Hello all,
Well today has been full of continued surprises. I had a wound check this morning at WRAMC where they took out my sutures and Dr. Cooper was able to provide me an early report of 1 of 2 pathology reports and based on these results I have what is called a WHO level II "oligodendroglioma" brain tumor. As bad as it sounds it's a level II tumor and despite Kristine and my own insistence Dr. Cooper refused to provide us any answer as to whether or not it is a benign or malignent tumor. He has always been extremely truthful with us and I can appreciate his unwillingness to provide us that type of answer....we still have to wait for the 2nd report to come back from AFIP but Dr. Cooper and his staff seem confident we have a positive way ahead. He did mention that we would re-send additional tissue to another testing facility if they didn't agree with the first finding but only continued time will tell.
I was then given paperwork to place me on 30 days of convalescent leave and then sent down to see Dr Boyer of the oncology department to discuss radiation and chemotherapy. By this time I've been up since 0430 which Krisitine so eloquently put it in her own posting that I've now become a night owl and early riser..however it is now pushing 11:30 or later and I'm getting wiped out..not sure if it had more to do with finally getting some much needed news which truly just left relieved or if I was just exhausted. Nonetheless, as I sat their and waited with Kristine and my Dad I gradually fell off into a slumber as I waited for Dr. Boyer to finally meet with us.. Once in of course I have to re-hash why and how this all came about and how well I'm doing.. not sure he was thoroughly convinced..plus he tells me I shouldn't be driving given the medicine I'm taking but you can rest assured I listened but no sooner than I left I was back behind the wheel. To some of you I know you expect me to act as such being a Marine and all but in reality this had more with me being who I am and what I expect of myself. Dr. Boyer explained that if I chose radiation I would get a mask made to fit my head and then would go for 6 straight weeks for 30 minutes at time.. I explained I'm a little hesitant and he is going to send me to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to meet a Dr. Fine who is supposedly at the top of the brain tumor community who has a degree from Harvard who will discuss some other options to help me identify other options if there are any?? Should hear back from him sometime next week and looks to be another long week up in Northern Md/Wash DC area... good thing is I get to claim all this via the local travel claims..makes it easy considering i put 80 miles a day when I have to head up.
Gang I'm tired so I'm going to sign off for now but will follow-up more again tomorrow and ask for continued support for the "Race for Hope"..we have made our 20k goal but let's not rest on our laurels for a cause until 21 days ago I really gave no thought to.. Things happen for a reason folks and now that it has I will not rest I promise you all that..
SF
JD
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The Gunny
Hey Gang,
It's late on the 29th and I felt compelled to put a few lines together for you all as well as Kristine as she is struggling with her own demons through all this. As she mentioned in her own blog today I was able to get out on my own and do some errands by myself. I'm still taking medication but no pain pills....so I was able to drive a vehicle without cause. I actually met the Rapid Prototyping Team (Maj Rideout/Capt Carasco/Capt Mok) and others for dinner down in the Potomac Mills area..it was fun to get out for a little and just try not to think about all of this but a difficult challenge given all that has happened over the past 21 days..
I have a wound check appointment tomorrow morning at WRAMC with Dr's. Cooper and Cardoza I believe and hope to get some news regarding the pathology reports but I'm not holding my breath but you never know. I have to admit I'm hesitant because I truly don't know what to expect even if I do get news about the path reports I'm extremely hesitant about getting bad news.... I can honestly say it's difficult waiting for the other shoe to drop given all that Kristine and I have been through but keeping a very positive and optimistic attitude. Keep your fingers crossed and please continue to say prayers on our behalf.
For Kristine, I got some good advice from a very good friend this evening that enlightened me that I need to continue to treat you as my equal/partner throughout this process and although you feel this has happened to me..it truly has happened to the both of us and I promise not to push you or ask you to hang on any longer but to join hands with me as we walk down this path and lets deal with it together. As my interview stated I'm going to attack this head on for as long as I can and there may be times here in the near future where I need you and others to keep me going..and I know without a shadow of a doubt you will be there for me all the way through this ordeal.
For everyone else the "Race for Hope" is 2 May which is Sunday being held downtown Wash, DC and 100 t'shirts are being printed with "The Gunny's Team and rank insignia on the back of it which we will sale. I have no doubt that all 100 will move quickly that day and I promise you that me and my "handlers" will be looking for a few sponsors to help us get more shirts.. These shirts will cover the folks supporting me and the other teams running/walking that day and I promise you all that are following the blog that I will get more and of better quality but given the amount of time we had to put this together this is the best we could on such short notice. As the interview on Channel 8 news stated I'm a voice for this cause and as long as I can I will put up the good fight.. My goal will be to get many more shirts over the next few weeks/months and specifically for the MC Marathon where I plan to try and raise more funds for the "Brain Cancer Foundation"..so hang tight and more information regarding the shirts will be forthcoming.
I will be launching out mass emails to my email address books both at work and on my home computer asking for continued support to meet our 20k goal which I believe we are only $455 short..but also know we are going to easily eclipse that goal and really want to thank all that have donated for your efforts and please remember this is just a start and hope I can continue to count on you folks at a minimum of twice a year until I get this fund raising down to a science. Your support through this all has been nothing less than spectacular.
Thank You..
