Tim's Recovery Update

Hunka Hunka Burning Love

2009-08-07T21:00:00.003Z

More on the Vacation of a lifetime

2009-08-07T20:44:00.002Z

I wanted to follow up on my earlier entry about our vacation. My guys and gal loved San Diego. We went on Tuesday night to see the San Diego Padres play and it was a wonderful venue. All the sites and sounds of a live baseball game. The hotdogs and pretzels were wonderful. Kaye and I enjoyed large burgers and fries! We loved it. Kaye and the boys also went to the San Diego Zoo which is world class. They took lots of pics and Clay Fussell was such a whiz on all the animals. He know something about each one. If you ever see him ask him about the dung beetles! Quite an amazing story. We had an opportunity to take the mass transit downtown to eat one night. Mass Transit is just not for us if you know what I mean.

Here's a quick update on me. 3 treatments are in the books and I feel great! Gonna lose my hair again so I am taking suggestions on a hat this time.

Love to you all
Tim

sights, sounds, smells of a great vacation

2009-08-02T20:30:00.002Z

we left bright and early Sunday morning headed for the San Diego Bay! The boys were excited even though we left the house at 5:30 am! Cali is all I heard from Ryan every week! We landed in beautiful sunny San Diego and quickly caught a cab to our destination.....well at least I thought it was our destination, the hotel del coronado! We hauled our luggage up to this magnificant mansion style hotel and asked to check in. Here's the bad news, I was at the wrong hotel! Gipes! After some wrangling with the desk clerk she sadly told me we were staying at the Lowes Del Cornado which was 5 miles further down the penninsula! Soooo back we went to the cab line and down the bay we went! uggghhh. The Lowes property was beautiful as it sat on the bay along side multi-million dollar yachts! The boys quickly found a local at the pool, Hannah and she was very kind to show them around. One of the most memorable experiences they had was going to the beach and rushing to jump into the surf only to find the water ice cold! seems the currents that flow down the california cost come out of Alaska where the east coast has Bermuda currents! Big difference!

More later
God Bless you all

Fast Forward to August 2

2009-08-02T20:19:00.002Z

today is our real 28th wedding anniversary! It was been 28 wonderful years. I know everyone says that but I really has been wonderful, yea there have been ups and downs but the downs have been far and few and I don't even remember them which is what you are supposed to do I guess!
I did want to tell everyone that in the last 30 days we have gone on a wonderful 10 day trip to San Diego, then to Las Vegas and back. Unfortunately in those 30 days, I have had my scan and according to the results, I have spots on my lungs and liver and in the bottom of my spine. Spots that are undetermined for malenoma or hodgkins so we are going to have a biopsy on August 8 to determine what these "spots" are. I pray that God has already healed me and taken those spots away for his glory and by his word. As I have told you before, it is always tough going around scan time because you just never know what the results are going to be. Bottom line is God is in control and there is His plan and I am his child so I will have to be patient and wait upon the Lord.

The travel begins

2009-06-27T21:42:00.002Z

Well, Tomorrow we leave for San Diego and Las Vegas. The plans are set. The wedding in Las Vegas is set. We are getting remarried on Thursday July 2 at 2:00 in the little white chapel in Las Vegas. The package includes a limo ride to and from our hotel. "Elvis" will walk Kaye down the aisle and serenade us with 2 songs. There will be pictures galore. I hope to post one on the site here! We are excited.

Kaye has shopped for a dress to wear for several weeks and has come up with a couple of good ones.

While in San Diego we are going to attend a baseball game between the padres and astros. We have first baseline seats.

While in Las Vegas, we are going to go see the blueman group on Wednesday night! Matt says he is going to ride the roller coaster that is atop one of the casinos while there! Mike Murray and his Wife Lynn is going to fly out Wednesday. Robin Chriscoe who works with me will be there and Courtney Webb will be there to take pics and video! We should have a rip roaring time.

Speaking of time, July is my next month for a scan so of course I will let you know how it turns out. I feel fine. May face has healed a lot from the surgery.

Speaking of prayers. This week I lost a good friend. He was the President of Texas Pete, Reg Garner. He fought pancreatic cancer for over a year. I will miss him as will his family and our industry.

I pray also for Debbie Matthews. She got some great news about a biopsy this week. The test showed no malignancy in a spot she had. I pray for Ginger Combs who had a cancerous spot removed this week as well.

I pray for the families of Farah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. We sometimes wonder over the will of God but we also see that God is in control and none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. We must live everyday because we are not in control of our lives. We must trust God and pray to be in God's will not matter our circumstances.

The Press of a kiss

2009-06-27T21:28:00.002Z

I am so sorry it has been over a month since I last Blogged. A day then a week then a month and before I know it, I realize I have not let anyone (other than my family) know what is going on in our lives and mine. It occurred to me last week that a kiss, the press of your lips on your spouse, family, friends or others has so much meaning and if you stop for just a moment and forget the sensation you feel and just savor the moment of a kiss. Imagine what you are saying.

Last week, as I do everyday, I leaned over to kiss my wife goodbye as I left for work. The feeling of our lips pressing together may not sound like much but it felt great. It felt comfortable. It felt safe. I did not want to part lips I wanted to just remember the feelings that come to mind when we kiss. I wanted to remember the comfort and all the times she has taken care of me. I wanted to remember the feeling of being together at that precise moment.

After I left, while riding in the car, I remembered a couple of things about a Kiss. I remembered that I always greet my sons with a firm kiss on their necks. I always say goodbye to them with a firm kiss on the neck. I love them and that kiss makes me feel I am showing how much I love them.

I remembered that as a youngster, I always would come up to my mom while she was sitting around the table and I would press my lips to her cheek. I will always remember that I did it a lot. I can't say it was to show my love for her as much as I just loved kissing her cheek and feeling her smooth skin. I now know it was to show her that I loved her.

I remember in the bible the Father of the prodigal son greeting his contrite son with a kiss and a ring. He welcomed him back into the family with no strings attached, no compromises just 100% back. I am not saying I have two prodigal sons I am saying his father greeted him with a kiss. Symbolic of his love and unending support I suspect. Remember the significance of a kiss and you will appreciate everyone one you give and get.

Summer - Graduations- Travel- Long term

2009-05-21T13:38:00.002Z

I wanted to update you all on all the above. I am so proud to update you. I tell everyone it is so much better than the alternative! We are fastly approaching summer. I remember just a short 12 months ago this month, I was preparing for a new approach to my spot that was just behind my stomach. The cut they did on me from the top of my chest to my navel and opening me up only revealed that it was too risky to try to remove the tumor so the option came up about Gamma Knife. I took it! It started in July and lasted the whole month. It is a highly concentrated laser beam of radiation that pinpoints a spot and treats it. It did miracles for me!

Last year I was sickly and now 12 months later, I feel alive and healthy again. Wiser but healther. I believe God has performed a miracle in me just as he can everyone.

Matt Graduated two weeks ago and we are so proud. He is so much more a man now and I love him and respect him. Ryan has decided that two years of NC State are enough he wants to come out and go in a different direction and so he shall. He moves into his own apartment in the fall!

Matt will continue to student teach until December when he gets his teaching certificate then it is on to Graduate School with a degree in Sports Medicine and teaching credentials.

Ryan has aspirations of going into Culinary. He has our full support.

Kaye and I have traveled to Baltimore a few weeks ago on business and now we are planning a trip to San Diego and Las Vegas.....are the boys coming????? what do you think they said when I asked?....... UH YEA! Although Ryan wanted to stay in San Diego and see the Pads play the Dodgers....sorry Mom nixed that, we are scheduled to be in Las Vegas for the National School Show and then stay the weekend of the 4th of July in Las Vegas.

The reason I say all that is to show you how good God is. He is a giving, caring God. He is compassionate, healing, rewarding. God undergurds us everytime we call on him....everytime...everytime, I know it is not instantious and it never will be. God has delivered me on the other side of 5 years of worry, doubt, fear, sickness you name it. But in the end God is in control. I praise him for what he has taught me in 5 years. Things I thought I knew but never did.

Have a great summer
God bless you

Tim

Joel Weldon

2009-04-26T15:17:00.004Z

I was thinking today of a seminar I attended about 20 years ago from a person named Joel Weldon. It was all about "coyote thinking" It was held at the San Diego Del Cornado Hotel and I was fortunate enough to hear him use the survival instincts of a coyote and apply them to business tactics. It was very informative but at the end he recited a little passaged that I will always remember. It goes something like this....

And God said, "your task is to build a better world"
and I replied, "how?"
The world is such a large place now and I so small and useless am,
there is nothing I can do
And God in all his wisdom said
"just build a better you!"

Yes you can

2009-04-26T15:17:00.001Z

Prayer Warriors UNITE!

2009-04-26T15:16:00.001Z

Just a real quick Blurb, Pray for my nephew Carson Weaver. He is 1 and 1/2 years old and is in the hospital with pneumonia. He had a fever yesterday of 104. He is the grandson of my mother, Toby. He is doing better but needs your prayers!

Love you all
Tim

Jesus was a business man

2009-04-25T17:53:00.002Z

I do most of my best thinking when I am in the shower. I don't exactly know why, it just happens that way. I wanted to relay a story to you and show you what I mean by Jesus was a businessman.
Last month we had our company quarterly salesmeeting. It is when we all get together and go through presentations from our manufactuers and increase our knowledge of their products both new and old. At the end of the meetings, we always have Sharin' business which is when mgmt gets to address the "troops" so to speak. Well I stood up and began. (earlier I had purchased some kool aid and asked for it to be brought in when I began to speak) As I spoke, I addressed our group saying that word was out in "the street" that Sharin' was in trouble. That we were somehow suffering financially and with our mgmt team. I assured them this was NOT the case. Anyway, I offered everyone a dixie cup with kool aid in it and I asked them to drink WITH me the kool aid. We everyone had a hoot because it has direct correlation to the disasterous mass suicide with Jim Jones but I quickly told them that only a few cups had been laced so those we wanted to fire would just die! Everyone howled. I did tell them in all honesty that I wanted them to share the Kool aid with me as a sign that we are all in this together. I wanted to express that we are a good company with positive earnings and strong income streams and that IF we were in trouble they would be the first to know NOT the street. We all drank the same kool aid and made a decision then and there that we were all in this together.

You know today, in the shower it came to me. Jesus did the same thing by taking communion with his disciples. He made them drink the wine and said this is my blood that was shed for you and they ate the bread as a sign that this was his body that was broken for all. Jesus was demonstrating that when everyone drinks the same kool aid they are agreeing in unison that they will all do the same things. Think in unison, form a bond, a commitment to a cause. Jesus truly was looking down and saying in a constructive way, join me and drink and eat so that we can agree on these things,. He looked down through the ages and knew I too would need to drink the kool aid of healing and agree that by his stripes we are healed. I did drink the kool aid and I am here today because of it and because of your prayers in my behalf..........praise God

We love you
Tim

This day in April

2009-04-23T22:50:00.002Z

just wanted to update everyone! The drain is out! That's the good news. Here is the bad, I think I pushed for it to come out a week too early. This Monday, I went for my three month scan and as I was lying down on the scan bed, I got dizzy and I mean real dizzy; to the point that I was feeling sick. As a matter of fact I did get sick but that was a good thing because I was able to get rid of that Barium solution that I had to drink. If you have had to drink it then you know....YUK! Come to find out fluid was backing up from my surgery into my ear causing inner ear imbalance and vertigo! Ever had Vertigo? Oh my it is something that is really bad. Your head spins and you can't stop it. I got some medicine to help me but lying in bed for three straight days was what I had to do! Oh my gosh does that hurt. I could not get my balance, I could not sit up without being sick. Anyway, I am over that and thank God! Sometimes we think we can "tough out" a situation when we should be listening to our bodies. My body was telling me it was too soon and I ran right through that stop sign and look how I ended up. Sometimes the soft whisper of God's spirit says here is a stop sign and we plow right on thru it only to suffer for it. We have so many friends who are suffering not because they ran a stop sign but because the economy has made them victims. Many of our friends have lost their jobs and they are in their 50's so starting over in very hard. Please help me pray that God will open his doors of opportunity for them. I could call their names but there are so many. We all have to be mindful that we too can be put in a tough spot without any of our own doing. Continue to pray for me and my family as we move through all my ordeals. There is not enough time for Kaye to get sick because we take up all our time on me!

We love you all
Tim and Kaye my wonderful, precious bride!

Catch up time

2009-04-12T21:27:00.002Z

Well, I imagine since my last posting and pictures you have begun to think I had vanished. The answer of course is no. Here it the catch up part. My cut is healing very nicely. I don't look near as bad as the picture I posted on my site. At least I think so. I have had a drain in my cut on my neck for a month now. Thank goodness it comes out this Wednesday. It has been a nuisance more than anything because it is always hanging around my neck. I won't tell you what I call it!

We have had visits with my doctor (mike meyers) imagine that, over in Chapel Hill every week since March 12. He said I am progressing nicely and my scar will barely be noticable in 6 months or so. Wow, this is amazing. The human body has a remarkable way of healing itself! God created such a magnificant machine when he created the human body. It is a miracle machine with the ability to regenerate itself and heal itself from the most devestating illnesses.

We did receive some somber news this week. One of my folks in my office had to be with his mother. She has never been sick until a few weeks ago and now she has been diagnosed with Squalmous Carcinoma in her lung. She will begin a regimine of chemotherapy and radiation. I ask all you prayer warriors to remember her in your prayers! God is still in the healing business. I used to take that statement for granted but now I believe it more than ever.

Last week we traveled to Gastonia to visit my mother and sisters and Kaye's aunt Ella Mae. We had a wonderful time! We spent the night with my sister Beth and had lunch at her house! It was a fantastic time!

Kaye and I will be traveling the first week of May AND coming back to attend Matthew's college graduation. Can you believe he has succeeded in graduating in 4 years with two majors! We asked him today of the 98 people who entered with him 4 years ago, how many will graduate in May and he said 5. Wow! we were amazed. Of his entire incoming class only 9 will have graduated by December. This was a very rigorious program and he will be well trained when he gets out.

I will try to keep you better updated on my progress instead of keeping you in the dark. I promise!

Until next time
God Bless you all
Tim

Edward Scissorhands looking better

2009-02-25T23:25:00.002Z

Ain't I a beaut

2009-02-25T23:22:00.003Z

Uh, I am not sleeping. Kaye took this with her camera phone, actually I was standing up and had my eyes closed....sorry for the grotesque image, it looks worse than it feels. They did not cut muscle just skin.....that me with the facelift and no double chin!!!!

Random thoughts of a mad man

2009-02-25T22:41:00.002Z

I was thinking the other night of some of my firsts and it felt like I should post them because they provided grounding for me as I was growing up.

First death: A man named Red Rector. He was the grandfather of the kids I grew up with. I was so young and I did not know how he was suddenly gone. I could not understand what others were talking about when they said he had died and there was a funeral. I later learned. His grandsons were my best friends. We had names for each other, Terry was Birdog, Steve was Duck. Larry was little Larry. Our other friend Joey was called Toy, We had another neighbor and he was Bean......me I was called Goat.....not sure how we came up with these names but they stuck with us for years.

First person with special needs: Mr Andrews was a man who went to my church on Fifth Street. I was not aware of who he was until a tragic fall from the roof a house made him a parapalegic for the rest of his life. I remember him sitting at the right side of our church every Sunday. Ready to testify to God's goodness. He never once complained of his plight. That was so long ago it was before the new laws about building structures for the handicapped but it cause our church to modify and install ramps and other things to help Mr. Andrews. I do remember he was steadfast in the matters of Church business. If he believed something was going wrong he spoke his mind. I will always remember Mr. Andrews.

