Well here are the pictures from a day at the spa! Yes those are the pink toenails you were hoping for. And the horrified look on Michael's face is one of concern since his mom has not cut his hair since he was a teenager. Well, the hair cut won't last long since Monday will be the start of some very nasty chemo. It will erase any bad hair cut. It is all good as long as it works against ridding his body of cancer.Today he had another ablation on the liver. This time they used the latest technology using microwave energy. He tolerated the procedure well. Monday will be the start of the first round of chemo. The chemo will be every three weeks as long as he tolerates it. Hopefully by the end of next week Michael will be able to travel home.
Take Care,
Dawn & Kids
PS Mail for Michael can be sent to 514 Camp Ten Road
Gaylord, MI 49735
Ironman Lake Placid Update Coming Soon. All 3 Athletes for a Cure are an "IRONMAN".
20 comments:
Hi Michael,
We've been looking for your update and we're glad to hear that you will be moving forward with your treatment plan. You are man of great courage to post a picture of your pink toenails!! :) Good humor will only help beat this cancer. Congrats to Dawn, Winter and the team at Lake Placid. It is inspiring to see them grind it out to help raise awareness and get you through this.
Take care. You are always close in thought and prayers.
John and Pam
Hi Michael, Dawn and Winter,
You dont know me. My name is Dave Deschenes and I am a PC survivor. I just turned 40 last week and was diagnosised when I was 38. After my experience with PC, my family and I (son Kyle 11 and wife Kara) all became affiliated with AFAC for the St Anthony's triathlon in St Pete FL in April of this year. Scott and Greta shared your story with us and in finding out more about Winters efforts, I came across your blog.
While I was going through my fight, I also created a blog. It helped me get through the process and I'm sure as you have found help to share the story and progress rather than telling it over and over. Feel free to check it out. I found that in my reasearch during my experience, that maybe I would pick up one small piece of information or insight from all of the info that was out there, and that would ultimately help me out or help to explain how I was feeling.
http://caringbridge.org/visit/davedescheneslivestrong
Winter, your efforts with AFAC are quite impressive! Please keep up the good work. All of us survivors including your dad need your help and are very proud of your work! We know it is hard work. We raised over $5,000 for St A's Triathlon in April.
We will be at the AFAC tri at Disney in in September and look forward to meeting you there. The PFC posted an article on our story a couple of months back. Hopefully this helps to put faces behind the post.
http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.4277495/k.7B50/Dave_Deschene.htm?msource=june08np&auid=3769015
Michael, your fight and experience with PC is so vastly differnt from mine. After being disgnosised, I underwent a radical laproscopic robotic prostatectomy. My experience was tough, but nothing close to your battles. I can honestly tell you that as you go through your treatment, you will find that they experience will make you stronger and it will give you and your family a completely different outlook on life. It is not an easy battle, but it looks like you have a great support system around you who is there for you...dont be afraid to ask for their help. It is good to see that you have a good treatment plan and are having fun with your spa treatments. Be strong and LiveStrong!
Feel free to contact me @ ddeschenes@templeton.com
Hi Everyone. We hope you've been able to enjoy a little of the summer weather. It hasn't been that terrific as far as sunny and hot weather goes, so Michael, you haven't missed much there. Maybe when you get back on your feet, and back to Northern Michigan, you can relax on the beach and let God work his magic to heal you.
The families in Boyne Falls that know you or your kids are still praying for you and talk of you often. It's all good don't you worry about that!! Everyone is concerned and pulling for you like you wouldn't believe. The power of prayer is key. I hope you can feel the energy from afar.
We sure hope you'll be home soon. Being here, together with your family and friends, and in comfortable surroundings will play a huge role in your recovery.
Andrew says HI! to Winter, and all of you. Winter, please feel free to send Andrew an email at kcampbell66@centurytel.net or (if you don't want his mom to read it, you can write to boyneallstar27@gmail.com)
God bless. Get better soon. Everyone is pulling for you. When you beat this thing, we hope we can say we helped.