The Gunny
It's late on the 29th and I felt compelled to put a few lines together for you all as well as Kristine as she is struggling with her own demons through all this. As she mentioned in her own blog today I was able to get out on my own and do some errands by myself. I'm still taking medication but no pain pills....so I was able to drive a vehicle without cause. I actually met the Rapid Prototyping Team (Maj Rideout/Capt Carasco/Capt Mok) and others for dinner down in the Potomac Mills area..it was fun to get out for a little and just try not to think about all of this but a difficult challenge given all that has happened over the past 21 days..
I have a wound check appointment tomorrow morning at WRAMC with Dr's. Cooper and Cardoza I believe and hope to get some news regarding the pathology reports but I'm not holding my breath but you never know. I have to admit I'm hesitant because I truly don't know what to expect even if I do get news about the path reports I'm extremely hesitant about getting bad news.... I can honestly say it's difficult waiting for the other shoe to drop given all that Kristine and I have been through but keeping a very positive and optimistic attitude. Keep your fingers crossed and please continue to say prayers on our behalf.
For Kristine, I got some good advice from a very good friend this evening that enlightened me that I need to continue to treat you as my equal/partner throughout this process and although you feel this has happened to me..it truly has happened to the both of us and I promise not to push you or ask you to hang on any longer but to join hands with me as we walk down this path and lets deal with it together. As my interview stated I'm going to attack this head on for as long as I can and there may be times here in the near future where I need you and others to keep me going..and I know without a shadow of a doubt you will be there for me all the way through this ordeal.
For everyone else the "Race for Hope" is 2 May which is Sunday being held downtown Wash, DC and 100 t'shirts are being printed with "The Gunny's Team and rank insignia on the back of it which we will sale. I have no doubt that all 100 will move quickly that day and I promise you that me and my "handlers" will be looking for a few sponsors to help us get more shirts.. These shirts will cover the folks supporting me and the other teams running/walking that day and I promise you all that are following the blog that I will get more and of better quality but given the amount of time we had to put this together this is the best we could on such short notice. As the interview on Channel 8 news stated I'm a voice for this cause and as long as I can I will put up the good fight.. My goal will be to get many more shirts over the next few weeks/months and specifically for the MC Marathon where I plan to try and raise more funds for the "Brain Cancer Foundation"..so hang tight and more information regarding the shirts will be forthcoming.
I will be launching out mass emails to my email address books both at work and on my home computer asking for continued support to meet our 20k goal which I believe we are only $455 short..but also know we are going to easily eclipse that goal and really want to thank all that have donated for your efforts and please remember this is just a start and hope I can continue to count on you folks at a minimum of twice a year until I get this fund raising down to a science. Your support through this all has been nothing less than spectacular.
Thank You..
The Gunny
From The Gunny's Wife
Today is April 29th and a majority of the family has left. It is the first day that I have had to myself to try to figure this all out. Believe it or not, JD is out running errands.
Tomorrow will have been three weeks when we first had the doctor say to us in the ER of Walter Reed Hospital " I am going to tell you you have a brain tumor and that is all you are going to hear from this point forward" He was not joking.
It is amazing how your life can be turned up side down in a blink of an eye. It was after hearing that we felt that we had been hit by a truck. Now, here comes the difference between JD and I. I am still feeling like I have been hit by that truck. JD on the other hand has picked himself off and started on his journey.
Me---I am still stuck at the ER wondering what is going on. Did you ever see that movie "Up" the cartoon with the old man and he lost his wife? In a part of that movie he encounters a talking dog...but the dog gets distracted every time he sees a "Squirrel". I feel like the dog. Which way do I look and what am I suppose to do next.
JD has never been a morning person and every day since he has been home he wakes up at 5:30 to start his day. It used to be me that woke up the household to start the day. JD would lay in bed and say give me 5 more minutes. Now, I can not bring myself to get up.
The Caraway's had a plan for our life. JD would retire, JD would work in the civilian world, the kids would graduate from high school and go to college, JD and I would move to Texas and start our business.
That plan has changed in the fact that JD now has a calling to be a spokesperson for brain tumors. He has reached out to a few organizations and has done a TV interview. I am very proud of his attitude and his desire for this new found goal, but I am still at the ER room of Walter Reed.
It sounds that I am feeling sorry for myself, but I do not feel sorry, I just feel lost. Everything that I thought would happen in our lives will be different and I just do not know how to adjust or do not know what to do.
Can someone come get me from the ER room at Walter Reed?
Tomorrow will have been three weeks when we first had the doctor say to us in the ER of Walter Reed Hospital " I am going to tell you you have a brain tumor and that is all you are going to hear from this point forward" He was not joking.
It is amazing how your life can be turned up side down in a blink of an eye. It was after hearing that we felt that we had been hit by a truck. Now, here comes the difference between JD and I. I am still feeling like I have been hit by that truck. JD on the other hand has picked himself off and started on his journey.
Me---I am still stuck at the ER wondering what is going on. Did you ever see that movie "Up" the cartoon with the old man and he lost his wife? In a part of that movie he encounters a talking dog...but the dog gets distracted every time he sees a "Squirrel". I feel like the dog. Which way do I look and what am I suppose to do next.
JD has never been a morning person and every day since he has been home he wakes up at 5:30 to start his day. It used to be me that woke up the household to start the day. JD would lay in bed and say give me 5 more minutes. Now, I can not bring myself to get up.
The Caraway's had a plan for our life. JD would retire, JD would work in the civilian world, the kids would graduate from high school and go to college, JD and I would move to Texas and start our business.