First person I ever admired for how they prayed: A kindly old man in my first church named Mr. Parton. He was a man of impoverishment. He and his family lived behind the giant screen of the Monte Vista Drive in. (this is now the site of the gigantic and breath taking First Assembly of God) Mr. Parton was so gentle. He never complained about the poor conditions he lived in. When called up to pray he always ended his prayer with the saying of the Lord's Prayer. Always and when I realized what he was doing, I then realized what the Lord's Prayer meant and how it asked for everything we need on a daily basis from God. Mr. Parton, gentle, kindly, softspoken, never much of a conversationalist, shy, humble.

First Preacher to really help me understand what he did: Billy Allen. A small framed man whose raspy voice spoke boldly and made good sense of what he was trying to get across. I remember the day he preached his last sermon in my church. I was so emotional I just could not imagine life without him but he went on to another church and did well and I went on to enjoy the next preacher that came in.

First time I saw a corpse. It was a girl about my age. Her name was Cheryl Lee. She has ashma and was sickly all her life. I remember seeing her in a cofin at her home (back then, visitation was not at a funeral home but in THE home. I wondered how she breathed and how she slept and Mrs. Lee explained to me that she was peaceful now and not gasping for air and happy but I would never see her again in this life.

First Time I was truly disgusted with myself: Fathers Day when I was 13. This one still hurts but I told my dad before he died I regretted not doing it. The preacher preached on fathers and at the end of the sermon he called up all the kids to hug their dads. At 13 I was in that semi-adult world and hugging a parent was just not something that was do-able. I elected not to hug my dad, he never said a word about it, but I knew it hurt. Since that day, I have never failed to greet my sons with a hug, no matter where, when or how. I kiss them squarely on the neck and hug them.

First Time I felt the sting of failure: It was the 8th grade and I went out for basketball and got cut it hurt to see my name on the list, but not to be deterred Iwent out for baseball and got cut again. I knew I was not good enough to make those teams but I wanted a uniform so badly. I decided from then on when I did something I would study, train, and be determined to be the best. Later as a senior in high school, I made the wrestling team, lettered, and helped our team to a conference championship. I felt so good about that.

First Trophy: I had wanted some kind of recognition for a long time and believed that being awarded a trophy made me that successful person. I played Church softball in my senior season in high school and in one of the tournaments I played, I was possessed to make the all tournament team and get that darn trophy.......turns out I did make the all tourney team and was the MVP of the tournament to boot,,,,,,,imagine that,,,,the guy who was cut from two teams just a few years earlier now an MVP. I never coveted a trophy in that way since.

enough rambling God Bless you

Tim

Man do we have some catching up to do

2009-02-25T22:29:00.002Z

Oh my gosh how time flies. I am so sorry I have let you guys down with no postings. Shame on me! Bad Blogger! Ha! I will tell you I have some company on the blog network now and I am so happy to see him. It is Chris Stowe. Check out his blog "from the black chair" at http://chrisstowe.blogspot.com. He lays it all out there for you. Welcome Chris! Don't worry about the fireman's test. Do some research on Abraham Lincoln and see how many times he failed at accomplishing his goals and then see where he ended up. Now I am not saying there is going to be a statue of you in Washington like Mr. Abe but you will get there don't be discouraged.

Okay now me.......Well as most of you know I had surgery on the 12 to remove my melanoma. Whew they took a chunk out of the right side of my face. Kaye took a pic of me I will try to paste it in here somewhere. You will recognize me right off I look like Edward Scissorhands! Anyway I never knew how much trouble 4 millimeters could cause but wow. Here the good and the bad. They took the skin from my neck and stretched it up to my cheek and Wallah! Face lift! It is true! Every woman in my family is jealous because insurance paid for this facelift!. Here is the bad, I have to go back to Chapel Hill and get an MRI done on my brain......they think it is too big! ha! and a PET Scan. Seems Melanoma likes to run around in the blood and show up in the brain or other organs so to be safe here is what we are doing........MRI (done yesterday) PET to be done on Friday.......results the 11th of March and back into surgery shortly there after to remove a few more lymph nodes that were below the affected area. Rats. No need to argue cause the doc knows best!

We will keep you posted. I will put up another post in a few minutes with my random thoughts for this week

God Bless you all

Remember prayer warriors to keep John Quinn jr in your prayers he has throat cancer. Remember my good good friend Bob Citero, he just lost his job of 11 years and he is a good man. His son Jeff played baseball with Ryan. Bob is a faithful man and will get another, better job soon. Remember Lynn Ogle my brother in law's wife she had surgery yesterday. Remember the family of one of my dear friends, Jim Taylor he passed away suddenly last week.....heart attack.

Tim

Prayer Warriors

2009-02-07T23:39:00.002Z

Ever heard the words Prayer Warriors? They do exist. I spoke to my mother this morning and she told me about her conversation with her friend Florence. Florence has called her chain of prayer warriors to pray for me and the upcoming day surgery that I am having to remove a mole on my right temple. If you don't believe in the world wide chain of Prayer Warriors you are sadly mistaken. Remember the Kevin Bacon rule of 7 which says that within any given relationship, it will only take seven people to find a connection to you or your family. Well with the Prayer Warrior chain, it goes around the world. I have people as far away as Rome who call my name in prayer! I am so blessed.

The Prayer Warriors pray incessently when you ask them to. They seek the face and mind of God and they provide a welcome relief that someone is praying for you and your sickness or ailment or need. They truly embody the words Prayer Warrior because they pray and seek Gods face!

I am proud to have all my friends as prayer warriors. Remember they do exist and they do get results!

God Bless You
Tim

More News from the Homefront

2009-02-06T00:29:00.002Z

I was thinking that I needed to check in with everyone again. I spoke to my mom two nights ago and she told me all the things going on in her life and boy it sure is a busy life! It will soon be a year since my dad passed away. As I told you in a blog over a year ago, my dad always told me he was my greatest fan and never have forgotten that. Everyone needs a greatest fan so take a minute and think of who that might be. I always think about who I would tell that I am their greatest fan and the list is just too long! I can tell you this, I thank God for my wonderful wife and soulmate these last 27 years! I was in bed this weekend listening to the sounds of Kaye fixing her hair and putting on her make up. Its a funny thing the sounds you get used to in your house. The click click of her curling iron as she does her hair, the clap clap of her make up case as she closes it. The sound of the hair dryer as she dries her hair. Funny how you get used to those sounds and the comfort it brings to you. I bet you too are used to the sounds in your house or apartment or where ever you may be. Don't be suprised when those sounds go away and the empty spot you feel when they are gone. Take advantage of those sounds while you have them.

We are undergoing a metamorphasis at work. Our offices are clean and updated and we are all working hard in this economy to continue to thrive and prosper. Kaye and I pray for all the family and friends who are let go and become unemployed. God is going to answer all our prayers and all we need to do is continue to look for the best in every situation.

I ask you to continue to pray for John Quinn jr. He is not able to talk or eat because of the operation on his throat from the cancer they found. Pray for Gayle Mathews my admin assistant as she battles irregular heartbeats. Pray for my brother in law Danny as he too faces a new page in his life. Pray for Aunt Ella Mae. We spoke to her tonight and she if feeling much better and her spirits are up!

I do have to tell you a story I was told this week that just sent chill bumps down my spine. I am close friends with a couple who had told me they had a friend who found out he had cancer last year. Thinks looked very bleak over Thanksgiving and in early December he was told nothing could be done. He was not a Christian and his wife was a nonbeliever as well. He called my Friend over Christmas and asked could he have his minister visit him. He told my friend he wanted to have a clear picture and make thing right even though he never had believed in God or God's miracles. Over the course of this year, he had lost over 45 pounds and his spirits had sunk so low he was told the end was near. After he prayed with the minister he told my friend he was okay with everything and was ready..............fast forward to just after New Years......he got a call from his doctor about his rescent scan and guess what? His cancer was gone! Gone! can you believe that. I know it is true because my friends were so depressed about this man and now they are on Cloud 9! This man is now believing in the power of Christ. His wife is not believing in the healing power or Christ. He believes God has healed him with a purpose for his life and he is setting about fulfilling that purpose. Wow powerful stuff here. I told my friend I hoped to meet this man someday. What a testimony he has to tell.

Okay, I have rambled for enough

God Bless you

Tim

Just checking in

2009-02-01T02:11:00.002Z

I wanted to check in and give you some details on how things are going. We celebrated my Moms birthday on January 1o and we attended a suprise 50th birthday party for our good friend Lynn Murray. Her birthday was January 23. She was so suprised! We had a wonderful time visiting with all of Lynn and Mikes family. Our other friend Courtney Webb has a birthday today and Mike Murry's Mother "momma Murray" is having a birthday February 3. We have all decided to go to Wilson and take her to dinner for her birthday!

Things with me are good. I have found that I have a mole on my right temple right in the middle of my sideburn that needs to be removed so I will be going to Chapel Hill to have it looked at this Friday and plans made to remove it.

I have traveled so much this month that yesterday I just hit the wall and was exhausted. I have just got to learn that my body does not rebound like it used to. It has taken me a couple of days to rebound. Kaye and I went to Asheville this week and the trip was great. We stayed at the Grove Park Inn and I had a wonderful time. This is one of the finest trips you could ever take. The Grove Park has been around for many many years and the sweet smell of an open fire place greets you as you walk in. The fireplace is 1o feet high and 10 feet wide so you can pull up a rocking chair and watch the cracklin of the wood as it burns. You can feel the warmth of the fire and relax. It makes me want to go back. The rooms are very nice and you feel a sense of history when you relax in your room. The meals and servers make you feel like a king.

Needless to say our family has been hit hard by layoffs. Mom told us that my cousin Eddie was laid off after 30 years on his job. Kayes cousin Jeff Cobb was laid off after over 30 years with his company. So many people are suffering. So many people including family are suffering from this economy. I pray for this to turn around. Please remember my family members who are now unemployed and at an age where a new career is not possible. We hear daily of family who are put into a bad spot, lost jobs and no prospects for employment. God will have to move on our situation and I ask that you Pray with me for a rebound in our ecomomy and in the health of our nation.

My mom still continues to be a blessing to prisoners in her card and letter ministry and I thank God for her. Kaye is doing great but we know that knee surgery is just down the road for her. Matt is home this weekend for a brief visit. He is on track to graduate in 4 years with his incoming class and he will have earned 2 degrees. He has done so well. Ryan is finishing up his second year at NC State. In the fall he is going to enroll in a community school here and take culinary classes. He has decided that NC State is not where he needs to be and that is okay with us. He has to follow his heart just like all of us do. The heart is a great organ because it tells us the truth all the time where as sometimes we think too much and over think and make mistakes and if we had followed our heart we would have made the right decision. I too am facing a decision that is a battle between my heart and brain and I ask you to help me pray for guidance in this matter.

Okay you are caught up!

God Bless you all
Tim

My Scan results are in a Glory to God

2009-01-17T22:34:00.002Z

I know many of you are wanting to hear my scan results from Thursday and Kaye and me are very excited about the news. The radiologists report says that there are no spots and no activity at this time. What a miracle! I have always said that I am God's miracle and once again I am proof that he is. Kaye and I are so very glad. I will have another scan in 3 more months but if they go like the last two then maybe I can go 6 months between scans!

Now here is the bad news, I have managed to pick up a sinus cold and I am clogged up and feeling lousy. But who am I to complain after getting such great news. This one will be short because I do feel bad and I am waiting on my doctor to call in some antibiotics. Spread the good news! God is good

Please remember to pray for John Quinn jr who is needing a touch from God. Also my cousin Ann who has COPD and requires oxygen to breath. God is still in the healing business and I ask you to remember them in your prayers

Tim

My Mother's Birthday is today

2009-01-10T21:19:00.004Z

I wanted to spend some time on this blog talking about my mother and the wonder way she has nurtured me and my sisters. Today is her day because it is her birthday. Today she is as viberant and active as ever before. She has taught us so many things and you know that is what your remember as you get older, all the things you were taught. That does not mean that we all follow the advice of our parents because many times we strike out on our own and make our own decisions and when they go bad we chalk it up to experience which we then learn from and hopefully pass that along to our kids. Most times kids write our opinion off as old and outdated but you know somehow it comes back to being the right information and we just processed it wrong and made the decision to go another direction.

Well enough of my rambling, again today is Mother's day and Today we celebrate her and all her accomplishments. A mother of 4, a grandmother to 5 great children, a great supporter of community watch and a constant visitor by mail to those who are housebound, sickly, or imprisoned. Her live is full of opportunity to serve other people and she makes the most of it.

I will tell you this, the house is quiet again,,,,,,whew,,,,,it was a whirlwind of activity while Matt and Ryan were home, We loved having them at home but now we love the opportunity to be together just me and Kaye.

My three month scan is Thursday, Please remember me in your prayers. Please remember John Quinn, jr in your prayers as well, He is suffering right now from cancer to his throat and cannot speak. Kaye and I pray for him daily as we pray for all of you.

God Bless You
Tim

Today it is all about Mom

2009-01-10T21:19:00.001Z

I guess you are wondering where I have been....well

2009-01-01T18:23:00.002Z

I have no excuses. I have just been lazy about posting my condition for everyone to catch up. Please forgive me for this and I promise to do better! Mentioning bettter, I am feeling great. I am going to work every day and even going out of town every couple of weeks. I feel good, my appetite is good and I am getting ready for my next scan in Chapel Hill which is September 15th.
I do ask that you say an extra prayer for me as I go into this scan. Even though I am feeling great you just never know what is going to show up!

But now I need to catch you up! DId I tell you that Ryan and I attended the Georgia vs Georgia Tech football game on Thanksgiving weekend? This was something Ryan had approached Kaye and me back in OCtober and so we worked it out to where we would go to Gastonia for Thanksgiving and while there Ryan and I would travel to Athens and attend the game. Ryan and I had a great time. just the two of us, Father and son going down I 85 listening to music and talking sports!

Matt and Ryan came home in mid December and we have been doing things together since then. We gave Matt the video game Rock Band. If you have not seen or played this game, you are missing out. It is a lot of fun and a hit with the kids of all ages......even athe 50 somethings! Ryan got Georgia gear and wears it religiously! Oh by the way Ryan won $500.00 and $100.00 on Lottery scratch cards so talking about hooked.......he is hooked!!!!

Matt, Mom and me attended the candle light service on Christmas Eve at our church and it was wonderful to have our son with us. Ryan went to the service at the Church in Garner he attends. It was beautiful and warm and the smell of the candles helped you visualize the season and time of the year that we are in. The smells of Christmas are so comforting, the smell of candles in each home, the smell of cedar christmas trees, cookies baking, and for me.......fruit cake! Yes fruit cake. No one enjoys the Claxton Fruit cakes any better than me.

Matt is going into his last semester at ECU. He will graduate on time (4 years ) with the class he entered school with and believe it or not he will be a double major with two degrees in the same 4 year of college. WE are proud. He will do one semester of student teaching then he leaves ECU for good next December. Ryan is finishing up his second year this semester but he has decided this will be his last at NCSU. In the fall he is going to enroll in Culinary Classes at Wake Tech here in Raleigh.

Game Night, this has become a staple this month. Mom, Ryan, Matt, and Me enjoy a very competitve game of Scrabble. Kaye is very good but Matt has started to be more competitive and Ryan is really coming on. Me? I stink.

Today is January 1, 2009 and God has continued to bless my life and family. I am grateful for another day and I am hoping for more days to come. At this time that is all I plan for is one day after another. It has be a calming thing for me. I am more relaxed and more focused when I take it one day at a time.

