"The End"

I need to make a New Year's resolution to not procrastinate, especially where simple things are concerned. This is by way of acknowledging that I didn't report on the CT scan as promised. However I have received calls and emails asking what the results were, and that's good because this writing has gotten pretty one-sided. I've not received any responses in quite some time. So you all can resolve to let me hear from you: email mebking@aol.com, call 574-232-3401 or respond on the blog.

Now I have that out of my system. The CT scan was just what I had hoped it would be. All is well and clear, no sign of any cancer. Even though I was fairly confident of that outcome, it was great to get the word from the nurse reading the report. When she said that there was no cancer, I realized I had been a little anxious about it. So now I really do have a new lease on life.

Chemo #7 was today. I think it was the first time Marcia has sat down for more than half an hour since #6. We had our usual good time. Her daughter Mary came in the afternoon, and we played with one of my Christmas presents. It's a game called Brain Age which is aimed at sharpening one's wits. Karl gave it to me, but it wasn't an insult. I keep complaining about all the brain cells that I'm losing to chemo, at least that's my excuse for how addled I feel most of the time. I'm hoping for great improvement, but actually I'm not so bad. Marcia and I both tested at a brain age of 36. Now if we just could find those 36 year old bodies.

Today's CA125 was 8.5. So that is more good news. And, Dr. Method is very pleased with how I'm doing. He says that I'm a model patient as all the treatments are doing just what they should. My last treatment (doesn't that have a good ring to it?) will be on Jan. 18, 2008. Then I'll have a check-up every three months for at least a year. If all is well then the time between checks will lengthen.

So I wish all of you wonderful family and friends and faithful readers a Happy New Year! I'm looking forward to my next year being ever so much better than the one just ending. My other resolutions include losing the weight I've gained and returning to the fitness level I had before this all started.

It has been great reconnecting with those of you who had been out of touch for too long, and I've certainly enjoyed hearing from the many who have contacted me. But I am going to have the end of the year be the end of my posting the blog on a semi-regular basis. I will write if there are any big events to report, but this is my sign-off for now.

I do want to tell everyone again how much your thoughts and prayers have meant to me. I'd never have gotten through this journey with the good outcome had you all not been with me. Thank you, thank you and thank you again.