That plan has changed in the fact that JD now has a calling to be a spokesperson for brain tumors. He has reached out to a few organizations and has done a TV interview. I am very proud of his attitude and his desire for this new found goal, but I am still at the ER room of Walter Reed.
It sounds that I am feeling sorry for myself, but I do not feel sorry, I just feel lost. Everything that I thought would happen in our lives will be different and I just do not know how to adjust or do not know what to do.
Can someone come get me from the ER room at Walter Reed?
Monday, April 26, 2010
1st Full Day home from hospital
Hello All,
I first wanted to send out a shout out to Chris/Robyn Jourdan, Bill Rysanek, Brian Rideout, and my family members Alex Ruiz, my Dad Selso, my mother-in-law Darda, my Mom Margie and Step-dad John and my best friend from high school Kim Gary for their visits to the hospital yesterday...We also had some visitors last evening at home from Ken/Mary/Michael Counts. .I can't express my gratitude enough for your efforts it was truly appreciated and of course last but certainly not least Kristine who has been my rock and foundation since we found out about this tumor on the 9th of April. Kristine you are simply amazing and I love you for all your support!!!
My first day at home has been uneventful..taking it easy just resting.. I'm taking my prescribed medicine as required except for the pain meds (percoset) which I'm trying to wean myself off of as quickly as possible. I have a follow-up wound check on Friday back at WRAMC to make sure the suture area is healing appropriately. I still can't share enough how anxious I am about waiting for the pathology reports and although Dr's Cooper and Cardoza seem to think the tumor is not as severe as they first suspected I'm keeping an optimistic attitude and just hope that anything less than a WHO IV is what I get for news....Keep the positive power of attitude coming along with strong prayer..
I've had several phone calls throughout the day as well checking up on me and some late visitors tonight (Uncle Maz and Aunt Colleen) on my wifes side of the house. Always good to catch up with them and more amazing is they have been in this area since we were here back in the mid-90s...goes to show how often we take things for granted... I had a good visit with Maz and expressed my overwhelming feelings that I am the voice for this disease...
Try this one on for size.. I meet with Channel 8 news on Wednesday to do a live 6-8 minute interview about this latest adventure.. I'm going to do the "Race for Hope" on 2May10 in downtown DC and although I'm just walking it I'll be there..which is a significant goal all in itself. I'm going to continue to push all to send out the link to the "Race for Hope" and the Gunny's team that we can reach our newly assigned goal of 20K.... I'll be helping a member of our team purchase shirts for the race where we will sale them and turn the funds over that day as well to the race coordinators..Sarah Tozer your efforts are amazing.. Brian Rideout and all others are just as amazing and Thanks seems so ineffective at this time but in reality is all that I can say to express my gratitude..
I also feel compelled to thank my children Madalyn and Jake for your support over these past 2 weeks. I know it's been difficult for you two but I must admit you two have handled it with such grace and I am very proud of you both continue to keep the faith and watch "The Gunny" do his magic...you haven't seen anything yet...Stay focused on your schooling and let me and Mom deal with this....
I will continue to update accordingly. In closing I want to tell all Thanks and please keep the well wishes coming..
Love to you all..
JD
I first wanted to send out a shout out to Chris/Robyn Jourdan, Bill Rysanek, Brian Rideout, and my family members Alex Ruiz, my Dad Selso, my mother-in-law Darda, my Mom Margie and Step-dad John and my best friend from high school Kim Gary for their visits to the hospital yesterday...We also had some visitors last evening at home from Ken/Mary/Michael Counts. .I can't express my gratitude enough for your efforts it was truly appreciated and of course last but certainly not least Kristine who has been my rock and foundation since we found out about this tumor on the 9th of April. Kristine you are simply amazing and I love you for all your support!!!
My first day at home has been uneventful..taking it easy just resting.. I'm taking my prescribed medicine as required except for the pain meds (percoset) which I'm trying to wean myself off of as quickly as possible. I have a follow-up wound check on Friday back at WRAMC to make sure the suture area is healing appropriately. I still can't share enough how anxious I am about waiting for the pathology reports and although Dr's Cooper and Cardoza seem to think the tumor is not as severe as they first suspected I'm keeping an optimistic attitude and just hope that anything less than a WHO IV is what I get for news....Keep the positive power of attitude coming along with strong prayer..
I've had several phone calls throughout the day as well checking up on me and some late visitors tonight (Uncle Maz and Aunt Colleen) on my wifes side of the house. Always good to catch up with them and more amazing is they have been in this area since we were here back in the mid-90s...goes to show how often we take things for granted... I had a good visit with Maz and expressed my overwhelming feelings that I am the voice for this disease...
Try this one on for size.. I meet with Channel 8 news on Wednesday to do a live 6-8 minute interview about this latest adventure.. I'm going to do the "Race for Hope" on 2May10 in downtown DC and although I'm just walking it I'll be there..which is a significant goal all in itself. I'm going to continue to push all to send out the link to the "Race for Hope" and the Gunny's team that we can reach our newly assigned goal of 20K.... I'll be helping a member of our team purchase shirts for the race where we will sale them and turn the funds over that day as well to the race coordinators..Sarah Tozer your efforts are amazing.. Brian Rideout and all others are just as amazing and Thanks seems so ineffective at this time but in reality is all that I can say to express my gratitude..