I will save some more catch up for the next posts!

God Bless you all

God is great, The scan was great

2008-10-14T22:49:00.003Z

I know I promised to let you know how my CT Scan went yesterday but we were in the doctor's office all day! They got behind and Kaye and I ended up waiting over 4 hours to see Dr. Morris. I was so glad when he came in with the results. He told me and Kaye that he saw no signs of activity and that he was 99.5 percent pleased with the results of the gamma radation! Well I am 100% pleased. It has been a very tough week for me and Kaye and I can tell you the devil will play with your mind and cause you to believe in the worst case scenerio! It is tough to fight through the mind and where it wants to wonder especially at night. I would like awake at night and with every little pain or every little hitch, I would start to believe that oh no I can feel the tumor growing inside me. I know that is foolish to think but if you ever have to endure cancer and treatment, it will become a real life, never leave your mind for one minute thing.

Kaye and I rested very well last night. My next scan is in 3 months so I give God the glory for such a miracle. If you had seen me in May with my cut all the way down my belly and the pain all through June, you would not have given me much chance. Good thing we don't trust man and trust God because he knows what he is doing and we are on his time not ours.

Rejoice with me and continue to pray for me as I witness to anyone who will listen to what God is doing in my life!

God Bless you all
Tim

The world of change and pace

2008-10-09T00:11:00.002Z

I wanted to write just a few lines because we have been on such a fast track the last 3 weeks. Kay's aunt Ella Mae has been sick and in the hospital and Kaye went to Gastonia to stay with her for two weeks. During one of those weeks I had meetings in Cornelius and Atlanta followed up by a trip to Boston this weekend for the Golden Corral Convention. We had such a wonderful time in Boston. Granted we were in a hotel most of the time but the folks at Golden Corral put on a convention that is nothing short of phenominal. The meals they scheduled were incredibly prepared and planned and the activities they had were awesome.

October 13 at 11:00 am is my Scan. We see the doctor for the results at 1:00. I am feeling great and I just have to believe that God has created a miracle in me. I had a conversation with two friends at the show this weekend. First, Rhetta Pointer who works for SEFS has had a run in with cancer and she told me she had her thyroid removed and that she has some cancer in her Lymph nodes. She is scheduled for more chemotherapy next year. Please keep Rhetta in your prayers. Secondly, Doug Pearce told me that our mutual friend Barry Christian is very low at this time with cancer of the pancreas, stomach and liver. Barry has always been kind to me and quick with a witty story. I pray God's peace and healing be with him.

At this time I would ask that you remember Kaye's aunt Ella Mae that she would be strengthened. She has been ill for a long time. I want to also ask you to remember Reg Garner who is recovering from surgery for pancreatic cancer. Reg is a very viberate person who loves T.W. Garner Company and has such passion for the food business. Reg I hope to see back at work very soon

I am home for the next couple of weeks....whew....needless to say we will be on pins and needles about Monday. I will let you know how it goes just as soon as I get the good news and get back to my computer.

The pace of life has us in such a furious progression that we sometimes fail to stop and see that life unfolds for us all no matter who we are and what we do. God directs our paths and we have to deal with what is give to us both in finances and health. Without health you have nothing and I am so thankful that I have survived these last three years.

Many people come up to me and ask how I am doing. Many say I have been through so much and yet I don't look at it that way. God has directed my every step. God has granted me days, weeks, months and hopefully years to be around to enjoy life and family.

I hope you all take time to handle the pace of your life to where you can enjoy what God has given you

God Bless you all
Tim

update for September 15th

2008-09-15T16:15:00.002Z

Oh my, I am getting slack in keeping everyone aware of what all is going on. Our lives have been so busy since my last post. The biggest highlight for me and the family was our trip to South Carolina and a stay with our family and attending the game that NC State had with the University of South Carolina. It was our first trip to Williams Brice Stadium and we were not disappointed. What an atmosphere! It was a really hot muggy night but we sat in the NC State section and even though it was a losing cause, the pack faithful kept cheering until the end was inevitable. We had a wonderful time staying with and visiting Kaye's family in Columbia. They were such gracious hosts and welcomed us with open arms and food!

We stayed through the weekend. Matt had to get back to Greenville but Ryan stayed with us and rode back with us. Matt attended the ECU vs Virginia Tech game in Charlotte that weekend and came away with an exciting win!

Kaye and I have been traveling a good bit because I have been feeling really good of late. I still have to pace myself and rest when I have worn myself out. Save this date October 13. That is when I go for my first scan since the gamma knife treatment. I ask you to continue to pray for me that God will strengthen us as we go for this test and get the results. It never fails to make us nervous as we get near that time for a scan.

Kaye and I spent the entire week in South Carolina last week. I was down there on business the entire week. The lord kept us safe and gave me strength to endure the whole week. God is a gracious God and gives us the desires of our heart. The desire of my heart was to hold up all week.

People who need prayer are my sister Beth who had another stint put in a few weeks ago, Ann Holcombe who is recovering from surgery. Reg Garner who is recovering from Surgery. Stan Neighbors who is doing great after his surgery. The neighbor of one of my collegues in the business who went through a bone marrow transplant recently. And please remember Kaye because she has had an ear ache for so long and nothing seems to help. It give her fits. Her birthday is coming up the 26th of September so I have got to plan a special something for her because she is so wonderful to me.

Kaye and I got to attend Church yesterday and it was a wonderful service, should we have expected anything less? I think not. The pastor spoke on faith with works is like a vapor. He was right we need to show our faith but do something for our fellow person with any/all our talents or our faith is but a vapor. It really got me to thinking.....

God Bless you all
Tim

I have some catching up to do! that is a good thing

2008-08-09T18:05:00.002Z

whew, I have some catching up to do since I last put in a post. As you may have read, we were going to Philadelphia for the National School Show and then on to Atlantic City where our sons were going to join us and we were going to attend a Baseball game between the Braves and Phillies. I am so happy to tell you the entire week was perfect. We did not have one glitch in the whole week. We had a great time, our sons had a great time, and it was a pleasure to get together and enjoy ourselves. Of course since Matthew turned 21 in June he tried his hand at gambling at the Casino where we stayed in Atlantic City and like all of us, he left without his money,,,,err should I say Dad's money. He had a wonderful time, we had allowed him to bring his friend Daniel and they had a great time losing their money. The baseball game was perfect, we celebrated my birthday that day. Unfortunatley age is catching up with me because I thought I was 54 and it turns out I am only 52! Hurrah! I gained 2 years!

After we returned from Atlantic City we stayed in Raleigh a week then it was off to Gastonia (our hometown none the less) for the Legion State Baseball tournament which Ryan's team qualified for. They finished 4th which is wonderful for this as this was their first time ever in the tournament.

Matt and Ryan start back to college the 20th and boy will they be glad. The summer has been great but they miss the rigors of college and all the activity. Ryan for one misses it alot. We are home this month until the 27th when we invade Columbia for the first football game of the year. We have a wonderful family down there and they are taking us in and we are excited about seeing them.

Update from the Doctor's visit. I visited Chapel Hill on August 5 and the doctor asked a few questions and said I was looking good. He will schedule a scan for me in two months so I am confident that God's miracle in me will be complete and I will have a clean scan. This month it has been 3 years since I was diagnosed and the date never leaves me.

Prayer Requests, please remember our neighbor Leann Eck as she lost her father this week. He had been suffering from cancer. B.J. Dail has made a miraculous recovery and is doing really well according to his parents. Please continue to remember me in prayer and my family. I am sure the next time I post, the boys will be back in school, and we will be on our way to doing something somewhere.

I did want to tell you that Debbie at Golden Corral always reads my blog and always is cheerful when I go there. She is an inspiration for me and I thank her for being so positive.

God Bless
Tim

Treatment number 5 is now over

2008-07-11T22:07:00.002Z

Today, I finished my last treatment for the cyberknife radiation at UNC Hospital. We had stayed this week in Chapel Hill because I just was not sure about what the treatment would do to me. As it turns out nothing noteworthy happened and for that I am grateful for the prayers and the doctors at UNC. Here is the schedule for now. I go for a check up August 5. The nurse told me I would have a scan in 3 months barring any complications. I can only hope I have 3 months of uninterrupted healing. No doubt your prayers are big part of healing.

I have scheduled myself to attend the National School show in Philadelphia July 20-23 and on the 24th we are going to have Matt and Ryan join us for a weekend in Philly along with the baseball game between Philadelphia and the Atlanta Brave on Saturday (my birthday) we are so excited!

I spent a lot of time reflecting this week on the treatments I have had and how God has brought me through so many. The doctors always make no guarantees with each new procedure but I truly believe God has everything on his timetable and I need to be patient. I do feel an urging from God to help our church with a food pantry and when I get stronger, I am going to pursue it. With my contacts in the food industry, I hope I can be a help to someone.

I have tried to stay in touch with family and work via email since my surgery May 28, by the way the surgery is healing nicely but whew it was touch and go for a while.

Matt is in Greenville and Ryan is still here at home. They will start school in about 1 month so I know they are getting excited. I did want to shout out to Marshall. This young man is going to be Ryan's roommate next year and he is a quality young man that is so likeable. He is working hard this summer with his jobs so he can return to school and also get a new cell phone. He told me he reads my blog everyday. Marshall we love you and are proud to have you as Ryan's roommate next year.

I have not made a final decision on the tatoo but the Colts horseshoe is looking pretty good. I know the world is waiting to hear and Ryan and Marshall say they want to be there to see it happen. Of course they want their 3 tatoo and so we are negotiating right now. Kaye is cautiously willing to discuss it.

We are always grateful for the prayer lists we are on and the requests. So many people ask and I am so honored. I know you are a believer when you tell me that you are praying. I wanted to add another name to the prayer list. He is Reg Garner, the President of T.W. Garner and a fine friend of mine. He found cancer in his pancreas and was to have surgery this week. He is a great man and one I am proud to say I know. I will let you know about his condition as soon as I find out. T.W. Garner makes that great Texas Pete that Kaye loves so much.......our friend Maha loves it more than anyone. She uses it by the gallon at home! Go Girl!

I hope to keep you posted more often now that I have some time to heal. It has been quite a whirlwind since May 28th and everyone at my company and all my friends and associates have been so wonderful to help out.

We love you all
God Bless
Tim and Kaye

July 1- Time to start new

2008-07-01T23:01:00.002Z

I had my first treatment with cyberknife today. It is pretty powerful radiation. I will have a total of 5 over the next two weeks then we wait and do testing to see how it went. I had to lie on my back for 2 hours while the machine hovered around me and shot radiation to the specific lymph node that is being a problem child so to speak. I am a little tired from just the first session so I imagine that this is going to take some steam out of me but not beat me down. I emailed Kayes cousins in Columbia and I told them how excited we were to be coming to the land of the gamecocks and see state lace up the cleats against a really top program. They are excited too and hopefully we can tailgate before the game.

Matt came home today he was so excited about the stock he bought. he bought 3 shares of a gold mining company in argentina. He heard a hot tip from the Mad Dog. He is already up 1.50 a share. A real chip off the old block from his dad and grandad.

Ryan is excited these days because I told him I was seriously considering a tatoo. Really you only live once and I have been thinking about a small one for some time now. You should hear the suggestions.......NC State Logo, or Colts Logo, Mike Murray says he will buy it if I will do the tarheels logo,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,no way!!!! They also suggested the turtle and snail after my infamous turtle and snail joke. I am getting lots of suggestions,,,,,,Mike says to do Lunkhead since he and I always called that by our wives. Kaye said the Sharin logo......not bad but I have that on my car tag. We will see

We are praying for lots of friends like B J Dail who got moved to Chapel Hill but has some serious injuries. We went to see him last week. Please remember this 18 year old young man in your prayers. He has head injuries and leg injuries from a car accident

We are praying for my mom's friend who has a son who is my age who was newly diagnosed with cancer.

We are praying for Connie Chans father who had a mini stroke and Leann Eck's dad who has cancer.

This list goes on and on. I emailed Father Charles at the Vatican, Kayes buddy and he emailed me back and told me he would be praying for our requests........nothing like going to the top!!!!

Kaye is doing okay. Her knees hurt all the time. She thinks the tatoo thing is a hoot. She is so good to me. I wish everyone knew how supportive of me she is. When I hurt she hurts. When I am sick she cries. I know all you men have the same kind of spouse so cherish them. Take time for them. Talk to them.....we men can be so clamy sometimes,,,,,,can't shoulder the pressures of the world yourself you know. ASK a good woman her opinion and I bet you it is a better idea than yours.

God Bless you all
Tim

Here we go!

2008-06-22T19:59:00.002Z

It is now Sunday, and I am another day past the 28th of May. That is a day I will not soon forget. I never realized how much being cut on affected your body. I have had naseau. My incision has hurt and the sheer lack of strength in my legs and arms has been indescribable. Through all this Kaye has been right with me.. My mother and two of my sisters came up for the 28th and and then again last week and it was a pleasure to visit with them. It is sometimes a tough drive going that 3 hours down interstate especially when you do it up and back in one day. Mom brought me one of my favorite dishes, Calves liver and gravy.......mmmmmm I know you might not like the sound of it but I have loved it since I was a child. I get it everytime we go to K&S Cafeteria.
BJ Dail is still in critical condition so please remember him in prayer. He has leg and head injuries and is in the hospital in Boston. His mom is communicating with everyone via email. He is such a young man with such a bright future. God is on the scene and directing that family.
Stan Neighbors went home today. He has been so faithful to call and check on me! I could tell he was in pain but I could also tell he was relieved to have this surgery behind him. He promises not to be back at work till he is ready.........hummmmm We will see. Stan is a go getter!
The cards you are sending are such a comfort. I got one the other day from my friends at Golden Corral and that really touched me as they are more than a customer they are family.

I go to Chapel Hill on Friday the 27th for a PET Scan at 7:30 am then a doctor's visit at 10:00 then a planning scan and then another doctors visit. It is very possible I may start the treament the following week. Treatments are supposed to go MON and Thurs, Mon and Thursday then Wednesday and hopefully by the grace of God I will be through.. Prayers have been answered. Prayers are going to be answered.

Lastly please rememeber Jody and Beverly Freeman in your prayers. I know you don't know them by she is Kaye's cousin and she is such a blessing to us. They are dealing with something that God will see them through so I ask that you remember them in prayer.

Lastly, My mother has a friend who has a son that is my age that just found out he has lung cancer. You cannot imagine how this news affects you till you hear the words, you have cancer. I pray for him and the mother that the confidence God has given me in his healing power will prevail over them as they look at this as an opportunity and not a sentence. Cancer can be cured. It is not a death sentence. It is not the end all. Please remember them in prayer.

I will sign off by telling you today is a good day. God IS in control and we look forward to more good days.

God Bless
Tim

Update June 16th

2008-06-16T18:09:00.003Z

Whew, to quote the grateful dead, "what a long strange trip this has been!" On May 28th I went in to have this little node removed in hopes of a couple of days stay in the hospital and then home to recover and back to smooth ground........WRONG........The surgeons ended up cutting me from my strenum to my navel (23 staples) Ouch ouch ouch. I was on a Morphine drip, scratch scratch scratch itch itch! then 5 days later sent home to recover from the most devestating cut on me I have ever had. Yesterday and today are the first two days, I feel like being up. I did not say at 'em just up! The surgery was not as successful as we had hoped. I still have the spot and so tomorrow we head over to Chapel Hill to be examined by the doctors over there to see it this new technology called Cyber Knife will be a successful procedure. It focuses high dose radiation to spots as small as 1mm. Wild stuff. Otherwise I have been trying to overcome the nasuea and some of the stomach pain from where I was cut. Keep me in your thoughts this weeks and always your prayers.

