Frank
Sasquatch
My wonderful and extremely patient wife helped put into words how I’ve been feeling. Having chemo brain, or perhaps it’s just old age, makes it difficult for me to communicate. So below is a copy of an email that went out to all of the fantastic folk who have helped me through this journey so far, I’m only half way through my treatments and I’m determined to move forward. So thank you all.
Dear Friends,
Being diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer can bombard you with a lot of negative perspectives. Weeks of invasive testing, at a time when you barely have the strength to get out of bed. Medical bills piling up, and the realization that you’ll have to sell your house to pay them – which means packing and moving, a task that seems insurmountable when you’re feeling that weak and miserable. And then, the additional unforeseen expenses – switching to all organic foods because your liver is seriously compromised, new clothes because you’ve lost 60 pounds, nutritional supplements to fight the cancer, exercisers that can be used while seated in your recliner, essential oils and diffusers to combat the lung cancer, etc. And then finding out that a disability check is substantially less than a paycheck and that your health insurance is somewhat less than optimal. (for example, my copay for a liver biopsy was $6,000.00 because Blue Cross determined that it could have been done without anesthesia – an option that I was not offered at the time of the test.)
You might think that I don’t have a lot to be grateful for – but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
I am so grateful to all of you who contributed so generously to the fund that saved us financially. You can’t imagine the weight that was lifted when I realized that we didn’t have to immediately sell our house. I was completely bowled over – not just because of the enormity of the total, but because of the number of names on the list. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve such an amazing group of friends, or how I can ever adequately thank you all.
I am truly grateful for all of the moral support you give me. Some of you, sadly, have personal experiences with cancer, and I find your stories to be educational and inspirational. Others have given me a shoulder to cry on, encouragement to keep fighting, memories of better times, and amusing anecdotes, all of which greatly improve my mental state.
I am extremely grateful to all of you who take time out of your busy workday to message me during chemo. With Covid restrictions, a 5 hour chemo session can seem endless, and social media is my salvation.
I am immensely grateful to everyone who has come over for a visit, and hope you will come again. If you haven’t been here, please consider this an invitation. If you need a more formal request, please see the attached poster from my wife. She doesn’t allow me to go out, but is all in favor of controlled, socially distant home visitation!
I am ever so grateful for the vast improvement in my health. A few short months ago I was walking (slowly and shakily) with a cane, and using moist towelettes because I couldn’t stand up long enough to take a shower. This past week I have finally been able to get back on my bike – which brings us to ….
I am amazingly grateful for friends who are willing to ride with me, for short distances, at a snail’s pace, and with frequent rest stops.
I don’t know how to convey what it means to me to have such a remarkable support group. The love, prayers and encouragement are what’s getting me through this. I couldn’t do it without you and will be forever grateful. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Sincerely,
Frank
Dear Friends,
Being diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer can bombard you with a lot of negative perspectives. Weeks of invasive testing, at a time when you barely have the strength to get out of bed. Medical bills piling up, and the realization that you’ll have to sell your house to pay them – which means packing and moving, a task that seems insurmountable when you’re feeling that weak and miserable. And then, the additional unforeseen expenses – switching to all organic foods because your liver is seriously compromised, new clothes because you’ve lost 60 pounds, nutritional supplements to fight the cancer, exercisers that can be used while seated in your recliner, essential oils and diffusers to combat the lung cancer, etc. And then finding out that a disability check is substantially less than a paycheck and that your health insurance is somewhat less than optimal. (for example, my copay for a liver biopsy was $6,000.00 because Blue Cross determined that it could have been done without anesthesia – an option that I was not offered at the time of the test.)
You might think that I don’t have a lot to be grateful for – but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
I am so grateful to all of you who contributed so generously to the fund that saved us financially. You can’t imagine the weight that was lifted when I realized that we didn’t have to immediately sell our house. I was completely bowled over – not just because of the enormity of the total, but because of the number of names on the list. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve such an amazing group of friends, or how I can ever adequately thank you all.
I am truly grateful for all of the moral support you give me. Some of you, sadly, have personal experiences with cancer, and I find your stories to be educational and inspirational. Others have given me a shoulder to cry on, encouragement to keep fighting, memories of better times, and amusing anecdotes, all of which greatly improve my mental state.
I am extremely grateful to all of you who take time out of your busy workday to message me during chemo. With Covid restrictions, a 5 hour chemo session can seem endless, and social media is my salvation.
I am immensely grateful to everyone who has come over for a visit, and hope you will come again. If you haven’t been here, please consider this an invitation. If you need a more formal request, please see the attached poster from my wife. She doesn’t allow me to go out, but is all in favor of controlled, socially distant home visitation!
I am ever so grateful for the vast improvement in my health. A few short months ago I was walking (slowly and shakily) with a cane, and using moist towelettes because I couldn’t stand up long enough to take a shower. This past week I have finally been able to get back on my bike – which brings us to ….
I am amazingly grateful for friends who are willing to ride with me, for short distances, at a snail’s pace, and with frequent rest stops.
I don’t know how to convey what it means to me to have such a remarkable support group. The love, prayers and encouragement are what’s getting me through this. I couldn’t do it without you and will be forever grateful. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Sincerely,
Frank