I also feel compelled to thank my children Madalyn and Jake for your support over these past 2 weeks. I know it's been difficult for you two but I must admit you two have handled it with such grace and I am very proud of you both continue to keep the faith and watch "The Gunny" do his magic...you haven't seen anything yet...Stay focused on your schooling and let me and Mom deal with this....
I will continue to update accordingly. In closing I want to tell all Thanks and please keep the well wishes coming..
Love to you all..
JD
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Gunny is back on-line!!!!
Hey gang..
Look who's back?? Believe it or not I was released today from the hospital less than 72 hours before being admitted.. I must admit I feel awesome given the severity of the surgery and trying to keep Kristine at ease although she has a hard time believing. We are keeping a positive attitude as we await the results to return from pathology and continue to ask for your prayers and good wishes over the next 2 weeks.
As Kristine has pointed out in her blogs the last few days everything went better than suspected and we can only continue to be hopeful for further good news. It has been a long and tiring 3 days and I'm going to sign off for now but wanted to let everyone I am doing fine and will write more tomorrow...
SF
JD
Look who's back?? Believe it or not I was released today from the hospital less than 72 hours before being admitted.. I must admit I feel awesome given the severity of the surgery and trying to keep Kristine at ease although she has a hard time believing. We are keeping a positive attitude as we await the results to return from pathology and continue to ask for your prayers and good wishes over the next 2 weeks.
As Kristine has pointed out in her blogs the last few days everything went better than suspected and we can only continue to be hopeful for further good news. It has been a long and tiring 3 days and I'm going to sign off for now but wanted to let everyone I am doing fine and will write more tomorrow...
SF
JD
From The Gunny's Wife
It is Sunday, April 25, 2010 and The Gunny is barking orders today. He is feeling well and ready to get out of the hospital. The bandage has been removed and he looks pretty good. He has a blanket stitch from his left ear to the middle of his head. The stitch work looks good and hopefully will not leave a noticeable scar. If it does, I know that he will wear it with pride.
We just found out that he gets to go home today. It seems so early to bring him home. It is unreal that he can feel so good. He is not even on pain meds. Just blows my mind.
Today is a good day and I am very thankful.
We just found out that he gets to go home today. It seems so early to bring him home. It is unreal that he can feel so good. He is not even on pain meds. Just blows my mind.
Today is a good day and I am very thankful.
Friday, April 23, 2010
From The Gunny's Wife
It is 5:30 pm and it seems that we have come full circle. JD is in the ICU eating ice chips and being a chatty cathy with the nurse. It must be the pain killers because the Gunny is sharing stories of the kids. I do not think they would be thrilled.
The nurse is named Jerry and he is very good at what he does. He is wearing a t-shirt with the superman symbol and I secretly think JD is jealous. We all know that he thinks that he is superman. He got a t-shirt this morning from Brian Rideout that said so... Male ego's...where would we be with out them.
At 6:00 am we had our first visitor and then about 10 minutes later, we had family start to roll in to see JD before he went in. I felt bad for the two other guys in the other part of the room. I know that they were trying to sleep.
The nurse rolled JD down to pre-op, he said his good byes to all and in we went. The pre-op room was the holding chamber before the surgery took place. We talked to the doctors. They gave JD his happy drugs and out he went. I hoped it was to a good place. I did try to ask if he needed to share anything with me while he was drugged, but his military brothers took care of him and wheeled him off before any answers could be given.
Now came the waiting game. The waiting rooms are not that big and we had at least 30 family members and friends waiting to see what life would bring. It was a long time to wait. The room was quiet and it seemed everyone was in their own thoughts. It made me wonder what people were thinking at times. Then I looked at my brother in law and he was snoring up a storm. That made me laugh.
He was finally out of surgery and I spoke to the doctor. Dr. Cooper said the surgery went well. He took a 1 cm piece fof the tumor for the pathologist and a little bit more out called debulking. We will know exactly what we are dealing with in 7 to 10 days. This will be the longest and hardest wait of my life. We have a very good chance that the tumor is not as bad as we thought..but it still one of those hold your breath moments.
Everyone has gone home for the night and life has somewhat resumed. Maddie is playing softball tonight and Jake is at the field as well. We hope that Maddie has a great game and plays well.
Years from now when I look back over this moment I will remember a few key factors. One- How scared I was for JD and wanting him to be well. Two- the amount of family members and friends that waited with me and Three- the amount of support that we have received during this time. I think this is the most amazing feeling I have experienced in my life. The pulling together for a person and his family because they care. Who really would have ever guessed, I can say it would not have been me. I am humbled to the point that no words will ever be able to express enough the gratitude for all.
The nurse is named Jerry and he is very good at what he does. He is wearing a t-shirt with the superman symbol and I secretly think JD is jealous. We all know that he thinks that he is superman. He got a t-shirt this morning from Brian Rideout that said so... Male ego's...where would we be with out them.
At 6:00 am we had our first visitor and then about 10 minutes later, we had family start to roll in to see JD before he went in. I felt bad for the two other guys in the other part of the room. I know that they were trying to sleep.
The nurse rolled JD down to pre-op, he said his good byes to all and in we went. The pre-op room was the holding chamber before the surgery took place. We talked to the doctors. They gave JD his happy drugs and out he went. I hoped it was to a good place. I did try to ask if he needed to share anything with me while he was drugged, but his military brothers took care of him and wheeled him off before any answers could be given.