Remember by friend and collegue Stan Neighbors with J&J Snack Foods as well. He is undergoing a 5 hour operation today at 1:30 to remove or repair a very serious hernia. He is going to have 6 weeks of recovery ahead of him and his cut is going to be longer than mine! He is a great guy with a great attitude and always calls to check on me.

A tip of the ole Irish Hat to Courtney Webb who came to our rescue this past week. Kaye has contacted Herpes of the eye and she has had to have constant hourly medication. Kaye and I were at our wits ends on someone to help us and take care of us and Courtney came to mind. She saved us with all her hard work and willingness to help out. She and Lil Tim McAllister have been our refuge in this storm cloud.

I appreciate all the cards sent my way. Each one has made a difference in my day.

Love to you all
God Bless
Tim

Wednesday May 28th Surgery Day

2008-05-24T23:21:00.002Z

This coming Wednesday, we go into surgery and remove that pesky lymph node that is just above my stomach. Needless to say, I hope this is the only time I have to have my insides looked at and some taken out. We believe and have been told that the node is encapsulating some Reid Steinburg cells so pray extra hard that node stays intack until they remove it and then we will be on smooth ground.......at least until the next pet scan which will be in about 2 months.

I had a Pulminary Function test on Thursday as well as an EKG and bloodwork. The PFT came out very good. The doctor said that I had some small passage ways that needed to be treated with an inhaler so they prescribed Advair for me. I do the inhaler thing once in the am and once in the pm. It seems to help. My EKG was fine.

Kaye, my beautiful bride vows to stay with me night and day at the hospital. Such devotion. I cannot fathom her dedication to me but I rest quietly at night beside her knowing she is always there for me. She battles her own aliments and that is a double edge sword when taking care of me but she protects me from over doing it.......most of us guys used to consider that nagging but I see now it is a protective mechanism of the wife. What a great lesson I have learned.

Matt is in summer school and Ryan is home for the summer. Ryan is so good to cut the grass every week and Matt is good to call home and check on us. Matt will be a senior next year can you believe that. He still has a 3.1 grade point average and this summer part of his school is at Pitt Memorial hospital doing patient visits.......A real Gray's Anatomy going here but without the drama and sex. The way a real hospital is done. I used to watch Gray's but too much drama and too much sex for me. Oh well did not mean to editorialize.

We had a family reunion of Kaye's family this weekend but missed it because of my surgery this week. Kaye was so looking forward to that.

I will post you again before I do the surgery thing

Pray for me!

God Bless
Tim

UPDATE

2008-05-13T00:23:00.002Z

My oncologist called today and made his recommendation and after conferring with some of his peers and the doctor who oversaw my stem cell transplant and the decision is to surgically remove the spot that I have sitting on the top of my stomach.

Jeff Crane is going to have his surgeon call us this week and schedule a meeting and hopefully do the surgery next week. WoW that is fast! Jeff told me that the procedure is a lot like a gall bladder removal. The recovery time is almost the same.

Soooo onward we go and Dr. Crane says that this is the only spot in my body and it is not attached to any organ so it is free to be removed. I have had the spot since my November Scans so it is time to remove it.

I am so thankful for the knowledge that God gives these oncologists and surgeons and I am convinced we are headed for open highway!

Continue to keep me in your prayers as I pray for you all

God Bless
Tim

The Endoscopy.....it is not a cyst

2008-05-10T18:01:00.001Z

we met last Wednesday with Dr. Patel who would do my endoscopy on Friday. He is renown for his expertise in endoscopy and the one my oncologist originally wanted for my first endoscopy. He is a slender dark skinned young doctor with a british accent. After looking at the previous endoscopy results and the PET's from previous scans, he thought this might be scar tissue from the radiation or a cyst or even a dying lymph node.

We really liked him and his confidence. The endoscopy went well he went straight to the mass and accessed it with a needle to do the bioposy. The preliminary results from the pathology show evidence of Reed Steinberg cells which are cells that indicate lymphoma. This was not what we had hoped for but we are optomistic that further reports will indicate otherwise. We should know something from my oncologist Monday or Tuesday. God is in control and I believe he will move on the scene when he is best glorified.

I feel really good. my weight is up. I am not in distress and am not in pain. The mass is behind my stomach and is 2.5 cm in diameter. There are a couple of things to remember from my previouse visits with Jeff Crane my oncologist.

1. Hodgkins cells can hide anywhere in the body
2. Hodgkins cells move through out the body and in most cases move to lower parts of the body which it appears here.
3. It really is important to note that my new radiologist first noticed a spot when he reviewed my files for an appointment with him in February. He ordered the Cat scans just to be on the sfe side. Jeff ordered the PET scan when the mass just could not be identified.
4. Jeff wanted Dr. Patel in the first place but our former insurance company did not have his office approved. We now have BSBC and they are approved with Dr. Patel.
5. We will pray for God's hand in finishing the work he has begun.

Had my radiologist (who was seeing me for the first time) not noticed this, I might have gone on with this without detection.

I will post the results and the course directed by my oncologist. I love you all and please continue to pray for me and my family.

God Bless You
Tim

Time to catch you up again

2008-05-10T16:53:00.002Z

I wanted to give out a couple of posts so you can catch up on the topsy turvy lives that Kaye and I have. Of course it is probably no more topsy turvy than yours but here goes.

We had a little of a scare when we found out our cousin Ann Holcombe was facing some serious surgery and possibly be confirmed with leukemia but through positive thought and prayer can you believe that she had her surgery but the doctors found the trouble was coming from a stitch she had in her from a previous surgery. Wow what a relief. God is good. He comes through just in the nick of time.

Last week we learned that one of Kayes favorite aunts passed away. Thelma Caldwell. She was a sister to Kayes father. We went back to Gastonia for the funeral and saw her uncle Melvin (who shares a bout of shingles with me) and all her family. It did us good to see family both mine and hers. We spent the night with her aunt ella mae. We love her so much. We got to see my mom too and had a great visit. She now has a new back door and a new table and chairs!

We returned to Raleigh on friday because Matt was coming home and Ryan was coming over and we got to enjoy time with them.

I am doing well

2008-04-20T21:27:00.004Z

My dad passed away February 10th and everyday I still think of him. I talk to my mom almost every other day and she is doing great. My 6 month on nephew, Carson is growing and making life around her house a real joy, full of commotion as we like to call it.

I had an endoscopy done 2 weeks ago to look at a 2cm spot at the bottom of my esophagus. The results were inconclusive so guess what. I am having another endoscopy done May 9th and this time the doctor will use a needle and drain off some of the fluid. I am not in any distress and there is not pain at the site of what appears to be a cyst. The endoscopy does not hurt but I am put to sleep for about 30 minutes so as I have told everyone, I don't choose these things I am in the hands of my doctors and if they say do it then I do it. I have learned long ago they know what they are talking about and I just go along.

Kaye has been wonder to care for me. I even made a mistake with my meds that she caught and we corrected. Seems as I misunderstood the dosage on my thyroid medicine and I was taking too much. Not good. I felt great but did not need that much dosage.

Work is going really well. I am working 5 days a week most weeks. Kaye says that is too much and at the end of the week I believe she is right.

We had a nest of wrens on the front porch and yesterday they had a very crowed nest as we say 4 little head, beaks and pairs of eyes bulging from the nest. I wanted to take a picture of the nestlings today and when we came out on the porch this morning, they were gone. I tell you this because today Ryan came to help us cut limbs that were hanging over our fence and creating too much shade. As were were laboring to bag the limbs I told Ryan, "your parents are getting old" and he just listened. I believe it is okay to admit limitations when you grow old. I know we are proud and think we are still in our 30's but we have to admit it is a younger generation taking over. Also our little birds fly the nest some day and we have to be prepared to accept it.......they do come back though

God bless you all
keep me in your prayers
Tim

whew I have got to start getting better on the updates

2008-04-20T21:27:00.001Z

Its been a month

2008-03-08T19:43:00.002Z

It has been a month since I lost my dad and I still imagine him as just being out of town. Its kind of sad to know you don't have that person to talk to or get an opinion from. Sometimes you feel like you are on an island but then again, I have my mom and my sisters and my wife and kids and so I am blessed to have had my dad for 72 years.

Mom is doing great. She has not missed a beat except for battling a cold which we all have had this time of year. Kaye is still shaking off the effects of a cold from a month ago.

I am so blessed to have such a great family to support me. This week has been spring break for Matt and Ryan and once again the house is filled with conversation and dialogue and laughter and most all the beautiful experience of just laying eyes on my children and seeing how they are maturing and growing into great adults. I just love to look at them and marvel at how they have grown.

I just learned that my neice Natalie got accepted to college and I am very happy for her and I know she will love College.

I am breathing so much better now and my stamina has rebounded so well that Kaye and I are travelling a lot with work. I ask that you continue to pray for me as I pray for you.

God is good
Love to you all
Tim

Follow up with the Radiologist

2008-02-27T00:56:00.002Z

We had our first visit with my new radiologist and he told me that after reviewing my records he was amazed at the progress I had made and how much I had taken over the last three years and still kept going. God is an amazing God and if were not for him and his perfect will, I surely would have not made it. He gave Kaye superhuman strength to look after me and nurture me and care for me and he gave me a family who prays and keeps in touch. Never doubt that God works in the background, and frontground.

My radiologist said the only thing he say in my Cat scan was what appears to be a cyst that would be treatment related just below my esophagus. He said he had no doubt it was non cancerous and said more than likely it came from all the treatment I have had over the years. He is recommending another PET scan to be sure then an outpatient scope to draw the fluid off the cyst. He said as far as my chest he saw NO evidence of tumors, or swollen nodes.....Praise God what a healer!

I will have the PET Scan on the 26th of March. My family is doing fine. I miss my dad. Even though he left us with great memories, I still think of him daily. My Mom is doing very well although she has that congestion like me and Kaye have had.

I hope you all are doing fine. As our minister spoke Sunday, you have to get all your life processes in line, spiritual, financial, health, and social before God can really bless you. Kaye and I are working to get everything in line and accept Gods blessings.

We love you all
God Bless

CAT Scan comes back good

2008-02-20T23:46:00.002Z

Just wanted to let everyone know that I had my CAT Scan on Monday and Monday night my doctor called and said it looked good. He said I showed that I was stopped up with a lot of gunk from my sinus's to my lungs. I told him I knew that because I had been blowing my nose for 3 days!

I see my new Radiologist on Friday. My old one whom Kaye and I loved took a job in Charlotte.

I have missed up dating everyone over the last two months becasuse of my dad's condition and this congestion. Seems everyone has it.

Praise God for another clear scan. That is number 3. I continue to ask you to pray for me and my family as we move through the times without my dad. I continue to ask that you remember me in prayer becasue that is why I am here today to be a witnessing miracle of God's healing ability.

God Bless you all
Tim

My dad is gone

2008-02-20T23:38:00.002Z

Since my last post, I lost my dad. He drifted away from us at 10:45 PM on Sunday night. We received friends at the church where his service was. We play music from his favorie CD and we had a simple ceremony which is what my dad wanted.

His last two weeks were forgettable. He had reached through so much pain and discomfort only to find more pain. We had already said our goodbyes and he knew how much we loved him and we knew how much he loved us. The void will not soon be filled as we remember what a special man he was.

Mom is doing great. She has a remarkable determination to continue on and work through every obstacle. Mom and Dad had already made all their arrangements and let me say that is what everyone should do. Morbid as it may sound you will never regret it. Leaving your arrangements behind for your loved ones is almost too much to bear.

As we walked away from the cemetary that blustery Wednesday, I felt a tinge of relief that my dad went out of this world with Jesus in his heart. He left for a place of rest and no pain. Funny how he and I shared some of the same pain over the last couple of years. I know I will see him again and I find comfort in that. I find comfort in the fact that he has gone ahead of us and will await our arrival some day.

Today is Fathers day - My Father Ted Greene

2008-02-09T17:53:00.000Z

Today is Saturday and my dad, Ted Greene is perhaps days or hours from leaving his family and this earth. Kaye and I have visited with him the last few weeks and Kaye spent week before last helping my mom and sisters with his care. He is now in the care of Hospice and they are doing a wonder job of caring for him and us. As my mom reminds all of us, we have said our goodbyes over and over the last few months. We have told him how much we love him and he has told us the same. I kn0w my dad is going to a place of peace without pain. I will miss him as will all my family!

My dad was special because he had so many experiences in his life. He was always one to dream of travel and every summer as a child he would load the family up and head to destinations we never dreamed of., New York City, Nova Scotia, Bangor Maine, Houston to see the wonders of the Astro Dome, New Orleans to see where Mardi Gras is held, Florida, and Tennessee and Washington DC to see the Washington Monument and all the monuments that are there. He loved to travel and experience the wonders of the USA.

My dad, was born on the south side of Gastonia. He quit school in the 7th grade. He always wanted his kinds to have better educations as did my mom. He worked in his early years at a grocery store in the Jenkins Heights section of Gastonia. Those were the days of hardwood floors with the musty smell of smoked meats and sawdust on the floor. I love those fragrances even today. He later worked for Holsum Bakery working a bread route. His day started at 3:00 am! whew! He entered sales in 1969 for a Foodservice and produce distributor called Goodnight Brothers, later it became a part of Sara Lee. It is here that he learned the art of selling, managing and stocks. He rose to head of sales and later became head of chain accounts. He joined the local chefs club and contributed every month to their meetings often attending them and sampling the fine cuisine that they would provide. He loved elegant food. He also learned about stock ownership and began to purchase company stock and watched Sara Lee grow and split during their haydays of the 70's. It was in his job that he networked me into the brokerage business with a man named Danny Poole and a company called J.A. Richardson. Like him I have never left the food business since that time.

My dad loved his family, he loved to sing, early in my days as an adolescent, we would attend the neighborhood church and he would sing with a trio at church, often talking before each song and telling whata it meant to him. I will never forget the courage he showed when he sang at his father's funeral many years ago.

My dad loved all genres of music. I guess my love of music would come from him. He exposed us to Country and Western, often taking us to shows at the old Charlotte Coliseum on Saturday nights to hear Tammy Wynette, Patty Smity, Loretta Lynn, and locals like Tommy Faile and Skeeter Hass. He loved opera, something we never understood. He would listen to the piano music of Floyd Cramer and also enjoyed Elvis. He loved the hispanic sounds of Herb Alpbert and the Tijuana Brass, someithing my sister Beth will always remember.

He loved talking to people. He loved all races of people. He befriended many Asians and Greeks along his journey. Many of who helped me as I attempted to become a food salesperson. As soon as they found out I was Ted Greene's son, they would smile and welcome me. He loved to come to my house in Raleigh and speak with Connie and Lam Chan our neighbors about China and Tiawan and far away places.

He was educated in electronics. As a young man, he took a TV repair course through the mail from DeVry Institute. Here he because very proficient in TV repair and did it as a hobby. That was the days when tv's had tubes in the back of them and often their circuitry was controlled by tubes of all sizes.

My dad was self taught in many forms of repain. Today he would be an invaluable asset. He would often fix the things that go wrong much as I would call on a specialist. He could repair cars, repair lawnmowers, repair washing machines, he often did the plumbing in the houses he rented out. He could fix almost anything he set his mind to do.

He loved stocks and companies with new innovations. He would spend countless hours on the internet where he was self taught on how to use the computer. He would research companies and tell me all about them every chance he got. He was talk with such zeal and excitement about what each company was doing.

