Observations From Hadleyville: WHIPLASH!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

WHIPLASH!

A week ago today I was told the pathology showed no cancer beyond the lump removed and no cancer in the 26 lymph nodes examined. Today, Karen and I picked up our copy of the pathology report for insurance purposes. The report contained an ominously headed, "CORRECTION."

The correction turns out to concern the lymphatic information. It is exactly opposite of what we were told a week ago. Out of 35 lymph nodes examined cancer was found in 5, with movement along the pathways toward other nodes in the body.

Now, let me say, this is what I expected to hear in the first place. I am no worse off today than I was moments before hearing the UN-corrected report. But it is quite a whiplash to be told, "good news, no cancer" then to find out by reading the report--NOT by hearing it from my doctor, we had to do the work ourselves, thank you very much--that, "Oopsie, you DO have extensive cancer after all."

Wow. That was a body-blow. I said earlier I was prepared for some hard hits. This is the first one. Karen and I sat stunned for a few moments. The we re-read the report. Then we prayed.

Fight's ON!

3 comments:

that Propane guy said...: Keep fighting brother...we love you; July 5, 2012 at 5:21 PM
Don the Baptist said...: Thanks, "Mr. Protaine Main!"; July 5, 2012 at 6:34 PM
Robert Ferrari said...: Keep up the fight, you'll do well!; October 26, 2012 at 9:08 AM

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WORDS OF WISDOM FOR WRITERS

The secret of becoming a writer is that you have to write. You have to write a lot. You also have to finish what you write, even though no one wants it yet. If you don't learn to finish your work, no one will ever want to see it. The biggest mistake new writers make is carrying around copies of unfinished work to inflict on their friends.

I am sure it has been done with less, but you should be prepared to write and throw away a million words of finished material. By finished, I mean completed, done, ready to submit, and written as well as you know how at the time you wrote it.
-Jerry Pournelle

WHAT'S THIS HADLEYVILLE THING?

Those of you familiar with Mark Twain’s works might recognize my blog title. As Samuel Clemons grew older, he became increasingly disillusioned with humanity. Towards the end he began referring to the Damned Human Race; employing the secular and religious epithet at one stroke.

I find I’ve not reached that level of despair myself. I still believe in redemption and I still see signs of nobility even among we fallen, damned creatures. So, I could not bring myself to call this blog “On the Damned Human Race.” I do however, resonate with another of Clemmons stories; “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg.” And viola, there you have it. “Observations From Hadleyville.”