Now came the waiting game. The waiting rooms are not that big and we had at least 30 family members and friends waiting to see what life would bring. It was a long time to wait. The room was quiet and it seemed everyone was in their own thoughts. It made me wonder what people were thinking at times. Then I looked at my brother in law and he was snoring up a storm. That made me laugh.
He was finally out of surgery and I spoke to the doctor. Dr. Cooper said the surgery went well. He took a 1 cm piece fof the tumor for the pathologist and a little bit more out called debulking. We will know exactly what we are dealing with in 7 to 10 days. This will be the longest and hardest wait of my life. We have a very good chance that the tumor is not as bad as we thought..but it still one of those hold your breath moments.
Everyone has gone home for the night and life has somewhat resumed. Maddie is playing softball tonight and Jake is at the field as well. We hope that Maddie has a great game and plays well.
Years from now when I look back over this moment I will remember a few key factors. One- How scared I was for JD and wanting him to be well. Two- the amount of family members and friends that waited with me and Three- the amount of support that we have received during this time. I think this is the most amazing feeling I have experienced in my life. The pulling together for a person and his family because they care. Who really would have ever guessed, I can say it would not have been me. I am humbled to the point that no words will ever be able to express enough the gratitude for all.
It is 5:30 am and I am sitting by his bed waiting for 6:30 am to come. It is quiet with the thrum of equipment. Nurses are coming in and out to check his vitals to make sure that he is good to go for surgery. It is still dark out side and I wonder if the family at the house is now just waking up to prepare for the long day ahead. I really need coffee right now. I am not sure how people function with out coffee...(sorry ...side tracked)
It seens like today is the day that will change our lives forever, one would have thought it would have been when we were told of the tumor. Yes, it was hard to hear, but you look at JD and he looks so normal and healthy. It was a hard concept to understand that he had a tumor in the brain.
He has been such a champion during this process. There is nothing that he can not do and he has told me that for years. I guess maybe that is why he is The Gunny...he makes things happen. He wants to be a voice for this cause and it is amazing how much has been raised so far to date for the race. People we have known for years and people we do not know have donated. It has been amazing and overwhelming at times. We still live in a world where people care and are willing to get involved. It blows my mind.
I want to thank Sarah Tozer for starting the The Gunny's team. Without her none of this would have happened. She is one of the most amazing people I know and also have the pleasure of working with. I have always said to her that she is the sister that I never wanted. ( I am an only child) and if I was to ever have a sister, I would want her to be like Sarah. She has become a special part of my life.
It seens like today is the day that will change our lives forever, one would have thought it would have been when we were told of the tumor. Yes, it was hard to hear, but you look at JD and he looks so normal and healthy. It was a hard concept to understand that he had a tumor in the brain.
He has been such a champion during this process. There is nothing that he can not do and he has told me that for years. I guess maybe that is why he is The Gunny...he makes things happen. He wants to be a voice for this cause and it is amazing how much has been raised so far to date for the race. People we have known for years and people we do not know have donated. It has been amazing and overwhelming at times. We still live in a world where people care and are willing to get involved. It blows my mind.
I want to thank Sarah Tozer for starting the The Gunny's team. Without her none of this would have happened. She is one of the most amazing people I know and also have the pleasure of working with. I have always said to her that she is the sister that I never wanted. ( I am an only child) and if I was to ever have a sister, I would want her to be like Sarah. She has become a special part of my life.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Post 2
Today is 22April10. I'm anxiously awaiting my doctor's nurse to give me a call telling me when to head up to Walter Reed. What I know for certain is my surgery is going to go first thing in the morning....
The outpouring of support from family, friends, and strangers alike is nothing short of spectacular and Kristine, Maddie, Jake and I are humbled by all this support.
For all of those who have commented on my first post it was good to hear from you...and look forward to catching up once this is all under control.
I wanted to take a moment to share we've met and surpassed the 10K goal for the "Race for Hope" but based on the overwhelming support we are going to be aggressive and up the goal to 17.5K...I want all to know your support of this cause is greatly appreciated..especially to those whom I've never had the opportunity to meet.
Kristine or someone within the group will make an update to inform of tomorrow's procedure and give as much as information as we know..
Your continued prayers and support are appreciated.
Love to you all..
JD
The outpouring of support from family, friends, and strangers alike is nothing short of spectacular and Kristine, Maddie, Jake and I are humbled by all this support.
For all of those who have commented on my first post it was good to hear from you...and look forward to catching up once this is all under control.
I wanted to take a moment to share we've met and surpassed the 10K goal for the "Race for Hope" but based on the overwhelming support we are going to be aggressive and up the goal to 17.5K...I want all to know your support of this cause is greatly appreciated..especially to those whom I've never had the opportunity to meet.
Kristine or someone within the group will make an update to inform of tomorrow's procedure and give as much as information as we know..
Your continued prayers and support are appreciated.
Love to you all..
JD
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Post 1
I wanted to take a moment to send a note out on my own behalf while I still have all my faculties and give you as much as information as Kristine, Maddie, Jake, and I have at this moment. First I want to express my sincerest appreciation for the numerous emails, calls, texts and other forms of reaching out to me and my family during this difficult time. You know we all talk about our Marine family and that we are all there for each other but it really never hits home until moments such as this and it is heart warming and I can't thank you all enough.
So the big question I'm sure in most of your minds is what is going on and how did this all happen? So here is the skinny..