Yes, my dad would amaze you with the experience he amassed in 72 years of living and 50 plus years of marriage; but now that voice will be silenced and those experiences will be left to us to rehash and tell our sons and daughters, much as everyone does. My dad was not famous in the sense of the public eye but he made his mark on everyone he met. Time spent with him would reveal a wealth of knowledge and a gentle spirit. He was kind and compassionate. He was supportive of all of us always telling us how proud he was of us and we knew it because we know of his childhood spent on the streets of South Gastonia fending for himself and making do as he could; but today we are proudest of him for he has run this race. made us proud, lived a life he enjoyed and met so many people and went to so many places. Now we will carry on and talk of him everytime we sit down to a meal that is elegant or watch a cruise sail off into beautiful blue waters, or see a distant city that is new to us. We will think and talk of him and that is what he would want.

Doctors Visit January 21

2008-01-30T01:17:00.000Z

Just wanted to let you know that my doctor visit with Dr. Crane went well a week or so ago. He is pleased with the sound of my lungs and says that I am doing well. I still have the left over areas from my last bout with shingles and often they hurt and as you know the shingles can drive you crazy. Luckily I have a drug called lyrica which helps but the spots never go away......rats.......

My dad is very sick and needs your prayers. I truly believe that even with all I have gone through, he has gone through more. He had been having problems with water collecting on his stomach and last Friday he had a Denver Shunt put in which helps him pump the water off his stomach that collects there without having to go to the doctor every time. We have visited with him the last couple of weeks and every visit is special. He never complains and he is always glad to see us. I know he desires your prayers as do I.

Kaye left on Monday of this week to go help my mom and sisters with my dad. She is so good to help other people in need. If there ever was a saint she is one. I miss her dearly. This is the longest we have been apart since I was diagnosed in August 2005. Pray for her safe return home.

My youngest Ryan (the tatoo getter) has now decided he wants to shave his head so we agreed, I mean he IS 18 how can we oppose him. He is such a good young man and it appears he feels this is what he wants so we agreed and he looks good. He has a lot of friends who are buzzing their heads. Go figure.

My next scan is scheduled for March so I will let you know the date.

So long for now

God Bless you
Tim

update

2008-01-08T23:16:00.000Z

I see it has been since December 20th that I posted something so I thought I would catch up tonight. We had a wonderful Christmas with both Matt and Ryan coming home. Of course the latest craze is a video game called guitar hero and we watched Matt (who is already pretty good) and Ryan do it for hours. Even our nephews Michael and Hunter were caught up in the playing.

Christmas was very special for me because last year I had just come home from my stem cell transplant and it was tough. Kaye did such a wonderful job of nursing me back to health, She still does a great job. I go back to my doctor on January 21 and I have a C-Scan in March.

My mom's birthday is January 10th so here is a shout out to mom HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I am working most days for 6 hours or so. We have been buring up the highway going back to Gastonia this past month. This weekend we took the boys and visited my dad. What a great time we had with my sisters, nieces, and my boys together at mom and dad's.

Today Matt and Ryan went back to school so we are missing them. I am reading a book from our long time friend Jentzen Franklin and watching his TV show. He is so dynamic.

Well thats all for this post

God Bless You
Tim

Yes it truly is the season to celebrate

2007-12-20T00:09:00.000Z

I am trying my best to keep you all updated. Time seems to fly by me before I can get everything caught up but here goes.
Last week Matt and Ryan came home for the holidays. I did not know just how much we missed having them here until a few days ago. I had gone to bed but I could hear them laughing and having lighthearted banter going on with Kaye. She loves to cut up with them and it makes her so happy to have them around. We had almost gotten used to just me and her and the boys coming home just made the holiday experience and home life lighen up. To top that off several of their friends came over and all of the sudden the kitchen was flooded with hungry college students fixing everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to microwave grits. Ryan chose his favorite of mashed potatoes with japanese yum yum sauce poured over them..........ugghhh.

Matt had his wisdom teeth removed yesterday and it was a tough go for one of them. Kaye did a wonderful job of nursing him and I know he has been hurting but he has not complained. Matt is not one to complain even in the face of pain.

Ryan shocked us last week by coming home and asking could he get a tatoo! Kaye and I were in shock. He had been telling us there was something he wanted to discuss with us and our minds were wild with speculation. We thought he was going to tell us he was flunking out of college or that he wanted to transfer or that he wanted to get married or that he wanted to move out to an apartment (this last one on the heels of his losing his wallet) But to our suprise he wanted a tatoo of a 4 leaf clover to celebrate his Irish heritage. Kaye and I thanked him for asking us even though he could have gone and had it done without our consent since he is 18. On Friday of last week the entire family met at the tatoo parlour and sure enough Ryan had it done. We asked him to just settle for one for the time being and he agreed. You just never know do you?

Both young men are so grounded and yet are different Matt the arch conservative with the soft heart and feelings and Ryan the out there live for now and see where it takes us type. Matt is now entering his Junior Spring semester and Ryan is ending his first semester. My how time flies.

Oh forgot to update you on ME. My doctors appointment last week went well. I don't have to go back to see him for a follow up until January 21st and I don't have another C Scan until March! Praise God. I am having to take a thyroid pill each day but I was told radiation would probably cause that to happen and they were right.

We will be home for the holidays. Matt has a sore jaw, Kaye is content to stay at home and Ryan is just happy being Ryan. Gosh I love this life!

Please continue to pray for me and my dad as well as Rhonda Woodlief and many of the other people who are ailing this holiday season. As always God bless you all no matter where you are and no matter what your circumstances are. We have family that is incarcerated, we have family who have broken families, and some are battling addictions so like all families we desire the prayer and intervention of God in their lives and the lives of our friends.

Tim

Happy Holidays to you and yours

2007-12-06T23:28:00.000Z

I just wanted to enter a pre-holiday "hello" to everyone who pops onto my blog. If you saw the pictures from the birthday celebration then you know we had a wonderful time with a lot of wonderful friends. I wish I could have posted more pictures.

I went this weekend to see my Dad and spend some time with him. He is making the best of the situation with his health and I almost believe that if he did not have to wait so long on each appointment with the doctors, he would be a lot better. Doctors are great but man they are swamped with patients and really make you wait when you go to see them.

I did want to tell you a couple of things about our stay this weekend. First off we got a room that had a broken toilet so we ended up having to go to the room across the hall when we wanted to use the bathroom. You might think that why did we just not move to another room. Well when we travel we take lots of stuff, pillows, a heating blanket, oxygen for me, drinks like 2 liter sundrops, and so to move all that stuff is a pain and hassle so we put up with the going back and forth across the hall. To top all that off, someone stole our car tag on Saturday night and we had to file a police report. That is the first time something like that has happened to us.

Another observation that I had was just how much the eyes show you a person's inner self. As I talked with my dad, I looked closely into his eyes and I had never noticed how blue my dad's eyes were until I really stared into them. I saw for the fist time just how proud he was of me and my family. I always know he was proud because he is forever telling me but I really did not know the depth of just how proud he was until I looked closely into those blue eyes. In my dad's eyes I saw the depth of his love for his family. I saw the depth of his commitment to us over the years and how he worked so hard to feed, cloth, and put us through school. I saw and heard him say just how great my mom was at being a care giver and I have told you before just how great a care giver Kaye is and now he too understands that a great caregiver is a blessing and wonderful gift from God. I saw his eagerness to get well and to put this behind him. I told him I have been going at this for 2 years and I finally see the light and feel the health that I once thought was gone forever. God continues to build my strenght every day......mind you it is baby steps but God has a plan and only when we are patient do we see the plan unfold. You can't force God into a hurry up situation. God does not do a two minute drill.

I go to my Oncologist on Monday for a check up. Please continue to pray for me and my family. Kaye has cronic ear aches and inflammed tendons in her wrist and is in a lot of pain.

Happy Holidays to you and God Bless you

Tim

2007-11-29T03:26:00.000Z

These were the posters my parents had made for me as I was going through the treatment and they really did lift my spirits. I as so proud of them for having them made. We flew them on the day of my party

2007-11-29T03:23:00.000Z

Of course no visit to Raleigh is without a visit to ORVIS

More Guests at the Party

2007-11-29T03:16:00.000Z

2007-11-29T03:11:00.000Z

Matt and His Girl Savanna after coming from the football game

2007-11-29T03:08:00.000Z

2007-11-29T03:04:00.000Z

Of course no birthday party would be a party with out my two "sons" showing off a little muscle. That is Ryan on the right and "little Tim" McAllister on the right. Guardans of the peace around the house!!!!!!!!

2007-11-29T02:59:00.000Z

Some of our dear freinds that is Bernadette McAllister on the right and Martha Tyndall on the left. We have played baseball with both their sons. I will never forget the year we went undefeated at Wilders Grove and she bought all the players a figure of a baseball player with the base engraved with 17-0 undefeated season and tournament.

2007-11-29T02:56:00.000Z

playing catch up

2007-11-24T16:49:00.000Z

I know it has been a week or two since I posted by news about my second clear PET Scan. We have had a whirlwind of activity going on with the scan and with my decreasing of my prednesone (boy am I glad) and with my "first birthday" celebration. Kaye did a wonder job of inviting all my friends and close to 80 people came over to help me celebrate. I am so grateful for everyone's prayers and for the Goodness of God and for his guidance. We had a great time. lots of people came and lots of people who have prayed for me showed their support for me and my family. It really is a small world when you get down to it because we are all connected in some way to each other if not by birth, by friendships, by our faith, by our social lives or where we live. I hope to post some pictures of our celebration on my blog very soon.

Matt and Ryan are home for the holidays. We celebrated Thanksgiving together here at the house just the 4 of us. It was a special time because this time last year I was in a hospital room and my brother in law Doug brought us dinner from Boston Market. What a difference a year makes.

We have all changed in the last year. Not just me and my life but all of us. When you reach your 50's you beging to mark time by events and not years. Not that I am tired of counting years but if you count years you have a tendency to look ahead to future years and I just don't do that anymore. I enjoy each day.

Again I appreciate everyone who whispers a prayer for me each day and I thank you for that!

God Bless you all
Tim

"Your Scan looks good"

2007-11-13T13:43:00.000Z

Those were the words I heard from Doctor Jeff Crane yesterday afternoon after having my second PET scan in 5 months. Praise God for his healing and answer to prayers. Thank you for your persistence in calling my name in your prayers. I was so happy to hear his words over the phone. Kaye was on the line as well. He said now we need to get you off the prednesone and told him I was all for it!

I will have a visit with my radiologist tomorrow and he will tell me more in detail about the test and what to expect in my recovery. We also got a note from him telling us he is leaving his practice here in Raleigh and relocating to Charlotte so unless I continue to see one of his partners, I will not see him after December. Change is inevitable in life as long as we are all in business of furthering our lives and careers and providing for our families. Dr Anderson spent 12 years here in Raleigh and I believe that God led him to us in a time when I needed help.

Kaye has planned a 1 year birthday party for me this Saturday. It will be 1 years on the 15 of this month that I had a stem cell transplant. I can't believe a year has gone by so quickly. It will be nice to celebrate.

I am in the process of getting stronger each day. The fatigue is still present and I run out of gas after a few hours. I still need oxygen to help me when I over exert but for now "the scan was good" and I praise God for it!

God bless you all
Tim

Some days are not always rosy

2007-11-05T22:08:00.000Z

Here it is November 4th and the weather has turned to the chilly side. I told Kaye that cold weather is not my favorite time of the year. I get cold even under the air conditioning during the summer months. This month as you may know is a particularly difficult month because the 15th will be one year since my stem cell transplant. I told Kaye the brisk morning air and the cool days bring back unpleasant memories of that period of my life. My mom says it is called anniversary sickness where you remember an unpleasant event that has happened in your past and upto that time you are sick when you dwell on it. I am ready to get over it!

On Monday the 12th I go for another PET Scan, Please pray for me. On Wednesday we get the results and on next Thursday I go for a PFT. I have had some problems with breathing and fatigue and I hope it is coming from the reduction in the prednesone that I have been taking. Needless to say I will have some troublesome nights until we get the results of the PET. ANY CANCER patitent will tell you these are the most troublesome days the days before a PET. I will let you know the results as soon as I hear from the doctors.

I know this is a brief entry but at this time I just want to meditate on Monday and ask God's wonderful hand be on me.

God Bless you all
Tim

2007-10-25T22:38:00.001Z

Hopefully I have mastered the art of posting pictures

Pictures of me and the mrs

2007-10-25T22:33:00.000Z

I promised pictures of me and Kaye and here is the one from this weekend!

A ministry comes in many forms

2007-10-23T01:02:00.000Z

I spoke to my mother the other day who told me of the many people she sends my blog out to. I am honored to have you read it and share my thoughts with you. My mom has a unique mail ministry that touches so many lives. Those who are homebound, those in prison, those who just want to know how I am doing. Again I say I am honored to have you share my thoughts.

I told Mom that she could send this out to anyone who wanted to know how I am doing. In my earlier posts I forgot to tell you that the doctor has schedule me for a PET Scan in November. This is a scan that detects any activity going on inside my body. I ask that you continue to pray for me and ask God to return this scan as negative of activity.

My Mom is a tremendous giver and has a great deal of passion for her family and mail partners. She is currently a caregiver for my dad who has had a rocky road the past few months and continues to need our prayers. He is still my number 1 fan and is always upbeat when I talk to him. I can only hope to have his enthusiasm for life!. God will see him through and provide rest for mom and dad with your prayers.

To those that read this I offer you my love and prayers for any situation that you may be facing. I have seen the hand of God work. It is not always right away and as a young person I could never understand why God was so slow to react but now I see that God unfolds our livepaths and does not flash it all at once. This unfolding is slow and graceful and always to our benefit.

Next post will be a suggestion from me for reading a couple of books that changed my life but for now

God Bless you all

Tim

The Trip to Greenville NC

2007-10-23T00:57:00.000Z

First and foremost let tell you that I am down to about 2 and a half miligrams of prednesone so in another week or so I hope to be off of it. It causes large blood bruises on the back of my hands and often I get tired and sleepy. Speaking of tired. I am noticing that I am not as winded as I used to be and that is a good sign that my lungs are healing. Hopefully I will regain 80 or 90 percent of my lung capacity!

Last weekend Kaye and I traveled to Greenville to see NC State play ECU. We had some special tee shirt made by our next door neighbor that said on my shirt "ECU DAD" and underneath it NC STATE DAD. Kaye's shirt said ECU Pirates and underneath NC STATE MOM. Everyone who saw us loved them. We explained we had two sons and one attended ECU and one attended STATE. Who won? Well NC State managed to finally win a game unfortunately at ECU's expense. We stayed over night and visited Matt in his apartment the next day.

I have pictures of Kaye and me and will post them on this blog soon!

Lets try this again

2007-10-23T00:47:00.001Z

my chest x-ray came back the same as the one in September so Praise God for his healing and grace. I visited the radiation oncologist who told me he was very pleased with how I was doing and how I was progressing. I asked that all important question and he told me this, I asked "Doctor Anderson is there a point in time when you will say no need for anymore visits as you are cured" to which he said, Hodgkings Lymphoma is a cancer that might go into remission for many years and then reappear, we will always be checking you it just may be over longer periods of time. I choose to believe that I received a miracle from God and I am going to claim his healing. Please join me in proclaiming that same if you would just say or whisper "Thank you God for Tim's healing!" I appreciate it

We did visit Lucille and Bob in their mountain home and had a great time. Lucille and Bob treated us like royalty. Kaye and I were pretty tired from the weeks travels and Lucille let us sleep as much as we wanted. We got to meet some of their friends and they treated us to grilled steaks. It was a wonderful time of fellowship. Lucille prepared a mountain breakfast that was a feast! Grits, eggs, montain honey, mountain applebutter, country ham, gravy all served outside on their deck. Oh my just thinking about it makes we want to go back and experience that again!!!! Sorry to temp you so.

