I am so happy to be 41!

Yep, made it. Looking forward to more birthdays! My birthday fell on Mother's day so I got to spend it with my wonderful wife and beautiful daughters. Gorgeous day for breakfast outside and a hike on Roosevelt Island Park. I like birthdays, I REALLY like birthdays now.

Race for Hope 2011

For the first time in years I ran a 5K, a very special 5K. This was the Race for Hope to benefit the National Brain Tumor Society and Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. It was a cool but great day on Pennsylvania Ave in DC. I ran pretty well, not fast but not slow. Brain tumor survivors (me) had special yellow t-shirts and got many special cheers. (Eyes got a little moist). What a great event! (Aunt Barbara: I made the video quickly before my race and I am in it.)

I met some amazing people there. Finally met Natalya Jagger, founder of BT Buddies from the UK. She brought along works from her Behind the Mask Exhibition.

One of the masks exhibited was from another survivor, Deidre Kohler of South Africa.

Latest Scan (A Good Friday) and some random thoughts

Spent the evening of Holy Thursday at NIH getting my quarterly MRI scan. Returned on the morning of Good Friday and got the result. The tumor appears to continue to slowly shrink, yeah! Very relieved. I will continue the same plan of Temodar every fourth week through 24 cycles. I am at 18.

The news is quite good and quite relieving. As this fight goes on though, it is mentally and emotionally tough. Physically I feel pretty good. I am more fit now than two years ago before this fight started. Staying positive has always been my aim.

Maintaining a positive mindframe over an extended period is draining. Marcie has been great and sees when I am down. Other times, I have to let down the facade and let her know that I need "Help!" or I need to just vent. Sometimes I just need to let the tears flow.

Don't get me started on my "wise" choice to take an online grad course this semester. Marcie heard me curse myself all through that course. The class was fine, I just bit off more than I could chew. It just took up more time and energy than I could afford to give it. I did end up with an "A", learned enough, fulfilled some professional requirements, but sacrificed time that is so precious.

Spent last week in the Great Smoky Mountains with the kids and some great friends. It was wonderful to get out of town and get into the woods. Saw a bear!

It was like a bar, only so not

It is 7:45 at night. A TV is on the wall in the corner showing SportsCenter. Three men who do not know each other are paying half attention to the screen. They are having a lively conversation about baseball players, full of anecdotes and trivia. They are enjoying this random camaraderie.

This could be happening in a bar or even a barber shop.

The setting of this conversation is decidedly different. This conversation took place in the MRI waiting room at the National Institutes of Health. They were not there to have a drink. They were there waiting for a scan on their brain tumors. They will find out the next day. For those moments in the waiting room, their stress dissipated like a scene from Field of Dreams. Tomorrow will bring news but at that time those men wished they were in a bar. Because, Lord knows, we could use a beer.

Temodar Cycle #16 Complete

My, how time flies. Just finished Temodar cycle #16. Tired at the end of this week. Have my next MRI in a couple weeks. I guess I will find out whether I will stop after 18 cycles or go on to 24. It is working for me so I would like to go as long as possible. Has any reader out there gone for 24 months on Temodar?

Recently heard the news of a neighbor's young nephew who passed quickly after his diagnosis of brain cancer. Sad, sad news. But it reminds me how fortunate I have been in this fight. I am 19 months since diagnosis and plan to keep going! Fight on! #Stupidcancer

Maximize Fun!

After dealing with chemo and radiation, a cancer fighter should maximize FUN! This is what I wore to work on St. Patrick's Day. Slainte!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It has been too long. I am alive and well. Blood tests are good. Last MRI was in February. No growth. Working hard, parenting hard. Big challenge is that it is now Lent. I have given up all sweets: no candy, cake, cookies, pie, pop, ice cream, etc. Hopefully I will have the side benefit of taking off some or all of the winter weight. Still trying to decide what sport to focus on this spring and summer: triathlons? cycling? return to hurling? softball? a triumphant return to ultimate?
Slainte,
Jim