15 November 2009

Survivor : Fredericksburg

Hello again, friends! It has been a whirlwind of a month, from diagnosis to cure, but I am now a part of that growing population that calls themselves a cancer survivor. 10 days ago the wonderful surgeon, Dr. Earnhardt, removed 8" of my colon and 3 days ago the lab report came back with the wonderful news that no bad cells were found in the lymph nodes that were also removed! The surgery was more extensive than the Dr. had hoped, but with results like that one can only be grateful.

I am eating most anything I choose, walking around the block, and you would be hard pressed to know what I'd been through if you could see me now. I'm still very sore and trying to 'manage the pain' without depending too much on the serious drugs they've given me.

I can't begin to tell you how important all of the good wishes mean to me and if the power of positive thinking truly exists, I have countless people to thank for my recovery. I'll be laying low for a while yet, but it won't be too long before I'll be heading out to the studio. Happily I enjoy making little pots.
One of the most extraordinary people to help me along the way is Steven, one of the 7 nurses who attended to me. That's him below. He was upbeat and kind while at the same time pushing me to walk and move when it was the last thing I wanted to do. He was as therapeutic as any medicine they gave me! If there are angels on this earth, he is one of them. More soon about all the support I've gotten.

17 comments:

doug Fitch said...

Hurrah! Great to hear from you, wonderful news. Much love to you, wishing you a speedy recovery.

Alex Solla said...

So good to hear you are making it through this process in such good spirits.

Having just had my colon removed, and had almost the opposite experience, I am so relieved for you. Seeing the outpouring of help and caring from your fellow potters is so wonderful.

Good luck with your continued healing!

Dennis Allen said...

Great to hear you are doing well.

Anna M. Branner said...

Yay! So glad you are up to joining us again! Also glad that you took advantage of the enforced hiding to begin your recovery. :) Cant wait to have our Dictator back amongst us again.

klineola said...

Wow! Dan. What a relief to know that you are well and recovering. We will keep the hope and well wishes for your full recovery coming your way.

Hollis Engley said...

Congratulations, Daniel. It all sounds like the best news we could have hoped for.

ang design said...

cheers big man, super news....

cookingwithgas said...

I have been following your ordeal- Happy to hear you are coming along so quickly!
I hope you are back to pots soon.

SunShine said...

Wow! With all that love and support it is no surprise you are doing so well! Congratulations on being a survivor!!

Anonymous said...

hi dan, this is such good news and i'm so happy to hear it. as the song says... "keep a'movin' dan".

Jerry said...

So glad to hear that you are doing well. It was nice getting updates from others, but it's always good to hear it from the horse's mouth. I hope that your recovery continues with ease.

Incognito said...

Good, good, good. Sighing with relief. Hoping to see you soon.

Hannah said...

ello ello, fab to have you back! That's a cheery end to a bugger of a day. Welcome back, we missed you. Been thinking of you.
h
x

Unknown said...

Hi Dan. Shelle Chentow here. I am so happy to hear you are doing well. I'm having my coffee out of a Dan mug and sending healing wishes to you.

HJ said...

Hi Dan,
I don't know you, and you don't know me,but I was dismayed to read of your plight several weeks ago.
I am glad to read of your recovery, and hope that all will continue to go well in the future. From one potter to another :Get back to the mud as soon as you are able!

Patricia Griffin Ceramics said...

Wonderful news Dan! Been thinking about you and sending best wishes for continued healing.

Unknown said...

Hello Dan,
I just finished baking my pumpkin pie for tomorrow in my very favorite pie plate - yours, truly! I'm glad to see and hear that you are doing well. Much Love and a Very Happy Thanksgiving from England, Carrie Ray