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Farewell my CC friends, from chesterh

chesterh

By chesterh,
in Celebrity Cruises

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K.T.B.

K.T.B.

Posted
Posted

I just wanted to say this: My local library has a copy of your book, Chester. I'm currently right in the middle of it. (Just finished the Belize chapter.) It's definitely a fun read and I recommend everyone here should read it. Whether you're a cruise newbie or a well seasoned cruiser.

 

Thank you for sharing your experiences!

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  • 3 months later...
neverbeenhere

neverbeenhere

Posted
Posted

Cut and Paste from his Facebook page.

 

Giving Thanks

I’m still here. Surprised? Kris and I certainly are.

When I first met with the Oncologist, he insisted that I start chemo *immediately*. Without it, he said I could expect to live 1-2 weeks. With it, he thought we could stretch things out to 6-8 weeks, giving me time to get my affairs in order while relieving some of the pain.

Here we are, a little more than 4 months later. It’s a very strange situation. I feel pretty good, and have to consciously remind myself that I’m on borrowed time. I’ve completed 4 rounds of chemo, and though there’s no evidence that additional rounds will help matters, have been scheduled for 2 more. There’s even talk of radiation treatment after that, qualified with a big “if.”

Of course, there are no straight answers in the cancer business. For now, indications are that the tumors have shrunk nicely in response to the treatments. Inevitably, they will return in full force, but no one can even offer a guess as to when it will happen. It might be happening now, or it might be weeks or even months from now.

So, with my affairs as orderly as they’ve ever been, we wait. I do feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. Wake up, hang out with the dogs, make dinner, watch some TV, and go to bed. Repeat. While I’m on chemo my immune response system is suppressed, so I have to be very careful about picking up any illness or infection. There’s a small window of time right before a treatment when it is safe to see my grandchildren – they are dear-but-germy little creatures. Luckily, Christmas will be within the safe zone.

For someone who routinely wore short sleeved shirts year-round, I now spend an inordinate amount of time trying to keep warm. Winter hasn’t even started yet, but cabin fever is in full swing. I swear I will find a way to get some quality tropical time while I can, even if it means getting in the car and pointing it south without a firm destination. It would be fitting if I could take Kris on a cruise, but airplanes and cruise ships are not good places for the immune suppressed to hang out. There – I just established a goal. I’ll be done with chemo and full of white blood cells by late February, again qualified with a big “if.”

I do so appreciate the continued good wishes from my friends and family. It means the world to me. I’ve had some nice visits from friends both new and old. Even managed to go out to lunch a few times, carrying my bottle of hand sanitizer.

Now that I have the energy to do some writing, I need to pick some topics. Maybe I’ll do chemo next. I lost every hair on my body except for my ears and nose, which continue to grow with wild abandon. Sound interesting?

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NLH Arizona

NLH Arizona

Posted
Posted
I agree...not all of us do FB.......if someone would post what the good news is?.......it would be appreciated.

 

Chester, glad things are are going well:)

Here you go, Lois. This was posted on December 12th:

 

 

 

 

Giving Thanks

 

I’m still here. Surprised? Kris and I certainly are.

 

When I first met with the Oncologist, he insisted that I start chemo *immediately*. Without it, he said I could expect to live 1-2 weeks. With it, he thought we could stretch things out to 6-8 weeks, giving me time to get my affairs in order while relieving some of the pain.

 

 

Here we are, a little more than 4 months later. It’s a very strange situation. I feel pretty good, and have to consciously remind myself that I’m on borrowed time. I’ve completed 4 rounds of chemo, and though there’s no evidence that additional rounds will help matters, have been scheduled for 2 more. There’s even talk of radiation treatment after that, qualified with a big “if.”

 

Of course, there are no straight answers in the cancer business. For now, indications are that the tumors have shrunk nicely in response to the treatments. Inevitably, they will return in full force, but no one can even offer a guess as to when it will happen. It might be happening now, or it might be weeks or even months from now.