9 April I had two MRI's scheduled for that evening based of my post deployment health assessment because while deployed I noticed a significant hearing loss in my left ear. We have great medical coverage no doubt but we are all aware of the bureaucracy and time it takes to get seen by the appropriate specialists. In addition, as most of you are aware I have/(had) a retirement date of 30Nov10 and part of the process is to ensure things are accurately captured in your medical records for VA claims either now or later after retirement. So I saw my primary care manager and shared I was having some difficulty sleeping and getting headaches once or twice every two weeks when I'm normally accustomed to only getting one or two in a year. The sleep deprivation I will attribute trying to hang with GySgt Sampson and his crew in Afghanistan..the man is a beast and although we may not have always seen eye to eye on all matters I can never express in words the joy I had to be out there with them. I'm going to paraphrase Eric by saying "you IA's that supported 2MEB, brought data link back to the Marine Corps" and my charge to the younger generation is to keep charging forward, you are only scratching at the surface of what the imagery intel community has to offer plus the entire intel organization as a whole. There are exciting times ahead in Marine Corps Intel and I hope you folks realize it..With BGen Stewart at the helm and his newly selected A-DIRINT soon to be retired Col Chudoba they have vision and those of us who have worked for them in the past know they understand they don't have all the answers and seek out ideas from the younger generation both enlisted and officer. I realize I've digressed some but even sick I care about our organization and needed to express my thoughts.
Anyhow, back to the story at hand..I had my MRI's that evening at Ft Belvoir (Dewitt Army Hospital)..the young tech asked if I experienced headaches on the left side of my head and I shared that I did.. Mentioned he had to let the on duty Radiology doctor look at them before I could leave. Of course this where it gets all sticky..he would come visit me and explain he needed to talk to my PCM or the ENT doctor who scheduled the one for the hearing..of course its Friday night and Quantico has a clinic only open Mon-Fri.. I did happen to have the duty number but of course the duty Corpsman couldn't call my PCM.. I tried Bethesda for them to page the ENT and of course give us an hour but we'll page. No panic had set in as of yet so Kristine and I let the tech know we were going to grab a bite to eat while we waited for a doctor to call. Finally got to thinking properly and called Quantico Clinic again and explained that I needed the duty doctor to give Belvoir a call because they were holding me hostage..
Within minutes they called and the radiology doctor said I needed to walk over to Emergency..that I had a large mass on the left front portion of my brain. At this point I'm nervous but not really scared..and here is why.. the day prior I had a final set of hearing tests with a doctor at Andrews and while putting me through a variety of tests she had questioned if I had an MRI scheduled. After her screenings she mentioned that I did have permanent hearing loss and normally its attributed to two reasons since my hearing loss was truly sudden..first is I'm just one of the lucky ones and it happened and second there could be a tumor in the inner ear which she calmed me by telling it would be benign and we could get it removed with no issue. Therefore, at that point I was thinking that what it isand calm at that point... of course I have this large mass in my head but I still get to wait in the ER room for an hour before they bring me back.. :-)
Once back the attending ER comes in and explains he's been on the phone with the attending Neurosurgeon at Walter Reed and they've seen the MRI's and since I'm part of big Navy I could be seen at Bethesda on Monday @ 1300..almost had me convinced until they handed me the radiologic examination reports..left Kristine and I alone to discuss and if we wanted to be seen that night they would get me to WRAMC or I could go home..but as I said I had the reports and as I read them the one for the acoustic neuroma (hearing) came back negative and the other one read pretty grim and it's pushing 2300/2400 that evening been a long day and now I'm getting nervous. So we decided we wouldn't get any rest over the weekend so lets head up to WRAMC..Go home grab a shower and some gear because I have no idea what lays ahead.
They were expecting me and got me back to see the neurosurgeon quickly..he runs me through a series of neuro motor skills tests and while I'm knocking them out of the park I'm thinking I should have gone home got some sleep and just listened earlier and came back on Monday..... However, what came next was like getting kicked in the "jimmy" not once but a couple of times... what sticks out the most is we asked ok what is the mass and the response "it's a cancerous brain tumor" and you are not going to hear another word I say.. I can attest he was right.. Kristine and I were taken aback and numb..once the initial shock passed we both went into our mode of needing to know why, how do we fix it and a myriad of other questions..I was admitted to the hospital for observation and additional testing..
Early tests show the tumor to be aggressive but unfortunatley even though it's 2010 it is still only speculation until they can get some of the tumor and have it tested via neuro pathology. For those of you who know Kristine if she could have forced them to cut me open the next day she would have been okay with it..but I'm a little more hesitant because it is my noggin and I, like the doctors are wanting to ensure they have a solid plan before they go in. I was released on the evening of the 11th and at this point my nuerosurgeon (Dr Cooper) believes it's an Astro Cytoma. It could be a glioma which I pray that it's not because they are four WHO levels (I-IV) with IV being the worst and unfortunately even with the most aggressive treatment 16-24 months is all I would have left if a level IV.
