CANCER RECAP

Many of you have noticed and some may have quietly complained that the BLOG has not been updated recently.  Understandably, you have missed the goings on in the lives of the Lord, Nurse and Butler.  Of course the lapse is all Mr. FOG’s fault.  To help make amends, here is a quick recap of what has been happening.

 April 3rd - 7th: Mario went in for Chemo #4.  It was the best Chemo ever.  He did pretty well this round since he had the extra two-week break for the Final Four and was able to recuperate his strength before getting back to Cancer War.  Another explanation is that the bulk of the cancer likely has been eliminated and there is less “warfare” happening. Hence there are fewer toxins for the body to eliminate.  Who knows? In any event he is doing better in handling the chemotherapy.

 After Chemo #4 Nurse Sherry and the Laird spent a quiet Easter Sunday at home together and enjoyed watching Bubba Watson win Masters Tournament. Go Bubba!  Mr. FOG was in Chicago with his sister and also had a nice Easter.  See the Back to the Salt Mines Blog  of April 11 for more pictures.

April 9th - 13th: The week after, Mario worked in the office three days and two days at home. He was feeling great and didn't really experience any major side effects from the chemo. His white and red blood cell counts were all normal. He also had his appetite back and enjoyed having good food all week.  He may have even packed on a few pounds.  Mr. FOG was able to get back in Asheville.  Unlike Mario, Mr. FOG was watching his weight and eating oatmeal, tofu, and vegetables.  Fresh arugula from his garden was used for salads and a stir fry.  Ugly/Pretty Cat was doing fine.

 Saturday, April 14th: Mario and Sherry enjoyed a lovely dinner out with Stephanie and Andrew. They treated the Laird and Nurse to Joey D's Seafood and Steaks near Perimeter Mall area. It was so nice to be out with great friends. 

April 16th-20th: Mario worked in the office four days and 1 day from home. He played golf that Friday April 20th with Jay and Chris R.  That evening Nurse and Lord went to Jay's house for pizza and game night. Mike, Heather, Jenn, Chris, Jay, Mario and Sherry enjoyed competing with each other playing Apples to Apples and then Girls vs Guys in Trivial Pursuit Masters Edition. A good time was had by all!

 Mr. FOG was in Florida, doing things at his Aunt Julia’s condo and enjoying a couple days at one his favorite beaches.

 Saturday, April 21st: Mario and Sherry had a nice dinner with Ann and Fritz at Flemings Steak House over by Perimeter Mall. It was so nice to catch up with them and hear all about their lovely new home they just built in Cumming, GA.   All are looking forward to a cookout at Ann and Fritz’s place and have some summer fun!

April 23rd- 27th: Mario went in for Chemo #5. While not as good as #4, he did OK this round. He had lots of visitors that provided comfort and laughs to get him through the week. Molly, Tiffany and Sherry topped it off with a Hospital Happy Hour his last night there to celebrate being more half way done with these poisons! Yippy!

While Mario was in the hospital, Mr. FOG was heading back from Florida. He stopped by to visit his friend in Palm Beach.  Here is a photo of the friend, her daughter, and the two grandchildren; twin boys named Leonardo and Lucas.  Mr. FOG also stopped off at his daughter’s Nicole and her husband Chad home and had a great steak dinner. 

Prickly Pear Margarita

April 28th: Since Mario came home from the hospital on Friday, April 27th, he stayed in bed all that day and into Saturday as well. By the time Saturday afternoon rolled around, he was ready to get out of the house. Nurse Sherry and Laird thought it would be nice to sit outside and enjoy a nice dinner together and asked Jay and Bill join them.  The Laird and Nurse Sherry decided on a restaurant close to Vining Mountain Castle called Noche in Vinings (Evening in Vinings).  Nurse Sherry and his Lordship arrive first and were seated on benches outside in patio dining area. The activity started out very nice, with music playing in the background and quiet conversation.  The turning point may have been when the waiter persuaded Lord Mario to try the Prickly Pear Margarita. Soon Jay and Bill arrived to join us, all ordered food and were chatting when Bill noticed Mario starting to look dazed and uncomfortable. Concerned, all asked Mario if he was ok, he stated that he was very light headed and needed to lay down. His head began to give out and he passed out for a brief moment on our table, with his head falling to the table.  Other diners took notice.  The more insensitive speculated that Mario was drunk apparently having one Prickly Pear too many.  Other seemed very concerned for his well-being.   Nurse Sherry, given her medical background and spousal status, explained to the Manager who apparently had been summoned what happened.  The manager was very polite and gave Mario a bucket of ice with cold rag for his head.  After awhile Mario asked for Nurse Sherry’s car keys, so he could lie down in the car while Nurse Sherry, Jay and Bill paid the check. After about 10 min, we noticed Mario coming out of Stone Cold Creamery with an ice cream cup! The group thought he must be feeling ok if was able to get in line at the ice cream shop!

