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