We were all set to see my nephew Carson and believe it or not, Kaye caught Conjunctivitis and could not visit him at my mothers. She was so disappointed. I did get to see and hold little Carson and he was so precious to hold. I remember by two sons at that new born age and it was good to have that feeling again.

I post another blog and tell you about the dosage of prednisone and our trip to Greenville NC but for now

God bless you all

Tim

Chest X-Ray results and more news

2007-10-23T00:46:00.001Z

Some random thoughts

2007-10-03T00:11:00.001Z

I wanted to send out some random thoughts as I approach my new "birthday" and the marking of 1 year since my last chemotherapy and my stem cell transplant.

I have a chest x-ray tomorrow and I pray that it is clear just like the last one. I believe every cancer patient has in the back of their mind what if, what if. It never goes away. It never leaves your consciousness even when you are at your happiest you always think that what if.

Not to belabor the point but November 15 will be the day I got the infusion of my own stem cells and started me on the way to recovery. October is the month last year that I went through thegrueling procedure called Stem Cell Transplant. I remember with great clarity the two shots a day for 14 straight days to entice my bone marrow to over produce stem cells and pour them into my blood stream for harvesting. I remember the 3 days I was hooked to an Apheresis machine that pumped my blood out and filtered out the stem cells; each session lasting 4 hours and exhausting me and Kaye because she had to witness it. I remember the move into the hospital room that would become my home for 30 days while my entire system was flooded with highly toxic chemotherapy. I had a panic attack that first night and I remember the panic of being closed in the room. I was not afraid of the treatment but of the procedure. I know that incarceration in prison must be mind numbing as you sit and ponder the small space you will occupy and live in. My heart goes out to those who must endure that.

It is October 2 and Kaye and I have traveled quite a bit. Two weeks ago we went to Pennsylvania for a tour of the Furmanos tomato plant. We stayed over and visited the Amish country and witnessed some beautiful countryside. The Amish still farm the land and the rolling hills around Lancaster Pennsylvania were covered with corn that was ready for harvesting. We fell in love with the simplicity of the Amish folks and the good people of Pennsylvania. Horse drawn buggies were abundant. The people of Pennsylvania exceeded our expectations as they were friendly and accomodating and little did I know but later learned that one of the favorite dishes to prepare in almost every restaurant is beef liver. One of my favorite dishes is beef liver and it indeed was available on almost every menu.

Last week Kaye turned 45 and we went to Elizabeth City. We had hope to go all the way to the outer banks but a miscalculation on my part left us 45 miles from the outer banks so we did not get to visit the ocean and feel the autumn breeze that makes this time of year special.

We will be going this weekend to the Mountain home of Bob and Lucille Morris; Kayes mom and stepfather. They are excited to have us as this is our first trip there. They live just above a trout stream so Bob wants to show me how to fly fish. I know the fall foilage will not be in full bloom but it does not matter we will be together and enjoy their company.

My nephew Carson turned 1 month old yesterday and we are anxious to see him for the first time this week!

I will let you know how the x-ray goes!

God Bless you all
Tim

Update for me

2007-09-11T23:27:00.000Z

I am doing really well at this time Praise God! I continue to have good days and bad days for example yesterday (Monday) I could hardly walk or talk without taking Oxygen. By the way I had my PFT test and of course as predicted I did not do well. Right now I am at a very low lung capacity. I met with my Radiologist Oncologist two weeks ago and he said that it was for certain that I would have some lung lost from the radiation but how much is just not predictable. I then met with my regular Oncologist and told me the same thing. He said we need to wean you off the predneszone and so he gave me the dosage for the next couple of weeks and hopefully I will come off that and stabilize my weight. By the way I am back up to 200 lbs so I have got to watch all the late night frosted mini wheats and donuts that I now eat. I just love frosted miniwheats right now.

I do not go back to see the doctors until the second week of October. Praise God for all his mercies and healing.

November 15 will be my second birthday! I told Kaye last night that the doctors in Chapel Hill told me when they were injecting me with my stem cells on November 15th that this would become my second birthday. If God allows I will have been off Chemotherapy for 1 year on the week prior to November 15th. Praise God! My dad is having problems with his chemotherapy. Keep him in your prayers he is such a fine man and needs your prayers

God Bless you All
Tim

I am a Proud New Uncle

2007-09-11T23:25:00.000Z

I have a couple of posts to update you on some news within our family. My baby sister Sandi gave birth to Carson Weaver last week and we are so proud of her and her husband Rob. This is the first grandchild for my parents in about 14 years so they will have to get used to a baby around!

We are going to Gastonia the first week of October and hope to see baby Carson that week!

Big Happenings this week

2007-08-27T21:42:00.000Z

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update. Tomorrow (the 28th) I go for a PFT test which will test my lung function. I already know I am probably going to had diminished lunch function so I think it is a matter of how much and for how long if not permanently.

On Thurs I see my Radiology Oncologist for the first time since my last Radiation treatment. Any Cancer Patient will tell you it is always an apprehensive week when its time to go see the Doctors....... This is so true.

On Thursday I am sure we will schedule a PET Scan and of course that is always an apprehensive week. Pray for me to be confident and sure of the miracle I have received.

These days fatigue is still the operative word. Man if I get rid of this I am on easy street.

Continue to remember my Dad in your prayers. He goes tomorrow for treatment number 3.

Will update everyone after this week is over!

God Bless you all
Tim

Update from August 2

2007-08-20T21:34:00.000Z

Oh my,

I cannot believe I have not kept you informed since August 2. My apologies for the tardiness.

I finished my final radiation treatement on August 9. We had scheduled a follow up visit for August 28th. Since that time I have developed a real shortness of breath and some really strong fatigue. Kaye suggested I call the doctor and they recommended I come in for blood work and a chest x ray which I did last Thursday. The blood work came back good and we have not heard anything on the chest x ray so I figure no news is a good thing.

The weather and the fact that I have been pushing myself a lot of late probably is not helping the situation. I have got to remember my system and body has endured a lot and only by your prayers in my behalf have I made it.

Kaye and I did go get to visit my parents two weekends ago and we had a blast! We were fortunate to get a room with a jaccuzi and my dad asked to come and relax in it to ease his back pain! We had a great time! I am going to post pictures on my blog this week so you can see what a good time we had.

We are from Gastonia NC and while we were there Kaye and I were able to dine on some of our favorite foods which are Tony's Ice Cream Milkshakes, the finest in NC, RO's BBQ Slaw a real treat, and Shrimp Boat Chicken which has not equal I have ever tried. It was great I had to have a Tony's Butter Pecan Milkshake every night we were there! I even had a Livermush sandwich which is one of my favorites sandwiches from Tony's.

Oh well enough about me. Last week we moved Ryan into his room at NC State and he is ready to get college underway. Matt is in his apartment and loving it and Kaye and I are planning trips in September to her folks place at the mountains and the beach and hopefully to Pennsylvania to see the Furmanos plant. Coupled with that travel will be FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I sure have missed it!

I continue to thank God for his loving kindness. I tell everyone that I come in contact with that prayer does change things and God is a great God. Please continue to remember me, my family, my dad and my friends in your prayers. We even have someone at the Vatican who remembers us in prayer.......Father Charles......

Well it is off for Chinese Buffet tonight.........been craving it all day!

God Bless you All

Tim

And then there was ONE

2007-08-02T22:09:00.000Z

Tomorrow is Friday and I have one more radiation treatment to go! Praise God!

I have seen the doctor two weeks in a row and he is very pleased with my progress. I am happy that my weight is returning (although I don't want it all back!) My hair is thinner than before must be because I turned 51 last week and that have been married 26 years today! Kaye deserves the medal of honor! Maybe I do too!

For our Anniversary I bought her what she has been wanting for years a Navigation system for the car! A friend of mine said now I can tell her where to go and how to get there! HA!

I will probably have a pet scan the end of August so keep me in your prayers! I just know God's miracle is almost complete.

I ask especially that your remember Rhonda Woodlief and my dad Ted Greene in your prayers. My dad started Chemotherapy this week. They never really diagnosed him with any type of cancer but they are treating him as if he has Colo-rectal cancer so he is taking chemotherapy for that and it lasts for 3 days!

He is a trooper and if I can do it I know he can! God is a Great God and his love for us and miracles have not end!

God bless you all

Tim

Halfway Home!

2007-07-20T22:07:00.000Z

I had treatement number 10 and number 11 was today! I saw my doctor yesterday and he said he was very pleased with my progress so Praise God for his healing! I have gained another 3 pounds so now I am 196.3. Better watch the fudge stripped cookies and milk cause I don't want push the 200 pound ceiling. I am in a size 36 pants and medium shirts so I really don't want go up in size!

Guess What? On July 26th I will turn 51! I am looking forward to not only that day but everyday as I wake up and see the beautiful world around us!

I hope that your everyday is as good as mine. Kaye and I have seen a lot of sickness, and we have family and friends who are suffering and we pray for them daily. Even through all the sickness and all the heartache we see around us, we still see the hand of God in the big and little things! I hope you do too!

Please continue to remember my dad and Rhonda Woodlief in your prayers as they go through tests and treatments! God will deliver them! He is all mighty and on the scene.

This past Monday, Kaye and I flew up to Chicago and went to the National School Foodservice Show and on Tuesday we gave my body the acid test by walking the show and flying out that night and even though I was tired, I still made it through and still worked the next day! Praise the Lord, I couldn't do that a year ago!

It has been good for me to work because it has been therapy and God is blessing our company like I have never seen! It feels good to be in the middle of it all again!!!!!

Thats the update for now (by the way I am 1 and 1/2 prednesone tables now so I hope I am not as antsy and short with everyone like I have been (as Kaye so pointedly tells me!)

God Bless You all
Tim

Treatment # 7 is in

2007-07-12T00:22:00.000Z

Just wanted to let you know that we are sailing through the treatments and number 7 was completed today. I am feeling really good. I weighed in at the same weight as last week 185.2 Gotta get that .2 in. I feel good and some of the new clothes Kaye bought me feel good. The XL's I was wearing really hung on me so believe it or not I am a 36 waist and a medium shirt! Oh my gosh I have not been that since I first got married which will be 26 years ago on August 2 of this year! And I might also not mention that I will be 51 on the 26th of this month so July is a special month for me! HA!

The doctor today reduced my prednesone to 40 mgs starting tomorrow so we will see how my short windedness goes as we wean me off of the prednesone. There goes the overpowering desire for fudge stripped cookies at 3:00 am. The Oxygen that I have really comes in handy sometimes still especially if I over do it.

I told a friend today that God has so changed my life for the better and even though the prednesone makes me edgy and sometimes rude when I speak to people I always apologize for it and tell them that I love them and that this is the steroids in the prednesone and not me so if I have done that to you Please accept my apologies as well.

I still need your prayers for my dad. He had a colonostomy on Monday and Praise God it was clear but we need to find out what is making him sick. Also remember Rhonda Woodlief who is a friend of ours who just found out she has a rare form of cancer found in a lump under her arm! God is a healing God and I claim their healing right now!

Kaye's last day is tomorrow so the office threw a party for her today. She felt so special.

We returned to Gastonia this weekend to attend the 1 year birthday of our nieces daughter and Matt and Ryan came down Saturday. They loved seeing my mother and father and some of their family that they don't see on a regular basis!

Ryan starts to NC State August 19th! Keep him in your prayers. He is such a fine young man and we have not worries about him adjusting!

Please keep praying for me as I will you

God Bless you All
Tim

2 down and 18 to go

2007-07-05T23:57:00.000Z

Just wanted to drop you a quick update. Today was treatment #2 of 20 radiation treatments. I hope to finish by the end of July. Then some time off then a PET then hopefully a wave goodbye to radiation and Hodgkins!

The area being shot is my mid section, which includes my spleen because on initial diagnosis there was a spot found on my spleen but my doctor told me they are going below that are just to make sure they are ahead of anything that may start up but we know God is the great healer and I have claimed his healing and grace over this disease!

So far I have had Chemotherapy since September 05 thru November 06. Radiation from April o7 to July 07 and all kinds of CAT Scans, Mugga Scans, PFT tests, PET Scans, Bone Marrow Transplant, Steroids, Blood transfusions, Platelets transfusions, Bone Marrow Aspiration (Ouch the most painful of all tests) Needles galore (see one of my earlier posts about God using this to help me overcome my fear of needles) Needles now NO BOTHER bring it own!

I am still using ozygen on an as needed basis and it sure helps. Dr says that I may have some permanent lung capacity loss from the radiation but that comes with the radiation turf.

Many of you have continued to pray for me and I thank you. Please Please don't stop but Please include other people in your prayers that need a touch from God.

My beautiful Bride has one week left before she leaves her job so pray for her as she stays close by to me to help me if the radiation gets to be too much this month. So far things are going well and we continue to remain positive that God is in control of all situations.

God Bless you All
Tim

Radiation update

2007-07-02T22:10:00.000Z

Today I finished the simulation for what hopefully will be my last radiation. They are going to radiate the GI tract in my midsection with 20 rounds of radiation starting tomorrow at 4:00. Again, I am praising God that this is just to prevent any start ups and keep a handle on the wonderful healing that has taken place.

As I told you in the last Blog Kaye has resigned her job and she is so much happier. We hope to finally do somethings together that we had wanted to do for many years! We will see who wears thin on who.......bet I drive her crazy before too long and she begs to go back to work. Naw she loves to be with me and me with her.

Ryan is just 45 days away from going to NC State and we are wishing him well. He will live on campus. Matt is in his second session of summer school and loving it. He did tell us he would look forward to us coming to Greenville and taking him to dinner some nights. Imagine we talking about going and doing and just 1 year ago today I was in darkness and despair. In God's time. In God's way we will know things. I tell everyone who asks about my condition that praise God, I am believing the miracle and asking for continued prayers. God is a great God and in HIS time and AT HIS will we see his glory.

God BLess you all
Tim Greene

Praise to Milk and Fudge Strip Cookies

2007-06-30T18:52:00.000Z

You know a lot of folks want to be caught up on what is going on in our lives and I hope the information helps you in some way. I just had to put up a post that told you how much I have come to love milk and Keebler Fudge Stripped cookies.

When I started taking the Predneszone on May 28th. My appetitie picked up in a very large way. I have been eating at a fast rate since that time and I have returned some of the weight I had lost over the radiation treatments in April and May. I now weigh 180. Along with the medicine came the most unusual cravings and often times I find myself up late at night or early in the am eating a bowl of cereal. Bran Flakes seems to be my favorite.

Along with an appetitie and the cravings came an irrestible urge for Keebler Fudge Stripped Cookies and Milk. Urge is modest. I have consumed as many as 4 packs of cookies a week and gone through a gallon of milk! I just have this incredible urge of those cookies and milk, milk, milk! Kaye says she cannot believe I am not heavier than I am and I am sure it is going to catch up with me but for now, I have to have my cookies and milk or I just can't function.

Funny how God can use anything to focus you from your troubles or have you eat something that helps you gain weight instead of languishing in weight loss and possible other illnesses as a result. I consider it a God thing.

I do remember this as a young child preschool, my mom used to let me drink coffee heavily creamed and sugared and she used to let me dunk........you guessed it fudge stripped cookies in the coffee!

Next time you are down, or feeling like nothing will help, grab some fudge stripped cookies or any cookie and drink some milk and you will changed by the wonder powers of the cookie the milk and the Lord!