Nurse Sherry did call the doctor on call to ask if we should be concerned with what happened. The doctor said he would be just fine and to have him drink some Gatorade and take it easy. He was not surprised this happened with the type of treatment Mario had been going through. His advice was “Don't push it”.

While Mario and Nurse Sherry were enjoying Noche in Vinings, Mr. FOG was doing Noche de Luau.  The dinner club was hosted by Lois and Dave who went all out with a pork roast that tasted as if it had been done in real Hawaiian pit dug luau on the beach.  Mr. FOG’s favorite, besides the pork, was the twice baked sweet potatoes.  Pictured are Mr. FOG, Dick, Kate, Jane, Ray, Lois, Suzanne, David, and  John in their tropical finery.  A good time was had by all, who wisely opted for Piña Coladas rather than Prickly Pears and had designated drivers.  

April 29th: Mario was feeling better.  Although Nurse Sherry advised him to stay home and rest, he got up and played golf with Jay, Mike and Justin. He did make it home in one piece and seemed to be doing OK.   FOG arrived at Vining Mountain Castle around 9 pm.  Nurse Sherry, as always, looked good and Mario looked pretty good, but with less hair.  Even the eye brows are gone.  The trio spent time getting caught up on happenings.  Mario looked a lot better than he normally does so soon after a chemo treatment.  FOG dismissed the fainting to the heat and the Prickly Pear Margarita.  Typically in the days after a chemo treatment Mario just stays in bed a lot.  Looking so well, was a surprise.

April 30^th:  Mario decided to go into work for most of the day.  He looked very well and Mr. FOG, wanting to wash clothes, almost decided to stay at Vinings Mountain Castle, thinking Mario was well-enough to drive himself.  Fortunately Mr. FOG usually erring on the side of caution, decided no.  Mr. FOG is there to help out and believes that during the recovery week, Mario should probably not drive himself.  So Mr. FOG drove Mario to the office.  Since he did not want to have breakfast at home and Mr. FOG lectured about the importance of keeping blood sugars high, the Laird said he would beg a food snack from co-workers. Mr. FOG or Nurse Sherry will get Mario some power bars and Gator Aide for the office to avoid this food pan handling. 

Mr. FOG then went to Phillip’s condo to wash clothes, pay bills, fix the bird feeder and do assorted chores.  Mr. FOG was enjoying the birds queuing up at the bird feeder, also pan hanhandling for food, when unexpectedly early Mario called.  He was not feeling well and needed to be picked up .  Mr. FOG made to Mario’s office in about 40 minutes and got him back home; very glad that he did not let Mario drive himself.  This evening Mario had a high fever and we have an appointment with Mario’s oncologist tomorrow.

Chemo # 5 has brought on new symptoms.  Overall Mario feels much better than after Chemo’s # 1, 2 and 3.  Chemo 5 has highs and lows.  It is this fluctuation that is hard to deal with.  He seems fine, but he could develop an unwelcome symptom quickly.  Mostly Mario feels and looks well, but has had a fainting spell, chills, fever, and may have gotten a a head cold..  We see the Mario’s oncologist tomorrow to see what the blood work says. 

Special Note:  Nurse Sherry and Mario want to wish Uncle Jimmy, Maid of the Mist’s brother, a speedy recovery.  Uncle Jimmy had quadruple open heart surgery a few weeks ago and is at home  in Ponte Vedra, FL recovering.  He did very well through the surgery and the newlyweds want to wish him well and that he is in their prayers each day.