Finally "retirement"

It’s been a long 8 months since I last updated the blog and have had recent requests to do so; therefore, I felt an obligation to satisfy those requests. If you’re reading this it’s based on receiving an E-vite to my long awaited retirement ceremony. I realize not all it was sent to can attend but I did want you all to know how much of a significant impact each and every one of you had in my life, career, and more important become a part of my family.

So much has happened these past 8 months. In my last blogs I had just been diagnosed with complex partial seizures but based on the results from my November scan the tumor was still dormant. I would go to Texas for Thanksgiving where my father and brothers would hold a retirement party for me which had been in planning for months prior to finding out about the tumor and it was an event that went off without flaw and all who could make it had a great time. Kristine and kids had an opportunity to meet some old friends of mine from high school as well as see some old friends from our early years in the Marine Corps. Some are asking why a retirement party last year…well before I got ill I was slated to retire 30Nov10 but of course that all changed in April of ’10.

We would celebrate Maddie turning 18, Christmas, and bring in the New Year just waiting for the medical evaluation board to convene and determine my fate. Unfortunately, on my next quarterly scan in Feb ’11, the scans would indicate there was some slow subtle growth but what concerned my team of doctors the most were some hotspots in the center of the mass of the tumor. The fears which Kristine and I shared in our earlier blogs were now becoming a reality. What we once believed was going to be a long and healthy life together was once again in question. The appointments up until this day to get the results normally had only lasted no more than 90 minutes but this day would become another long day in what is still a very long road ahead of me. We were advised since there were changes we needed to look at treatment options. We would visit with a radiation oncologist at the NIH to discuss the option and since the tumor has two chromosome deletions he advised us to hold off on radiation at this time and save it for a period down the road. The rationale was because of these deletions it made more sense to go with chemo treatments because all signs indicated the tumor would be receptive to the treatment. So towards the end of February I would be come my first phase of chemo and just completed my 6th phase on Friday the 20th of July. I take the pill form of chemo called ‘temodar’ and can honestly say I’ve had zero side effects. As long as my blood and liver enzyme counts remain normal I’ll remain on chemo for as long as my body can withstand it. I have a set of scans scheduled for August which will hopefully show signs of shrinkage in the hot spots.
My medical evaluation board did get pushed to the right because of the findings in February but in mid-May I would finally get the call from my physical evaluation board liaison officer (PEBLO) informing me my findings were in and needed me to come see him. For those of you that have served in the service or worked for the government we all know how much red tape we have to maneuver but I can share I’m glad I fought for what I believed I deserved because in the end the findings were 100% permanent disability retirement list (PDRL) from the DoD and 100% rating from the VA with concurrent receipt. It would take another few weeks for the board to deliver the findings to the command once I had accepted them and since mid-June I’ve been on a hectic pace trying to prepare for retirement.
During this timeframe of waiting though I’ve continued to work for MCSC and living each day for what they bring. I participated in my second ‘Race for Hope’ and with the help of family and friends we raised just shy of $7,000 and in less than 15 months we’ve raised in excess of $32K for the National Brain Tumor Association and Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure a feat that I’m extremely proud of and thankful to all who continue to support ‘The Gunny’s Team’.
Kristine and I watched our Miss Maddie graduate from high school with honors and be accepted to TX A&M for college. Jake is a rising senior this year and will start his own college adventure next year.

Which brings us to our current timeframe..which is 22 July 11. I started PTAD/TmLv on the 15th of July once I got the disability branch of HQMC to move my official retirement day back to 31Oct11 vice the 30th of November. Maddie and I left DC yesterday to come to Tx to find her a place to live in College Station with Kristine and Jake to join us on the 29th. I have an Uncle & Aunt celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary which we are attending and then the family heads to New Orleans on the 31st to catch a cruise for 8 days and 7 nights (Honduras, Belize, Costa Maya, and Cozumel) I can get use to this retirement stuff.

When we get home we have a couple of weeks before my retirement ceremony and then Kristine and I bring our baby girl back to Texas to drop her off for college. I also have a job lined up already as well and will begin the second week of September.

So there you have it folks a quick rundown of what has and continues to occur in the life of “The Gunny”. As aforementioned I hope all can make the retirement but I understand due to locations it may not be feasible but do know each and everyone of you have been key factors in my life and I just wanted to share it openly.

God Speed and God Bless
JD “The Gunny”
You can update your contact info for me with the following:
Email: carawayjd@gmail.com
Phone: 571-882-0726