, Maybe we could help with "incidentals"...like housing, food, etc.

I still remember John's posts made in the Katrina aftermath...

Now a cancer survivor? Yup, John's a tiger, so if he'll give a full name & address, I'll send him a check. Anybody else?

Paul

[Rot 911]

I'm in.

[johnco]

thanks.. I appreciate the thought but I'm okay.. my bills are very small, my mother is helping with loans and as soon as I can get back to work I have 3-4 pools waiting I can do in a month or two. if I get in a serious bind, I have several cars I could sell, but it won't get that far. then there's several jobs I need to collect for I finished during the year I never collected on yet. a whole bunch of green right there. I finish treatments this week. 4 more to go including this afternoon's radiation. maybe in a week or two I can finally begin to eat again and put back on some of the 30 lbs I lost in the last two months. I really do appreciate the thought but I am okay. ain't much I can't handle. maybe after I begin to eat again I can stop having dreams about steaks, seafood.. anything food related. that's the real problem right now

[Rot 911]

John you are one hell of a guy! I can actually empathize with you on the no food. I have been on intraveanous feeding for the last three weeks. Keeping my fingers crossed, but the doctor may pull all the tubes tomorrow and I can start eating again! I keeping having the same dreams you do about food. Lately I have been dreaming of one of my favorite ribeye steak sandwiches.

[pwd72s]

Okay...I'll accept that with a provision. John, when you CAN eat again? Let us know...You got two of us at least who would like to chip in to help buy you and yours one hell of a good feed at your favorite restaurant. (edit) I too have been a member of the non-eating club. A chunk of colon removed, involving two long hospital stretches on IV only. I'll never forget the first solid food allowed..."scalloped potatoes" it was called. The candystriper brought it into my room, removed the cover, and said: "YUK". I had to laugh, because the sweet little thing was sooo right.

The day I checked out of the place, my first stop was a local comfort food joint, where I ordered a Denver Omelette and a big glass of real milk. It was heaven on earth...

[johnco]

I have no idea when I'll be able to eat again. first the was the mucositis which was the worst thing I have ever experienced and now I have Thrush. not quite as bad but feels like I have a rock lodged in my throat. Doc said my throat should be much better in a week or two after treatments end and maybe get my taste buds back gradually in another week or two after that. Hopefully by Christmas I can finally enjoy food again then it's the biggest, juciest, medium rare steak I can find and since I missed T-day... I'll fry myself a turkey or two

[Rot 911]

John you and I can keep suffering together. I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic about my appointment tomorrow. Not sure how depressed I am going to get if they say I have to go another week on this schit.

[masraum]

John, you're a helluva guy. I'm not sure if you're paying back some bad Karma from your last life (you'd have had to have a REALLY good time to owe this bad) or paying ahead for the next. I'll go with paying ahead for the next. My guess is that you're due for the 72 virgins next go around.

[johnco]

lets see... I had 2 small slices of soft cake last week, 2 cookies the week before and 2 cookies the week before that. and so much Ensure I never want to see another bottle ever again.. the Doc told me that I was the only other person in his career he's treated that didn't get a feeding tube. funny how no one offered me that option until I was over halfway thru this. oh well, maybe next time. got to go drive 45-50 miles now for 15 minutes of radiation. Thanks once again for the offer guys

[Superman]

You sound like the kind of man I shouldn't pick a bar fight against. My sense is that, even in your weakened condition, you'd kick my ass. One tough old fart. I remember enjoying massive amusemement at your stories of how you and your brother tried to kill yourselves and each other as kids. Hugely funny.

At any rate, you're a bit inspirational. I would like to buy you a plate of food and glass of grog. I'll be looking you up if I'm ever in Louisiana.

At this point I'd say "hang in there," but you don't need that advice. I'd bet you hardly understand it. You probably don't understand whining and giving up any more than you understand women.

[Flatbutt1]

Good job John. Guys like you, Kurt ,pwd ARE in fact one of the world's strengths. Survival ain't easy but IMHO striving for it is mandatory. Youse guys are doing it in fine form.

[pwd72s]

Hmmm...Perhaps a Pelican party developing here...for when John (Kurt too?) can finally eat...at least for those close to John...of course, when it happens, pics will be mandatory!

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Hmmm...Perhaps a Pelican party developing here...for when John (Kurt too?) can finally eat...at least for those close to John...of course, when it happens, pics will be mandatory!

I'm not sure you will be able to handle the carnage you will see in those pictures!

[johnco]

the day I had my very first chemo I drove straight to a steakhouse and had what I knew would be my last goodl meal for a while. now just like an old girlfriend you haven't seen in a while... I'm looking forward to tasting that juicy meat one more time. sort of like makeup sex for the malnourished. juice will be dripping down my chin before it's over and there will be some serious moaning and groaning going on. it won't be pretty

[techweenie]

I'm thinkin' Steak of the Month Club as a Christmas present... how's that sound?

[BRPORSCHE]

John, too live where you live, surronded by all that great food would be waaaaay to much for me to take!

[Joeaksa]

Let us know if we can help! Hope you get feeling better and soon!

[JCF]

Let me know when you can inhale a live Maine lobster (giant crawfish to you)
Keep on.

[johnco]

I appreciate all the offers. thank you, but I'm good. plenty of great food of any type everywhere around here. I just can't eat it right now. Friday while driving to Texas to get a car I stopped and bought the holy trinity of cajun snackfoods. Boudin, cracklins and jerky. drove 14 hours with that in my truck and could not manage to eat any.. now that was HELL...

[KFC911]

It'd be hard to top what John's accostomed too (i.e. the deep fried turkey thread), but I'd gladly contribute to a fine night out for he (and his) when the time comes. Kurt too! I sincerely wish for the very best to you guys!