Karen & Andrew Campbell
Hi Everyone. We hope you've been able to enjoy a little of the summer weather. It hasn't been that terrific as far as sunny and hot weather goes, so Michael, you haven't missed much there. Maybe when you get back on your feet, and back to Northern Michigan, you can relax on the beach and let God work his magic to heal you.
The families in Boyne Falls that know you or your kids are still praying for you and talk of you often. It's all good don't you worry about that!! Everyone is concerned and pulling for you like you wouldn't believe. The power of prayer is key. I hope you can feel the energy from afar.
We sure hope you'll be home soon. Being here, together with your family and friends, and in comfortable surroundings will play a huge role in your recovery.
Andrew says HI! to Winter, and all of you. Winter, please feel free to send Andrew an email at kcampbell66@centurytel.net or (if you don't want his mom to read it, you can write to boyneallstar27@gmail.com)
God bless. Get better soon. Everyone is pulling for you. When you beat this thing, we hope we can say we helped.
Karen & Andrew Campbell
Mike,
Pink toenails? Wait until Thorton heres about this one!
Do you realize that when you start taking you chemo treatments that your forehead will be equal to Helmer's?
Anyway, the other day I said to myself, "Self. Let's pay Vinicki a little surprise visit and fly out to Minnesota and crash the party."
After doing some extensive research on plane fares, I said; "Self. For $995.00, I could get leg extensions to increase my currently pitiful height or drive to Gaylord and back twice or fly out and see Vinicki."
Next time you see me, I'll be taller.
Mike,
By the way, next time mom cuts your hair, have her cut your fingernails while she is at it.
We are all waiting for a Mike post and something just occurred to me that you're holding back in fear of breaking a fingernail.
Michael,
Good to see you're getting a makeover. I just said to Dawn the other day, "What's with Michael's fro?" When you get back on your feet, I think you and Bill will make a good teaml...with those pink toenails I bet you could sell a lot of purses. Keep fightig the fight. We love you and think of "Ruger's Daddy" every day.
The Collins Family
Michael,
After reading Dave's blog it is hard to say anything...
but..
Get well soon...
Oh, yeh' I will try to keep Kenny away from you if you want!... (just joking I hope he takes a few friends along with him...)
Keep Smilin'
Becky
Hi Michael:
It is great to see your smile, and I love the photo with you and Soderberg. I was up in Gaylord last week, and Kim Noble told me what you and your beautiful family were going through. I am living in Tennessee now, and feel completely out of touch with Gaylord life, so that was the first I had heard of your fight with this. Please know that you, Dawn and the kids are in my thoughts and prayers. It appears you are maintaining a fantastic attitude throughout this!!!!
Take care and stay strong!!!
Laura (Wolf) Walkowski
laura.walkowski@yahoo.com
*snickering* Ya know Michael, I'm sure there's some nurses there that know how to dye stuff, they could color your socks to match your toes..and if you want, I have some GREAT Chrome nail polish?
I pray that the chemo goes fast for you and also that you have an event-less, safe trip home!
Keep Smiling :)
Lyne (Breckow) Lutz
Q: Why do elephants paint their toenails in rainbow colors?
A: So they can hide in jelly bean jars.
Q: Have you ever found an elephant in your jelly beans?
A: No? Then the trick with the rainbow toenails must work.
Glad to see the "pink" toenails!!! You made me laugh...
Wishing you a GREAT day!
Hugs,
Heidi (Hella)
Mike, just checking in. Keep hammering away at this cancer. And thanks for this blog. It's great to hear your progress.
Winter, all I can say is "Wow". Dawn, you too.
A good friend of mine is a testicular cancer survivor. After coming through it, he once told me what he learned. He said most people walk through 98% of their life sleep walking, and only 2% of the time are really awake to it.
I look forward to talking to Mike post-cancer.
Love,
Sean and Cathy
Mike and his pink toes have caused quite the conversation! One of my patients was told by one of my co-workers that he had the nurse armed with pink polish. He told me, "well, do it! It would just be another cancer recovery story."
This will be a story to tell the children, grand children and great- grand children.
