Because of the precarious condition of my back, I declined a generous offer to fill a spot yesterday in one of the rafts that navigated the newly-created whitewater course on the Chattahoochee. Jill made the trip and I stood on the sidelines and watched. I knew that I had made the right decision at exactly the instant I saw her leave the rubber rail of the raft and sail up and into the boiling cauldron that is the hole named “Cut Bait.”
After a few anxious moments I saw her head pop up and I knew someone would scoop her up and bring her safely back to me. Jill and Oprah Winfrey have something in common. Neither of them particularly likes to get their hair wet. Oprah would have been proud. Jill came out of the Hooch looking like a drowned rat and she will have stories to tell for the rest of her life about the day she ran the Chattahoochee at 9,000 cubic feet per second. Folks, that is some big ass water!
We pull out in the morning to begin the eight-hour drive to Durham, NC to begin the next chapter of my journey with cancer. My itinerary includes meetings with medical oncologist, Dr. Dan George and Dr. Michael Morse, who runs Duke’s high-dose interleukin-2 program. I’m fortunate that they’re going to be able to use all the recent scans from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. To supplement those scans, I’ll have some lab work and pulmonary function testing (stress echo) to determine my ability to withstand the difficult HD-IL2 treatment regimen.
The first doctor visit is on Monday and the stress test and the visit with Dr. Morse are scheduled for Tuesday. We should be able to hit the road to come back home on Wednesday morning. If HD-IL2 will work for me, we’ll turn back around and head back up there to begin the treatment on either Labor Day or the day after. After seven days in intensive care, we’ll make the difficult trek back home for two weeks for me to try to bounce back from the therapy. Then we’ll do it all again. That is one round. Depending on how I fare and how I respond, I’ll have to do multiple rounds of this nasty therapy. Four rounds could take up to a year from start to finish. But, this is the only therapy that can offer me a cure. And, only in a very small percentage of cases.
Jill and I appreciate the continued good wishes and all the love we’ve received from our family, our friends and this remarkable community. If you add all the readers of this blog around the world, we aren’t tackling this difficult therapy alone. There is a veritable army that will go with us. I am going to attempt to blog my way through this entire treatment. With the very strong likelihood that there will some portion of the next few weeks when I’ll be physically or mentally unable to write. Because I want to capture all of this to be able to leave more breadcrumbs for those behind me to follow, I’ll ask Jill to either video some things or to type for me. Regardless of what happens, this is going to be a difficult, but interesting time in our lives.
I hope you’ll allow me a shameless plug for our business here. We have, at considerable expense, launched free iOS, Android and web versions of both Columbus and the Valley and Valley Parent magazines. As we begin to offer free, interesting local content in these digital editions as a value-added complement to our 21-year-old print magazines, we will be an even better value to our advertisers. When one of our account executives makes contact with you, please say “yes, I want to reach our potential customers regardless of where they are. At the beach, at home or in the carpool line.”
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Betty Anne Pollock says
MikE &Jill. All our love, support and prayers are with ya’ll as you make this next trek! Travel safely!
Patti Trotter says
My prayers continue to go with you and Jill, Mike.
Marianne Cashman says
Best of luck to you.
Margie Ivey says
WOW…really brave of Jill to ride the rafts. Have a safe trip and thanks for keeping us posted. Many thoughts and prayers will be with you both.
Nonie Eakle says
Mike and Jill – as a you Mike are a man of “words” I find it a little ironic that I am at a loss for them to adequately express how I stand in the gap with you and Jill at this moment. So, I’ll just say, I’m there/here — as one of your superforce. Godspeed my friends.
Kate Nerone says
If all of us who love you could participate in a ritual laying on of hands, you would be buried in a pile of humans about a mile deep. I hope that image is more comforting than creepy & that you are able to go forth with magnificent strength. Love you. xo
Carol Ann says
I watched a video of someone flying out of the raft and thought to myself, that’s going to hurt!
Had no idea it was Jill. She flew gracefully out. I am glad to know she is okay. Hope she isn’t too uncomfortable for the long drive.
Prayers continue. Keep us posted. Oprah WOULD be proud!!!
Perry Ann says
Duke will take excellent care of you both!
You are our Bravehearts. We will be anxioustohear from you
I sure Jill’s hair looks fab!! I heard Oprah tell a funny joke on herself last year in Atlanta
She went to walk her dogs in Chicago with her hair undone and a street dude started talking trash to her in the park. She got right back on him and told him how it was. He asked her “Who do you think you are?”. She said she thought for a second and decided to tell him. “As a matter of fact, I am Oprah Winfrey”
He looked at her in her natural state with no hair, make up and fancy clothes and said
“Oh lady, you wish!”. Glad Jill made it put if the river and hair is dry!
Go forth and conquer. Love and blessings PAW
Betsy and Chuck Staples says
Godspeed, Mike. Chuck and I are with you and Jill in our
thoughts and prayers.
Patty Branch says
Mike, I will continue to keep you and Jill in my Prayers! I pray that God will be with you and bless you and heal you totally and completely! We are all with you! Love to you both!
Patty Branch says
Mike, you and Jill are in my thoughts and prayers! I pray that God will use those doctors at Duke to heal you totally and completely! Love to you both!
Callie says
Hope the trip is quick and easy and all scans lead to the green light you need. We’ll keep the gears turning smoothly at home. Look forward to the next update!
Cj
Paula Acton says
Prayers for strength and peace are wrapped around you on this next step in your journey.
P.S. I’m sure that Jill looked more like a beautiful mermaid than a drowned rat!!
Laurel and Fred Blackwell says
A dear pastor friend of mine told me that she has been holding my hand from afar every single day since my first surgery. That has been enormous comfort to me. And I also share along with you that the army of friends and family encircling during cancer treatment is absolutely awe-inspiring and humbling. It is hard to give up when so many are cheering you on. So know of our love, admiration, and confidence in the One who made that body. Of yours. He knows how to heal it. We are holding your hands – both of yours – from 167 Glenwood Way.