Fast forward to 19 April..Kristine and I met with Dr. Cooper to discuss the procedure on Friday. Our impression when I left the hospital on the 11th is they were going to do a resection where they go and take as much of the tumor out on the 19th.. However, he chose to give us 3 options and like a good intel assessment there was the throw away option.. and gave us two to choose from "either a cranial biopsy or a resection". After further discussion it his recommendation that the rewards do not justify the risks of a resection at this time. It is a big tumor gang..bigger than a golf ball but a little smaller than a tennis ball..In grand style if I'm going to do something I'm going to go all out..that's just how I roll.... So Thursday the 22nd I'll go up to WRAMC and get admitted and sometime early Friday morning they go in and cut a nice hole in the left side of my head and take a big chunck out for testing. With any surgery there is risk but for those of you who either live here in the beltway or have in the past know I have a better chance of dying in a car accident out there than this..or so I am going to keep believing. What do I need from you? I need your continued prayers and well wishes.. I'm extremely confident I can beat this for a period of time as long as it's not a WHO IV..I'm working on developing a blog site so all can follow and get updates..email is fine but we all know how fast our limited NMCI accounts fill up.
Additionally, I wanted to take another moment to make another pitch for the "Race for Hope DC" 5K walk/run being held on 2May10. I've had lots of time by myself in my vehicle to and from WRAMC this past week for follow-on tests and I have this sense that I'm to become a voice for this disease. What I have recognized is this is bigger than "JD Caraway" there are many more folks just like me and until recently it wasn't a part of my world. Kristine's office started this endeavor with a very humble $500 goal and it was met within minutes from her office and it was raised to 1k, then 2k, 4k and we just upped the goal to 10K. To those of you who have already submitted your donations "Thank You"..it means alot..for those of you who haven't as of yet if you can even if it's only $10 please do so..I recognize times are tight for everyone and understand if you can't. For those in the N.VA area my goal is to be there that morning..and if God willing I'll be walking but at minimum will be pushed through the course via a wheel chair.. I'm not joking folks this is going to be my first forum as we kick this in the butt..we are working on developing a typical Marine green "PT" shirt with EGA on front breast and Gunny symbol on back encircled by the words "The Gunny's Team" and as more info is available for that we will post via the blog which can be found at (http://thegunnysteam.blogspot.com/).. I hope this works...Bottomline with the t-shirt is to buy excess and what little money we make from them to put towards the over fund raising goal for the Race for Hope.
You can register and/or make a donation by going to http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/PageServer?pagename=RFH_DC_HomePage and searching for The Gunny’s Team.
If you have questions on how to join The Gunny’s Team, please contact Ms Sarah Tozer @:
Sarah Tozer, National Realty Partners, AAMC®
365 Herndon Pkwy #111, Herndon VA 20170
Office: (703) 673-9135
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!
In closing, I've spent the last week trying to make sense of this and the only thing I know for certain at this point is life is truly short...I have no regrets, I have a beautiful wife and we bore two beautiful offspring and they are at an age that if my time comes to an abrupt end then I did what was meant to be done. So take a moment today and reflect and make sure you have no regrets..and God Bless you all for your thoughts and prayers...
So the big question I'm sure in most of your minds is what is going on and how did this all happen? So here is the skinny..
9 April I had two MRI's scheduled for that evening based of my post deployment health assessment because while deployed I noticed a significant hearing loss in my left ear. We have great medical coverage no doubt but we are all aware of the bureaucracy and time it takes to get seen by the appropriate specialists. In addition, as most of you are aware I have/(had) a retirement date of 30Nov10 and part of the process is to ensure things are accurately captured in your medical records for VA claims either now or later after retirement. So I saw my primary care manager and shared I was having some difficulty sleeping and getting headaches once or twice every two weeks when I'm normally accustomed to only getting one or two in a year. The sleep deprivation I will attribute trying to hang with GySgt Sampson and his crew in Afghanistan..the man is a beast and although we may not have always seen eye to eye on all matters I can never express in words the joy I had to be out there with them. I'm going to paraphrase Eric by saying "you IA's that supported 2MEB, brought data link back to the Marine Corps" and my charge to the younger generation is to keep charging forward, you are only scratching at the surface of what the imagery intel community has to offer plus the entire intel organization as a whole. There are exciting times ahead in Marine Corps Intel and I hope you folks realize it..With BGen Stewart at the helm and his newly selected A-DIRINT soon to be retired Col Chudoba they have vision and those of us who have worked for them in the past know they understand they don't have all the answers and seek out ideas from the younger generation both enlisted and officer. I realize I've digressed some but even sick I care about our organization and needed to express my thoughts.
Anyhow, back to the story at hand..I had my MRI's that evening at Ft Belvoir (Dewitt Army Hospital)..the young tech asked if I experienced headaches on the left side of my head and I shared that I did.. Mentioned he had to let the on duty Radiology doctor look at them before I could leave. Of course this where it gets all sticky..he would come visit me and explain he needed to talk to my PCM or the ENT doctor who scheduled the one for the hearing..of course its Friday night and Quantico has a clinic only open Mon-Fri.. I did happen to have the duty number but of course the duty Corpsman couldn't call my PCM.. I tried Bethesda for them to page the ENT and of course give us an hour but we'll page. No panic had set in as of yet so Kristine and I let the tech know we were going to grab a bite to eat while we waited for a doctor to call. Finally got to thinking properly and called Quantico Clinic again and explained that I needed the duty doctor to give Belvoir a call because they were holding me hostage..