Chemo may kill that hair, but it does not kill the spirit! Bald is beautiful...look at Vin Diesel!
Michael, I am going to miss you when you leave Minnesota, but I am excited for you to get home to that wonderful family you keep talking about.
It will be nice to see you and the family on your ROUNDTRIP recovery visit!!!
Mike, let me speak from experience...there is nothing wrong with bald. I'm more concerned with the hair cut your mother gave you. I haven't seen it yet but if the last time she cut your hair was when you were a teenager, it was probably an '80's mullet. Don't let 'er do it to you Mike! I'd take bald over that any day! Hang in there, brother!
-Ryan
Hi Michael and Family,
You are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. We have been following the blog and the info for Team Winter. I am sure that "Proud" does not even begin to describe how you feel about your family, Michael.
I just hope that you are not one of the trendsetters from your class. We could have a bunch of 40 year old men rushing to the spa for pink pedicures:)
Love and Prayers,
Shawn and Dave Butka
Greetings from Porto, Portugal!
I was unable to get a pedicure before I travelled here. You beat me to the punch...nice gams, by the way!
I have not tried any port in Porto...yet! I did try a very small bit of tripe (pig intestine), which tasted ok but was VERY fatty. My theory is that I never have to have it again. There were bits that looked like morel mushrooms, but the beans they cooked with it were DELICIOUS!!
I have been drinking a lot of beer called Super Bock. I suspect it is Portguese Budweiser and not really fit for consumption, but I drink it anyway. It practically tastes like water so I think I am well hydrated.
Friday I will give my first international conference paper! I'm sure you'd like a copy of it: "Druid Theatre's Economics: The First Decade". Fascinating. Most academics don't want to talk about the arts as a product so this might go very badly.
Well, off for another glass of "water"!
xxx, Shelley
Michael-
Great news that you may be getting home soon! Bet you are "tired" of the same 4 walls, and ready to be in a more comfortable environment, and back with the Family.
Hope the first round of chemo goes smoothly for you! Either way, just another small step in the journey to normalcy in your life. Am confident you'll do fine with it :-)
Keep the Faith, and keep up the fight! Well wishes and prayers to you and yours.
Matt
P.S. Send Kenny one of the pink toenails when you get them trimmed! ;-)
Michael,
LOVE The pink toenails! Much bolder than my bodacious red. I'll be changing mine to Pink in your honor. I say you die the hair pink too. Might as well have it go out "on fire!".
Hopefully you'll be on your way home soon. I'll do my best to keep Kenny away, but you know I can't guarantee that. Maybe we'll have to threaten him with the Pink nail polish!
So, I'm working on the magazine again. Dawn, if you are able to email me some of those pics I'll see what I can get into the article. The original photos (high resolution versions) are best. Then I can make them up to what I need for the printer.
Hope to see you back in northern Michigan soon. I'll tell ya...it's been WARM! Not too bad though...just perfect for sitting out on the porch in the shade recouperating.
Take care buddy. Say hi to mom and dad too.
Tricia Wiltjer
Hi Michael,
Talked with Dawn last night and made plans to come visit. We are planning on seeing you in Gaylord. I am sure that you are so ready to get home and we are praying that all goes well and you will be there soon. I'm sure that James will call you soon. We were busy with the fair last week, but trying to settle into normalcy this week, if there is such a thing. JD did well @ the fair...don't know if I should spill the beans...his dad was so proud!! I will let him tell you.
You take care and keep your spirits up. We will see you very soon!!!
Love, Karri, James, JD & Jarrett
Michael...
How are you doing? You have been in my thoughts this week. In honor of you, I have painted MY toenails = PINK! My toenails will remain pink until you are done with chemo!
I have 3 boys (13, 11, and 7)...nobody (not that I know of - LOL) had pink nail polish handy in the house! I prefer a darker brown color myself (goes nicer with a tan)...therefore...I went to the store today, to buy some PINK!
You are in my thoughts...especially when I look down at my toes!
Stay strong...keep smiling...
Hugs,
Heidi(Hella) Willison
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