God Bless You All

Tim

Saturday Morning update

2007-06-30T12:23:00.000Z

I felt I should put an update on here and give you a view of how things are going so far since my last post. It is Saturday morning and Kaye and I are going through our daily ritual of preparing something to eat so we can take our medicine. For me it is Paxil and Predneszone and for her it is a variety of pills for her osteoarthritis and cholosterol. We discuss the days events ahead and yesterdays events if any happened. The only difference in today is that both our sons are here and upstairs fast asleep. Matthew came in yesterday (went straight to her girlfriends house) and Ryan had a baseball game. When Matt called and said he was going to Savanna's first we were very happy for him because we know he has the right focus. We don't want him feel obligated to come see us first. We want him to focus his life on her and we want Ryan to focus on what is important to him, baseball and going off to NC State in August so that made us feel real good that normalcy may be returning us just a little bit at a time.

I went to the radiologist on Thursday and they maked the Lower GI for my next round of radiation. I will go again on Monday for the final xrays and the final markings and begin may end of next week and may the first of the following. I am somewhat energized that this could be the final stage of treatement for me and that God's wonderful miracle in me would be completed as far as that stage.

Kaye was instrumental in getting me the oxygen and the combination of the oxygen and the predneszone have really helped my breathing and the way I have dealt with the lung Neumitis. I am feel much better and getting my breathing capacity back a little each day. I tell people I have now learned that the road to healing is baby steps and that God has perfect timing and order.

I have also begun to not feel a sense of panic each time I cough or feel something in my chest that might feel unusual. I certainly pay attention to my body now but the fear that engulfs you when you first are told that you had a good PET Scan is beginning to subside. Don't get me wrong it still jumps up now and then but it is passing with time and when I have another PET it will be glorious to get the news that it too is negative and clear.

So many people have asked for prayer for their loved ones that are newly diagnosed with cancer and I am hoping to start a prayer chain of those names. Mr Jones and Mr. Godwin (I forgot to write down their fist names) are the first two. I will get a better system going than this.

God is so good and has blessed our family. My Dad is going through some issues with sickness and I call him almost everyday to check on him. He too needs to be remembered in prayer as we believe that God will heal him and get him going back on the computer and stock market again! I love you Dad more than you will ever know!

Kaye and I plan to travel some with my work this summer. She has resigned from her job (yes we prayed about it first!) and she feels led to nurse me 100% back to health so this is the chance we have worked for to have her accompany me on business......and pleasure (when her mom's mountain home if finished) and we two can then continue our relationship on another level that we feel God is directing us.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY
Love
Tim

Monuments to what?

2007-06-20T21:01:00.000Z

I was thinking the other day and God seemed to impress on me why had I spent so many years building mental monuments to my success in business when those monuments had no value to anyone but me? I have read so many books on How to have a sucessful company, How to be a successful CEO, How to make a world class company and I read all those books thinking I would inspire people with what knowledge I had. I am not convinced that people want to be inspired by what you have read and what you can "tell them" about your ability to be a sucessful CEO. People are not inspired by what you know but by what you do and mostly what you do for your fellow man not your self.

I have decided to tear down all those "mental" monuments to myself and make sure that if I inspire it is out of humility and gratitude for my fellow human being. People sometimes pay good money to be inspired and that is fine if they want to. Go to a cancer clinic and you will see inspiration as the nurses attend to those getting treatment. More people are being treated for cancer of some form than you will ever know. It can be overwhelming.

God Bless you all
Tim

More Radiation on the way but don't be alarmed

2007-06-20T20:52:00.000Z

We met with my radiologist on Monday and even though he had told us to expect some radiation down from the area they treated we still had hoped for a change in protocol. So I will have some more radiation even though the PET is negative and all areas are resolved, it is standard text book protocol to go one field down from the area treated because Hodgkins can travel down the Lymph path so we will do about 24 more and then hopefully be completely done. You know what? What is 30 more days when God has been so wonderful to you and continued to bless you for over 2 years! If anything I have been taught to wait on the Lord and that patience is a good work that God can do in you. So we will be patient and wait on the Lord.

The Lung inflammation is still going on and I still taking prednesone but that is helping. Again, you don't just bounce back, you wait on the Lord for healing and understanding. Once again my great care taker and wife Kaye has pushed for me to get an oxygen dispenser for the night time when the prednesone wears off and it has helped a great deal even though I have only had it a day.

We will go this Friday for some measurements and then on with the show!

God Bless you all
Tim

PET SCAN CAME BACK GOOD

2007-06-07T15:33:00.000Z

Praise God!

After going for my PET Scan on Monday, we waited until late Monday night but no call came in on the results so Monday was a sleepless night. On Tuesday Morning at around 8:36 we got the call that the scan came back with no activity! Praise to God for his mercies and blessings! We are so excited!

I wanted to share the good news with you as soon as possible but it has been a rough few days because of the fatigue and from the Prednisone that I am taking for the inflammation in my lungs. I am now starting to be weaned off the dosage and so fatigue is still there.

We are one positive step in the right direction and now we pray that God continues to use me for his benefit and that I can help someone along the way.

Monday night I spent a long time discussing end of life with my wife's step father Bob and he was so good to tell me he thought it was just a peaceful sleep you enter into and I thought that was so insightful. It is something we all supress and not dwell on and I believe God feels that way too. We are to live live abundantly and everyday because it is like a vapor and is never the same two days in a row. I am going to enjoy the good news and celebrate each day. As I told Kaye there is already enought negative to dwell on. We need to dwell on the positive and she sure does that.

We are continually blessed and know that we are loved. That is really all you need in this world is to know you are loved. I know I am a blessed and loved person.

I had a vision come to me the other night about the pool that the sick man sat beside and when the Angel of the Lord would stir the water all who got in were healed. I imagined have a stick and shaking it at the devil and telling him the waters were troubled and healing was at hand. I am going out and find me a stick and shake it real good at the Devil and say it is not this stick I can get a stick anywhere, it is the power of God who decides what will be our course and God wants healing and the best for us as we live our earthly lives not sickness and disease and despair and additction and drepression.

Lets celebrate life together
God Bless you all
Tim

No Call ltoday

2007-06-05T01:28:00.000Z

I had my PET today at 1:30 but we did not get a call from my Oncologist which is unusual. I had hope to let you know something because everyone wants to know what the test results are. I for one want to know because it just helps when you are trying to sort your thoughts and arrange your life into some type of order. The more I endure this disease the more I see that life is a very fragile, thin veil of order that borders chaos if you live your life putting yourself out there each day. I told Kaye today that we have experienced so many people who are enduring the chaos of sickness, disease, depression, addiction, hopelessness, despair but we are also encouraged by the stories and lives of people who overcome, who refuse to give up, who refuse to let their circumstances overtake them. These are profiles in courage, inspirations, and people who are real life heros.

We are passing through this world at a breakneck speed. Never would have admitted that 10 years ago and we stop sometimes to enjoy our blessings which is very important. I believe that one simple task God requires of us and that is to enjoy life and what is brings to us in the form of friends, religion, sickness, circumstances sometimes beyond our control and I also know God is proud of us all and loves us with that love, everthing is conquered.

God Bless you all
Tim

Did you hear about Kaye's Break through

2007-06-01T18:40:00.001Z

I will give you more details later but Kaye was successful in getting a cross blessed by the POPE. We made friends with a Bishop who is in Rome at the Vatican and he was here in Raleigh on a visit and we got to meet him through the Citero's. He was more than happy to take the cross to Rome and have the Pope Bless it. He sent it back on May 9th the day we left for Philadelphia. This was a God thing because just like the woman with the issue of blood she would not be denied and Jesus felt the healing virture leave his body when she touched the hem of his garmet. Kaye was not going to be denied either and even though we are not Catholic, we believe in all prayer. Thank you for your prayers.

We love you
Tim and Kaye

Just a quick pop on to let you know I am still kicking

2007-06-01T18:30:00.000Z

Today is Friday June 1 and my baby Ryan graduates tonight so we are all giddy with excitement for him as this is a major accomplishment these days to be able to navigate the school system and come out ready to move on with your life. There has been a change in his career plan. He was accepted late at NC State and has now elected to go there at least for one semester and then decide on whether to transfer to UNC Wilmington or not. I will keep you posted on what he decides.

I finished my radiation on May 8 th and on the 9th Kaye and I went to Philadelphia for a business trip. We spent the weekend in Atlantic City but I was so fatigued I could not really do a lot. Kaye did her best to make me comfortable and we enjoyed time together just sleeping. When I returned I was not getting any better and the fatigue was enormous so on Memorial Day Kaye called Dr. Crane and he ordered a CAT Scan and low and behold I was having a reaction to the radiation that affects your lungs. He prescribed some medicine and boy has that made a difference. I feel much better and the fatigue is going away.

BIG DAY ON MONDAY. It is my oldest son's 20th Birthday and I get my first PET SCAN since my radiation started. Pray for me that it shows progress against this disease! I am spending the weekend enjoying Ryans Day and also thanking God for his many blessings for my family. I think of others who are not here to enjoy family and I remember how blessed I am.

We are confident that God has everything under control. I will post the results as soon as I can on Monday.

Take care for now
God Bless you All
Tim

Radiation what is it like?

2007-05-17T00:07:00.000Z

It takes about 5 minutes to treat you and then you go about your business. Since I was getting my upper chest shot, it has made my throat very sore. I have also lost hair in a pattern that resembles as Jeff my Oncologist puts it (Austin Powers) NO I am not going to show you!

Kaye says my legs are skinny but all in all radiation is tough too. It makes you very tired and while you don't get as sick as with chemotherapy, you do run out of gas a lot. I think last week I over did it and so this week I am really feeling the effects.

Kaye and I are scheduled to go see the parents in Gastonia this weekend so I hope we have good weather. Please remember my dad in your prayers as he has had a variety of dings lately. Will let you know how the weekend went at another time

God Bless you all
Tim

Got a second Post for you

2007-05-17T00:01:00.000Z

I did not want it to slip away without telling you that Kaye and I went to Philadelphia last week where I attended a business meeting for one of our manufacturers Furmanos. There we received the award for broker of the year for Furmanos!

When the meeting was over she and I were taken by Limo to Caesars where we were treated to three days at their facility, fed well, and we thanked them by leaving some of our money behind with them. It was a very restful weekend because on Saturday, Kaye and I stayed in bed all day up until 10:00 that night. I encourage you to try this one weekend and you will not forget the experience. In this hustle and bustle society it is okay to rest and regather your senses. I encourage you to try it and see.

I did also want to give thanks to everyone at Golden Corral Corporation who keeps tabs on me. Debbie is so good to sign on to my blog and let everyone know how it is going with me. The thing I love about Golden Corral is here is this billion dollar corporation and they treat me like a family member. That is true friendship and kinship. Thanks GC you are the best!

Its about time I updated you!

2007-05-16T23:50:00.000Z

I am so sorry, April 15 is a long time ago in my world. Now here we are at May 16 and I guess you think I blew off the face of the map. Our lives have picked up a lot of pace as we race to get Ryan graduated June 1. There are graduation invitations to send out, graduation party invitations to send out, graduation pictures to order, and then oh yea lets throw in getting Ryan acclimated toward college so he can start getting ready for orientation and the such. The decision is in and he is going to East Carolina University for a semester and then he hopes to transfer to State so we will see how that goes. I told Kaye that all the pressure is released June 3 when all the graduation stuff is over.

What have I been doing? Just taking 24 treatements of radiation to treat the spot in my chest. I have finished those (last Tuesday) and I have a PET Scan on June 15. I might as well lay it out for you just like the doctor did for me this last Monday. I said Jeff, I have quit asking your thoughts and or what you think might be the result of this latest treatment because I don't want to pin any hopes or notions on what you have to say so I just sit and listen to you. He said well Tim, I have never had a Hodgkins Patient go so far into treatments like you. You are my first patient who has gone 6 months of ABVD, 3 months of ICE, then a trial chemotherapy, Then we dropped the Atom bomb on you with a stem cell transplant and now radiation. He said we see only 1 or 2 Hodgkins patients a year maybe. Boy ain't I special. I said so on the 15th you will call me with the results and he said yes and I said if they are not good then what. He said there is no then what. But you know there is a then what and it is GOD. GOD is the great then what do we do. GOD is the finisher of our race and steward of our soul. Please join me in ringing the prayer bells of Heaven for a positive report on June 15. As I told people last week, God has blessed me so much in my 25 years of marrage, my two Sons, my angel wife Kaye and all the friends a fella could ask for. GOD is GOOD

Thoughts from the Hospital

2007-04-15T03:22:00.000Z

since Kaye and I spent our Easter Weekend at the Rex Carlton, I had a lot of time to think about God and his plan and one thought that came to me was what does God smell like. He did breath into our nostrils so we should have some kind of feeling for what he smells like. As I lay there in my room early Sunday morning I felt the presense of God in the room and I felt that at that time God smelled like lavendar and that lavendar was for healing a broken marriage. A little while later another smell came to mind and then another and I began to think that we should not only be able to feel the presence of God but smell him as well. I know that is out there but it is how I felt at the time.

Today I attended a fund raiser for the Lymphoma Society. It was a memorial fund raiser to remember a young man who died last year with Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was 20 years old and attended UNC. He had such a bright future ahead of him but God saw another need. Kaye and I thought that his family must be both proud and sad at this event. It was a baseball game between our Southeast Raleigh team and his former high school team Green Hope. All the proceeds went to the society in memorial of him. What a nice gesture and what a great gather of people from both schools. I am so proud of Southeast Raleigh Baseball for agreeing to play this game. I realized again today that cancer robs us of our loved ones and steals our futures. We have to find a cure and not settle for treatment. Remember one of my earlier posts that said Leaders Serve Others and that was the case today as I saw 14 Southeast Raleigh Baseball players serve as leaders!

God Bless You
Tim

My #1 Fan

2007-04-15T03:14:00.000Z

You know for years, my mom has always told me that my dad was my number 1 fan and I always heard that but I never really put much thought into what a #1 fan does. While in the hospital last week, (shingles) I really came to a comfortable place when I thought about the good things my dad has done for me and the fact that he has always said he is my #1 fan. I truly believe that with all my heart because I am truly the #1 fan of my boys and always will be.

What does a #1 fan do? They are never down when they talk to you no matter what their situation is. They are always telling you that you are special and mean a lot to them. They always believe in you and never waiver when considering that you will make the right decision when faced with a decision to make. A #1 fan never criticizes but instead offers advice and support. A #1 fan offers prayer insight and compassion for your situation. A #1 fan is devoted to you and your life and always in interested in what you are doing and if they can help.

I can truly say I have a couple of #1 fans along with my dad and you cannot know how good that makes me feel when I am down with stuff like these shingles or going through radiation. My wife Kaye, My Mother Toby and my mother-in-law Lucille come to mind when I consider #1 fans. They are always there and you cannot image how comforted I am because I know I truly am #1 in their lives and they are #1 in my life!

God Bless You
Tim

I have shingles and they are not on my roof

2007-04-15T03:10:00.000Z

I know it has been a long time since I posted and for those of you who are so faithful to keep up with me, I apologize for not keeping you in the loop. For the last two weeks I have been dealing with a bout of the shingles and if you have ever had them......they hurt! It is not an excruciating kind of pain but it sure does hurt when you have them. I am feeling better and I they are drying up which is a welcome relief but man these things make you miserable

On the radiation front. I have had 9 rounds and two weeks off. I had a Cat scan done and there was some shrinkage so they are narrowing the field that they are radiating. This will help my lungs which are going to get some damage from the radiation. I start 10-20 on Monday. Keep me in your prayers as I go through this next phase of my recovery.