Within minutes they called and the radiology doctor said I needed to walk over to Emergency..that I had a large mass on the left front portion of my brain. At this point I'm nervous but not really scared..and here is why.. the day prior I had a final set of hearing tests with a doctor at Andrews and while putting me through a variety of tests she had questioned if I had an MRI scheduled. After her screenings she mentioned that I did have permanent hearing loss and normally its attributed to two reasons since my hearing loss was truly sudden..first is I'm just one of the lucky ones and it happened and second there could be a tumor in the inner ear which she calmed me by telling it would be benign and we could get it removed with no issue. Therefore, at that point I was thinking that what it isand calm at that point... of course I have this large mass in my head but I still get to wait in the ER room for an hour before they bring me back.. :-)
Once back the attending ER comes in and explains he's been on the phone with the attending Neurosurgeon at Walter Reed and they've seen the MRI's and since I'm part of big Navy I could be seen at Bethesda on Monday @ 1300..almost had me convinced until they handed me the radiologic examination reports..left Kristine and I alone to discuss and if we wanted to be seen that night they would get me to WRAMC or I could go home..but as I said I had the reports and as I read them the one for the acoustic neuroma (hearing) came back negative and the other one read pretty grim and it's pushing 2300/2400 that evening been a long day and now I'm getting nervous. So we decided we wouldn't get any rest over the weekend so lets head up to WRAMC..Go home grab a shower and some gear because I have no idea what lays ahead.
They were expecting me and got me back to see the neurosurgeon quickly..he runs me through a series of neuro motor skills tests and while I'm knocking them out of the park I'm thinking I should have gone home got some sleep and just listened earlier and came back on Monday..... However, what came next was like getting kicked in the "jimmy" not once but a couple of times... what sticks out the most is we asked ok what is the mass and the response "it's a cancerous brain tumor" and you are not going to hear another word I say.. I can attest he was right.. Kristine and I were taken aback and numb..once the initial shock passed we both went into our mode of needing to know why, how do we fix it and a myriad of other questions..I was admitted to the hospital for observation and additional testing..
Early tests show the tumor to be aggressive but unfortunatley even though it's 2010 it is still only speculation until they can get some of the tumor and have it tested via neuro pathology. For those of you who know Kristine if she could have forced them to cut me open the next day she would have been okay with it..but I'm a little more hesitant because it is my noggin and I, like the doctors are wanting to ensure they have a solid plan before they go in. I was released on the evening of the 11th and at this point my nuerosurgeon (Dr Cooper) believes it's an Astro Cytoma. It could be a glioma which I pray that it's not because they are four WHO levels (I-IV) with IV being the worst and unfortunately even with the most aggressive treatment 16-24 months is all I would have left if a level IV.
Fast forward to 19 April..Kristine and I met with Dr. Cooper to discuss the procedure on Friday. Our impression when I left the hospital on the 11th is they were going to do a resection where they go and take as much of the tumor out on the 19th.. However, he chose to give us 3 options and like a good intel assessment there was the throw away option.. and gave us two to choose from "either a cranial biopsy or a resection". After further discussion it his recommendation that the rewards do not justify the risks of a resection at this time. It is a big tumor gang..bigger than a golf ball but a little smaller than a tennis ball..In grand style if I'm going to do something I'm going to go all out..that's just how I roll.... So Thursday the 22nd I'll go up to WRAMC and get admitted and sometime early Friday morning they go in and cut a nice hole in the left side of my head and take a big chunck out for testing. With any surgery there is risk but for those of you who either live here in the beltway or have in the past know I have a better chance of dying in a car accident out there than this..or so I am going to keep believing. What do I need from you? I need your continued prayers and well wishes.. I'm extremely confident I can beat this for a period of time as long as it's not a WHO IV..I'm working on developing a blog site so all can follow and get updates..email is fine but we all know how fast our limited NMCI accounts fill up.
Additionally, I wanted to take another moment to make another pitch for the "Race for Hope DC" 5K walk/run being held on 2May10. I've had lots of time by myself in my vehicle to and from WRAMC this past week for follow-on tests and I have this sense that I'm to become a voice for this disease. What I have recognized is this is bigger than "JD Caraway" there are many more folks just like me and until recently it wasn't a part of my world. Kristine's office started this endeavor with a very humble $500 goal and it was met within minutes from her office and it was raised to 1k, then 2k, 4k and we just upped the goal to 10K. To those of you who have already submitted your donations "Thank You"..it means alot..for those of you who haven't as of yet if you can even if it's only $10 please do so..I recognize times are tight for everyone and understand if you can't. For those in the N.VA area my goal is to be there that morning..and if God willing I'll be walking but at minimum will be pushed through the course via a wheel chair.. I'm not joking folks this is going to be my first forum as we kick this in the butt..we are working on developing a typical Marine green "PT" shirt with EGA on front breast and Gunny symbol on back encircled by the words "The Gunny's Team" and as more info is available for that we will post via the blog which can be found at (http://thegunnysteam.blogspot.com/).. I hope this works...Bottomline with the t-shirt is to buy excess and what little money we make from them to put towards the over fund raising goal for the Race for Hope.
You can register and/or make a donation by going to http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/PageServer?pagename=RFH_DC_HomePage and searching for The Gunny’s Team.
If you have questions on how to join The Gunny’s Team, please contact Ms Sarah Tozer @:
Sarah Tozer, National Realty Partners, AAMC®
365 Herndon Pkwy #111, Herndon VA 20170
Office: (703) 673-9135
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!
In closing, I've spent the last week trying to make sense of this and the only thing I know for certain at this point is life is truly short...I have no regrets, I have a beautiful wife and we bore two beautiful offspring and they are at an age that if my time comes to an abrupt end then I did what was meant to be done. So take a moment today and reflect and make sure you have no regrets..and God Bless you all for your thoughts and prayers...
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