 

So, with my affairs as orderly as they’ve ever been, we wait. I do feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. Wake up, hang out with the dogs, make dinner, watch some TV, and go to bed. Repeat. While I’m on chemo my immune response system is suppressed, so I have to be very careful about picking up any illness or infection. There’s a small window of time right before a treatment when it is safe to see my grandchildren – they are dear-but-germy little creatures. Luckily, Christmas will be within the safe zone.

 

For someone who routinely wore short sleeved shirts year-round, I now spend an inordinate amount of time trying to keep warm. Winter hasn’t even started yet, but cabin fever is in full swing. I swear I will find a way to get some quality tropical time while I can, even if it means getting in the car and pointing it south without a firm destination. It would be fitting if I could take Kris on a cruise, but airplanes and cruise ships are not good places for the immune suppressed to hang out. There – I just established a goal. I’ll be done with chemo and full of white blood cells by late February, again qualified with a big “if.”

 

I do so appreciate the continued good wishes from my friends and family. It means the world to me. I’ve had some nice visits from friends both new and old. Even managed to go out to lunch a few times, carrying my bottle of hand sanitizer.

 

Now that I have the energy to do some writing, I need to pick some topics. Maybe I’ll do chemo next. I lost every hair on my body except for my ears and nose, which continue to grow with wild abandon. Sound interesting?

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cl.klink

cl.klink

Posted
Posted
Here you go, Lois. This was posted on December 12th:

 

 

 

 

Giving Thanks

 

I’m still here. Surprised? Kris and I certainly are.

 

When I first met with the Oncologist, he insisted that I start chemo *immediately*. Without it, he said I could expect to live 1-2 weeks. With it, he thought we could stretch things out to 6-8 weeks, giving me time to get my affairs in order while relieving some of the pain.

 

 

Here we are, a little more than 4 months later. It’s a very strange situation. I feel pretty good, and have to consciously remind myself that I’m on borrowed time. I’ve completed 4 rounds of chemo, and though there’s no evidence that additional rounds will help matters, have been scheduled for 2 more. There’s even talk of radiation treatment after that, qualified with a big “if.”

 

Of course, there are no straight answers in the cancer business. For now, indications are that the tumors have shrunk nicely in response to the treatments. Inevitably, they will return in full force, but no one can even offer a guess as to when it will happen. It might be happening now, or it might be weeks or even months from now.

 

So, with my affairs as orderly as they’ve ever been, we wait. I do feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. Wake up, hang out with the dogs, make dinner, watch some TV, and go to bed. Repeat. While I’m on chemo my immune response system is suppressed, so I have to be very careful about picking up any illness or infection. There’s a small window of time right before a treatment when it is safe to see my grandchildren – they are dear-but-germy little creatures. Luckily, Christmas will be within the safe zone.

 

For someone who routinely wore short sleeved shirts year-round, I now spend an inordinate amount of time trying to keep warm. Winter hasn’t even started yet, but cabin fever is in full swing. I swear I will find a way to get some quality tropical time while I can, even if it means getting in the car and pointing it south without a firm destination. It would be fitting if I could take Kris on a cruise, but airplanes and cruise ships are not good places for the immune suppressed to hang out. There – I just established a goal. I’ll be done with chemo and full of white blood cells by late February, again qualified with a big “if.”

 

I do so appreciate the continued good wishes from my friends and family. It means the world to me. I’ve had some nice visits from friends both new and old. Even managed to go out to lunch a few times, carrying my bottle of hand sanitizer.

 

Now that I have the energy to do some writing, I need to pick some topics. Maybe I’ll do chemo next. I lost every hair on my body except for my ears and nose, which continue to grow with wild abandon. Sound interesting?

 

Comforting words teaching us how to "seize the day," and enjoy what life gives us. Kinda puts into sharp relief the complaints we might read about "terrible" food in MDR, "cramped" space in cabins, "inappropriate" dress on formal nights,

"unacceptable" customer services that pay too little for upsetting incidents …

 

Hope things continue to go well.

 

- Joel

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  • 5 weeks later...
TenerifeSharon

TenerifeSharon

Posted
Posted

Thank you so much for posting this!

............................................

 

And, Chester, you're in the thoughts of all of us here at CC! So glad to hear about the good chemo results.:)

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