Forums

Help › Forums

From Leo (phiber) tri-owner of A Band of Brothers CC, who is battling cancer

Tue, Nov 18 2014 5:12 PM (105 replies)
  • oneeyedjohn
    9,581 Posts
    Fri, Mar 7 2014 6:49 PM

    I hope with all my heart, u have the strength to get through this Leo.

    My prayers and best regards.

  • mgbirish
    4,019 Posts
    Fri, Mar 21 2014 10:20 AM

    round 4 completed, from Leo (phiber):

    back home from getting round 4.  Doctor sounded very optimistic and after spending 30 minutes with her she wants to do the CT scan earlier than May  she sounded optimistic and told us that she was surprised my health was as good as it is with what I have...pretty cool.  gained 4 pounds since last visit, she told me that it was the steroids that she gives me that make me eat like a horse...told that that was cool but that hungry all the time thing had to go, it was annoying to  my stomach, she said the alternative is not favorable, that's cool by me!!

  • frappefort
    3,994 Posts
    Fri, Mar 21 2014 11:20 AM

    That is good news ,  eat like a horse if you have to.   Listen to your Doctor,  and  we(i) think about you every day ..... mon ami .       

  • phiber
    2,795 Posts
    Fri, Mar 21 2014 1:25 PM

    Thanks for all the support and prayers from my WGT friends and family.  The encouragement, the thoughts and the prayers edify my own convictions and make them stronger, and I owe you all tons of thanks for that.

    The bad news, they gave me all that stuff when they told me it was metastisized and was uncurable back in January.  What they DIDN'T know was that my faith, fortified with that of so, so many great friends here and IRL is much stronger than they could ever imagine.  My Doctor says I am abnormal!   She means that in a good way (I think).  She told me that most people with stage IV Esophogial cancer that has metastisized to the liver have lost 40 to 50 pounds, have very low levels of activity, and are just not healthy other than the cancer.

    At check in yesterday, I had gained 4 pounds, and was eager to get out of chemo and get home because I had fly rods to work on, and yard work to do.  Today, I tuned up my trusty Cub Cadet, mowed the yard (self propelled push mower), added new dirt shields to the steps going down from the deck, pressure washed the deck, fertilized all the rose bushes, and took the dogs to the park for a nice long walk.  I said a silent prayer with each task, and thanked God for all the friends and their prayers, asked him to really step in and help my wife cope with all this, and thanked him for all he was doing for me through my treatments.

    All you guys and ladies are aboslutely awesome and may God Bless each and every one of you, and especially my little Brother,  mgbirsh!!

    Leo

  • newcastleb
    1,813 Posts
    Fri, Mar 21 2014 2:31 PM

    phiber:
     My Doctor says I am abnormal!

    Know just where she's coming from...have friend from chapel, quacks were advising the family to sign the organ transplant forms and turn off the life-support, 'cause she was 'brain dead'.  WRONG-O!!!  Guess who's back leading the Friday womans group  :)    Most Dr's, for all their undoubtable skills and all the help they give us, just do-not understand the power of prayer.

    Keep strong, keep giving thanks, and keep remembering all those you don't know (and who don't know you) that are with you.

    Every blessing

    Thomas

     

  • mantis0014
    8,946 Posts
    Fri, Mar 21 2014 4:29 PM

    Very good news Leo :)

    Stay Strong

    -Roger

  • renniw52
    5,385 Posts
    Fri, Mar 21 2014 5:10 PM

    They can't keep a good man down, show em what ya got. In my thoughts.

    Rich

  • alanti
    10,564 Posts
    Fri, Mar 21 2014 8:09 PM

    Holy crap, I am not sure how I missed this thread. 

    I admire you Leo for your courage, tenacity and faith. A lesson can be learned.

    I think it was TBE that said we are all brothers and sisters on here and tend to agree.

    I wish you the very best for your journey ahead, and may it be a long happy one.

  • Fraenkel
    2,252 Posts
    Sun, Mar 23 2014 2:46 AM

    Keep it strong Leo.

  • mgbirish
    4,019 Posts
    Thu, Apr 3 2014 5:25 PM

    From Brother Leo (phiber) today after arriving home from 5th infusion:

     

    Well we are off and running with round 5, with a few slight glitches but nothing that is earth shattering.  Once again myt Doctor is happy with my progress and she talked a bit more about some clinical trials with Vanderbilt but we have to wait until after the next CT scan on the 29th.

    We got round 5 kicked off then they told me I have to come back tomorrow to get the pump installed because they lost the pumps when they were received yesterday????  So, back to Chemo lab tomorrow to get the pump hooked up and the means not coming off it until Sunday.  It could be worse I guess.  I saw two of the regulars (patients that are there getting chemo when I get it) that were refused treatment  because their whit blood count was too low, that is sad to witness but it happens with this type of treatment.

    Funny but I slept through most of the infusion this morning.  Kathy stayed awake and ate all the cookies!!  

    Family us life, Life is good, Great friends make life what it is.

    LD

RSS