| What's
Happening?
I was at the mirror shaving
one morning right after first of
January when I noticed a slight
lump on the left side of my neck.
I reached up and could feel firm
tissue under the surface. I told
my wife about it and we made a
doctor's appointment.
Just before the last
club
meeting, I had a meeting with
my doctor who confirmed, after
many tests, that I have cancer.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of
the left tonsil is what it is called.
My doctor did a tonsillectomy
the day after the bottle club
meeting and they found that it
had spread to a lymph node.
Hearing that was quite
a
rough blow, one that really
rocked me to the core.
Thankfully, they checked
further and it had not spread to
the lung or any other place.
They tell me that this
is a
cancer that can be beat if caught
early. Well, mine was caught
early. All my life I have wanted
to grow a beard but I have a
couple bald spots on my beard
area, like I do on the top of my
head! I tried to grow a beard
once, but I gave it up because I
looked like Festus on Gun
Smoke. If I would have a had
nice full beard, I would have not
found this cancer until way too
late!
As I said, this cancer
can
be beat if caught early. The
problem is that we have to fight
it aggressively and fast. That
means that I will have radiation
treatments and chemotherapy at
the same time, which is going to
be really rough!
Today, as I write this
portion of the newsletter, it is
Friday, February 27th, and this
morning I had outpatient
surgery. They installed what
they call a Power Port. That is a
small plastic cube a little larger
than a game dice. It has a
rubber top like a drum head. It
was implanted under my skin in
a small pocket the surgeon
made. Attached at the bottom of
the device is a plastic tube that
is inserted into one of the larger
veins near the heart. At the top
of the device are three bumps,
so that they can feel for the
middle of the Power Port.
The whole idea behind it
is, immediate access to a vein to
insert the drugs and other fluids
each time. Also, because the
drugs will flow into a large vein,
they can be absorbed and mixed
with the blood more quickly,
without the pain and burning.
To continue, today,
March 3rd, I went in for a
P.E.G. insertion. That is the one
operation I did not look forward
to. It is a feeding tube inserted
into my belly that goes directly
into my stomach. They say that
I may or may not need this, but
in case I do, they want it ready.
There is a chance that the
radiation to my neck may make
it too hard to swallow solid food.
I don't write this to
make you feel sorry for me, but
I really covet your prayers. Also, anyone can get cancer, and
many Americans do! I just want
to say that if there is something
going on in your life that puts
you at higher risk, change
direction! If you would like a
greater persuader, go into
downtown Kalamazoo and
spend a few hours sitting in the
lobby of the West Michigan
Cancer Center and just take
some time to observe the
patients. Hey, maybe you will
run into me!
Thank you Kalamazoo
Antique Bottle Club and the
West Michigan Antique Bottle
Club for your get well cards I
mean this when I say I was
deeply touched to see all of your
signatures and well wishes! God
has surely blessed me with a
great bunch of friends!
Bottle News
Friends, I really
apologize, for this newsletter, I
would really like to write about
some cool historic bottle stuff.
Maybe next month I can do
better.
I decided a while back
to
not set up at the show this year
and I will really miss it! I
started having second thoughts
when my doctor said, "No way!"
The way I understand
it
is, the cancer treatment is hard
on the white blood cells and
even picking up the common
cold could get ugly.
So, just what is the
hottest news in the antique
bottle world? Well, it is the:
KALAMAZOO
MICHIGAN'S
ANTIQUE
BOTTLE & GLASS SHOW!
KALAMAZOO GET READY!
ANTIQUE BOTTLE LOVERS-
GET READY!
MICHIGAN'S LARGEST 30th ANNUAL
ANTIQUE BOTTLE &
GLASS
SHOW!
APRIL 11th, 2009!
Early American
Bottles,
Flasks,
and Glass including: Fruit Jars, Dairy Bottles, Stoneware & Related
Items!
Norm Heckler,
America's foremost antique bottle and glass expert will be on hand,
as will other
professionals,
giving free appraisals ---
-- so bring your treasures!!
WHEN?
SATURDAY, APRIL 11th, 2009
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
WHERE?
At the Kalamazoo
County
Fairgrounds
2900 Lake Street
'I-94 exit
80'
Kalamazoo Michigan
For Information call
John
Pastor
1-616-581-7005
or call
Mark McNee
1-269-343-8393
FREE APPRAISALS OF
ANTIQUE
BOTTLES
AND RELATED GLASS ITEMS
BITTERS
INKS
POTTERY
CURES
JARS
SODAS
FLASKS
MILKS
SPIRITS
SPONSORED BY THE
KALAMAZOO ANTIQUE
BOTTLE
CLUB
RAFFLE DRAWING TO BE HELD,
WIN A NEW
"STATE OF THE ART"
METAL DETECTOR!
GARRETT
TREASURE ACE 250!
- All NEW,
features-loaded
- Head-turning
sporty, outdoor design
- Full-range notch
discrimination
- Pinpoint feature
- Graphic target
ID with 12 element GTA-
- Notch
discrimination for
greater accuracy
- Touch-n-Go
technology
- 5 pre-set
hunting modes
DONATED BY PRO/STOCK
DETECTORS
PLAINWELL MI.
FOR MORE INFO E-MAIL HERE
Admission $3.00, Senior Citizens $2.00
Children Under 12 Free with Adult!
RETURN
TO THE MANY FACES OF TREASURE HUNTING!
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