God is good
Tim

Proceeding with Radiation and following God's will

2007-03-24T18:16:00.000Z

I have completed 6 radiation treatments thus far. This was my first full week of radiation. It takes about 10 minutes and then you are done. It is a little scary when something so powerful is shot into your body and you don't feel it and you don't know what it is doing. With every treatment, just as it starts I pray God directed these beams to the spots that will bring healing to my body and glorify you.

Earlier this week I had thought through a whol liteny of information that I wanted to post and perhaps encourage you but at this moment in time I seem to be blank in all I wanted so desperately to say. Lots of times I think that I come off sounding doomy and gloomy and I surely don't want to do that. God has extended his blessings to me and my family in so many ways I can't begin to name them all.

We did get some good news Ryan did get accepted to UNC-Wilmington for the Spring 08 semester so now he has to decide if he wants to wait a semester and then enroll. It is his decision we will support him in whatever he decides.

I was reminded the other day about the trials that Job had and how he was encouraged by the devil to curse God and die and he steadfastly refused. Job lost family, cattle. land, clothes, everything he owned and if anyone had cause to be depressed it was Job but he held onto his beliefs and held onto his worship with God and look how he turned out. God has the best Plan for us no matter what our circumstances are. I am no Job but I too will not curse God I will only glorify his name in all I do.

Continue to pray for me and my family as we complete these next 14 treatments.

Tim

Radiation, sounds scary but so is cancer

2007-03-04T02:54:00.000Z

I have had a few days to let the words radiation sink in and even though it sounds scary it doesn't not resonate as loudly as the words cancer. Kaye and I have been living (along with you my dear friends) with the spector of cancer over our shoulders every day. However, life goes on for each of us and we are mindful of that. Just this week we have had family members in car accidents, and family members have interna strife, and a dear friend of ours has a sister in law who has pneumonia and a 10% chance to survive so we are not the only ones in the world struggling with something. As a matter of fact if you are not struggling with something in your life praise God for his shelter and good fortune toward you. Sure I sit and wonder about my latest news and I wonder aloud is this God's will for me and if so what purpose do I serve in going through every treatment known. I have had chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and now radiation. I surely can tell you about each but then again so can so many other people. My testimony will be through it all, never lose sight of God and his glory. We have friends who are in prison and live in an 8 by 8 cubicle, to me that is worse than any disease and my heart and prayers go out to them. We have friends and family who stuggle with drugs and to me that is worse than any disease. We believers know God is a God of Love and forgiveness and through all our battles we must stay focused on that, God loves us, God forgives us, we live because of him. So I will live each day that God gives me and never lose sight of what is right and just.

God bless you all
Tim

Results from the PET of Wednesday

2007-03-02T17:03:00.000Z

unfortunately, Wednesday was not a day for good news. Kaye and I had expected to hear the All CLear comment from my oncologist Jeff Crane but instead he had the sad duty of telling me that I have some spots that are still present even after the Stem Cell transplant. It is the same original spots that have already been there so we are not dealing with a new outbreak or location. Jeff has suggested we radiate those spots and we have since visisted the radiologist who is very confident he can radiate those spots away and then we will wait and see what happens from there. I am confident that once gone we will be rid of this disease and I can put my life back together as it was coming back together since the stem cell transplant. People ask me about the transplant and I just try to tell them that it is a grueling, grinding procedure that when it is past you, you feel more blessed to be past it than when you were going through it.'

Kaye and I are dealing with this news as we have all the bad news we have had over the last two years. We are trusting in God and believing in his miracle that he has already extended to me as I am still alive and functioning almost 2 years after diagnosis. Your prayers and well wishes have been so wonderful to me and Kaye and we thank you all for not forgetting us and for being there for prayers and support. The radiation will take about 10 minutes per day 5 days a week for 4 weeks and then we go 3 months and have another PET Scan so there is a pretty long time line to doing all this but the end result will be a glad time.

Will keep you posted as we get into radiation and what effects it has on me.

God Bless you all

Tim

The Hair is back

2007-02-15T22:53:00.000Z

I did want to let you know that I have started to get my hair back. I will get a picture on here as soon as I can. The beard is gone and probably wont come back but the hair is welcome.

Funny thing how people react to different looks. Everyone has been so kind to me in my hairless period and I thank them for that but I am glad to be back

We are nearing day 100

2007-02-15T22:43:00.000Z

Next week will mark another milestone for me in my recovery. I will celebrate 100 days post infusion. What a great opportunity to thank each of you for your words of encouragement and support. I will do my best to keep you up to date on all that is going on. Right now I am in a holding pattern until the PET Scan on February 28th. I have had a couple of Doctor visits and they have all gone well. My stamina is returning but I am a changed person in that I don't get all twisted inside like I used to. God surely needed to settle me down and this was one way of doing it. I get in now, I really get it.

This weekend we had a visit from Kayes Mom and stepfather and we sat around the dining table and looked back on the last two years and we each marveled at God's hand in pulling our lives together and making a way for us to see his handiwork. They say hindsight is 20/20 and I believe that to be true when we look back and see how miraculously things fall into place for us.

Matt is doing well at ECU and has found an apartment to live in next year. Dorm life was good but he wants to move on and he has earned that right by being so studious and personally responsible.

Ryan is beginning his final few months of high school. He is excited about playing baseball this year and what he does not know is his dad is more excited than he is about seeing him play baseball.

Kaye and I continue to ask for your prayers. She and I have both returned to work but somedays are better than others and depression can grip you and make you so uncertain of yourself. We are making progress.

God Bless you all
Tim

UNC Doctors Visit and results

2007-01-18T16:36:00.000Z

Yesterday was day 63 post infusion and I had a visit scheduled for Dr. Gabriel over in Chapel Hill. Kaye and I drove over and made the appointment. Dr. Gabriel examined me and found no outward appearance of any swollen lymph nodes and said my blood worked looked very good. He said that barring anything showing up on my PET Scan in February (and he did not expect to see anything show up) he would see me again in 3 months and if all is well then 3 months afterwards and then 6 months afterwards. Isn't God great?! I have longed to hear them talk in terms of not expecting to see anything show up. Dr. Crane as much as told me the same when I went to see him. God works at a time and pace that we are not privy to yet at the end of our situations we see the hand of God and how he worked, how things fell into place in ways that could not be done if we were to be in charge of the situation. Kaye and I are well into the second year of my illness and believe me, we have been through many things and emotions that if God were not in charge we would have collapsed. As I sit and ponder today I go through the thoughts of what does God want me to do to honor him and his healing. In the last 2 years I have lost 3 friends to cancer and seen 1 young student that went to school with Matt, lose her battle. I see race car legends Benny Parsons and Bobby Hamilton lose their battles and I wonder and am thankful that God has spared me for another purpose. I am a willing soul who wants to do what I can to glorify God and show he is still in the healing and miracle business. I am expecting an answer soon. On the family front, my son Ryan got a letter of admittance from East Carolina University yesterday. Even though that is not where he wants to go to college, at least he has options. He is waiting on UNC Wilmington to decide on him which will be in April. He has applied to NC State as well but his first choice is UNC Wilmington. Matt is doing well at school I spoke to him a couple of times this week. He is such a resourceful person, he has purchased a couple of his text books on EBAY at half the price of the bookstore on campus. Matt knows how to watch his money and that will only help him later in life. Kaye is back at work and is very busy. I am working and taking phone calls as I slowly getting back into the rigors of living. Please continue to hold me in your prayers. Please continue to pray for Judy Harmon as she begins Chemotherapy next week for some tumors that have appeared in her. This is her 4th time battling cancer and I for one believe God is about to do his masterful work again!

Tim

Day 50 and beyond

2007-01-10T17:14:00.000Z

Today is January 10th; my Mothers' Birthday! Happy Birthday Mom! My mom has been a pillar of support for me through these last 2 years. She has offered daily encouragement to me and I have used it to continue on as we put this ordeal behind us.
Today is day 56 post infusion. On day 50 I was able to shed the mask on visits outside the house. What a relief that was not to have to go into shops and go to places wearing the mask and feeling like you were an alien when you were around people. I know it was for the best to wear the mask and I did every time it was necessary. My bl0od work so far has been good each week and I have another visit with my oncologist tomorrow for my bimonthly check up. I am still feeling better each day and I thank God for that. It was November 6 when I finished the last chemotherapy and I pray that it is the last once EVER!
Kaye and I continue to battle the effects of the last two years. Apprehension, depression, anxiety are emotions that cripple your ability to function. I never ever gave these emotions any time or consideration until the last two years and I wish they did not exist. I do however have a better understanding when someone does tell me they are battling depression. Counciling and sometimes medicine are ways that I have dealt with these emotions. Prayer and knowing others are praying for you and with you are also the most comforting when you are going through these emotions. I have a greater understanding also of what Jesus faced that night in the garden when he faced what would be coming his way and his emminent death. Surely the emotions came upon him too and what strength he showed us in pressing forward.
I have returned to work on a limited basis until I can feel 100% up to strength. Kaye returned to work as well.
Matthew returned to school January 3 and Ryan returned to school January 8. Are things returning to normal? What is normal when you have had the kind of life changing events we have had? I dare say Kaye and me are not normal in any since of the word. We are just trying to survive and find purpose for everything we do. God is so good to us and is directing our paths. God has a perfect plan and we are trying to follow it and recognize it in all we do and we continue to pray that you will seek his plan for your life as you pray that we follow his plan for our lives.
God Bless you All

7 days away from getting rid of the Mask

2006-12-28T15:45:00.000Z

As of today I am in day 43 post infusion and I am just 7 days away from getting rid of the mask I have to wear when I am out in public. It is a very confining mask and wearing it is another safety precaution against getting an airborne infection so I understand the importance of precaution. I sure will be happy to see it go anyway. I am feeling really good on day 43. The weakness in my legs from the hospital stay has almost gone and the general fatigue has lessened to a point that I am now feeling much more confident in going back to work and resuming a normal lifestye. I continue with weekly blood tests and so far my counts have been fine. I will go in for a PET Scan on February 28th and the results will be important because they will tell if I am completely clean of any cancer cells which I believe I am because of God's Miracle of healing for me. I will continue doctor examinations every couple of weeks leading up to the 28th.
Christmas for us was a time to reflect on family and not the commercialized version of Christmas. Kaye and I had dinner on Christmas day with Kaye's brother Doug and his family and Kaye's mom and stepfather who drove up from Gastonia. We enjoyed each others company and opened a few gifts that had been sent to us. Matthew and Ryan enjoyed the time with the family. Matt is home on break until January 3. He finished this semester by making the Dean's List at East Carolina. Ryan finished the semester by making A's and B's so he is gearing up for his final semester in High School. It is so wonderful having them in the house.
Kaye's colonostomy showed she had some hemorroids that need attention but other than that she did fine.
We allowed Matt to drive to Alabama to see the ECU Bowl game. He took Ryan and Tim McAllister and Savanna. It was such an unnerving experience for me because that is such a long way from home. Every fear imaginable ran through my head those days they were there. I can only hope for a day when I don't have the apprehension when you see your kids drive off on a long journey.
Post infusion has been a time to adjust to the effects of Chemotherapy and the trauma of the hospital stay. I went through some tough mental days when I could not focus on anything; I could only sit and worry and become more depressed. In time I find that those days are less and less and I look forward to more involvement in the world around me. I know Kaye is glad and so are the my sons because it is rough on the loved ones when they see you everyday. Everyday now it is getting better and that is so welcome.

God bless you all
Tim

Over, Overcome and overwhelmed

2006-12-20T23:53:00.000Z

I am just completeing my 35th day post infusion which was on November 15. I can only tell you I am so glad that the stem cell transplant is over. I am blessed to have overcome a lot of the complications that come with this procedure and I can tell you that it is an overwhelming experience. I am not going to spend all your reading time telling you all the details of this process because you don't want to hear me whine but I can tell you that I have never had such feelings and emotions as I have had during my confinement and recovery. I thought I was prepared for long days of hospital confinement but I was not. My heart now goes out to those people who I hear about who have spent months in the hospital for their illnesses. I thought I was mentally ready to handle the fluids and chemotherapy and the daily reporting of my blood counts and hearing the nurses discuss what to expect with the low blood counts that they reported. I was not prepared. My heart so aches now when I hear of someone who is battling cancer because the disruption to your family and life are so profound it is an overwhelming experience. There is another facet of cancer that comes into play and that is depression which I have had to experience. Depression can paralyze and destroy your life if you don't get help.
I thank God for his grace and healing hand. I am feeling better today than I have in 2 months. I continue to seek God's will for my life and believe he has healed me for his purpose. I will worship him for his grace and guidance. I ask that you continue to pray for me and Kaye especially Kaye as she goes in for a colonostomy on Thursday of this week. If you are trapped by confinement or depression I urge you to look to God for direction and comfort. It can be overwhelming as the stem cell procedure was for me and Kaye but God is able to help you endure and I truly believe only God was able to help me through my confinement and this procedure.

God bless you all

Graduation day is approaching

2006-11-29T23:20:00.000Z

Today, I was told that in 2 days I will be released to go to our rented room for two weeks of 3 times a week of check ups then it is off to Raleigh as God wills, I am presently off an iV and am attempting to gain my strength back with a few walks a day but boy are they taxing on me and my body. THis whole ordeal has been more than i could ever have anticipated. had kaye not beenwith me most of the time I would have gone crazy, I now know what hospital confiment means and it is devestating. I am very very slowly getting my strength back but it comes back in ounces not leaps and bounds, Through this all I want to thank all the people who have wished me well. I am truly a bless person and God's hand is surely upon is all who are involved in my recovey. I love you all

Today is day -2

2006-11-13T20:42:00.000Z

I am now 1 day away from engraftment of my stem cells (wednesday) the doctor told me today that would become my new birthday so i could celebrate2 birthdays a year. Today the recreational director came and showed me how to use the treatmill in my room. I need to use it about 10 minutes a day to keep my legs and cardiovascular organs going so I will make that a part of my routine. right now I have this computer and the internet and the trips back and forth to the bathroom (lots of them) and the treadmill as well as the movies and tv that is in my room. I am scheduled to go into infusion on wednesday which will take about 30 minutes. The Doctor just came in and said that ususally a fever will accompany the infusion which could last a few days or a week so we will have to keep a good watch on that. I have been in contact with a lot of people who wish me well and I am so thankful for all these well wishes. I am confident this is the final path that God has prepared for me in order to make me a better servant to him and explain his healing power to anyone who will listen to me. I hope you will join me in praising God for his mercies and his powerful spirit that heals and keeps us out of harms way when we follow him and his word.

Itis Day -3 and i am doing okay

2006-11-12T16:01:00.000Z

we came into UNC Hospital on thursday and started the chemotherapy regimine that after noon which they call day -6 I am now in day -3. At Day 0 I have the infusion of stem cells and then it is wait and see until they graft back into my bone marrow. That will take about 10 days. From that time my immune system will be at 0 so infection is a great risk. All my vital signs are good and I am trying so very hard to be a good patient and do the right things. Kaye is so much help to me as she never leaves my side during the night. I appreciate her dedication. As you might have heard my friend Paula Parker lost her battle with cancer this week and I am thinking of her and her family at this time. From everything we have been told I have some rough days ahead but God is good and has been good to me through out this entire process. I know I am on every prayer list from here to TimBuktoo! and I appreciate everyone of them. God has his timetable and I am trying to follow it and be the servant he needs to help others if is his will. Continue to pray for me and Judy Orrell and Judy Harmon as we move forward in this process.