Cancer - The Big C
- Thread starter THATmanMANNY
- Start date
Mr. E Man
Well-Known Member
Since my last post from April, my Mom passed on May 27th and my daughter was born 2 weeks later. It's been a roller coaster of emotions ever since. Still sending you good vibes to your family.
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
@Mr. E Man I’m very sorry for your loss and congratulations to your family. May your mother Rest In Peace and bless your new child! I can’t imagine the emotions your family has experienced either. Thank you and all the best to you 🙂
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
Hey all! Hope everyone is holding up and kicking ass! Find more time for smiles and miles!
It’s been mooooonths since my last ride. It’s been hell balancing everything and cancer. Probably the hardest couple months we’ve been through. We are worn, beaten down, mentally and emotionally exhausted. It’s treatment week and a mtb ride this afternoon is what I needed after holding Harrison in my arms this morning sobbing after I cleaned up the diarrhea and this after I cleaned up last nights too! Fucking chemo! but a lot of smiling on the ride!
He’s gotten very attached to me since Sept since Mrs has gone back to work. I’ve taken over majority of the appointments because of my flexible schedule (aka remote ish office job). He was pretty pissed (steroids) that I left to ride with @clarkenstein. He hunted me down at Blackwell Mills and we rode home together 🤣 like this shit is so ridiculous I just have to cry or laugh about it
It’s been mooooonths since my last ride. It’s been hell balancing everything and cancer. Probably the hardest couple months we’ve been through. We are worn, beaten down, mentally and emotionally exhausted. It’s treatment week and a mtb ride this afternoon is what I needed after holding Harrison in my arms this morning sobbing after I cleaned up the diarrhea and this after I cleaned up last nights too! Fucking chemo! but a lot of smiling on the ride!
He’s gotten very attached to me since Sept since Mrs has gone back to work. I’ve taken over majority of the appointments because of my flexible schedule (aka remote ish office job). He was pretty pissed (steroids) that I left to ride with @clarkenstein. He hunted me down at Blackwell Mills and we rode home together 🤣 like this shit is so ridiculous I just have to cry or laugh about it
I’m late to this thread but thank you all for sharing and keeping the support up for our fellow brothers and sisters in dirt. I lost my dad to prostate cancer in 2010. By sheer luck I had a business trip to Asia (where my parents lived) planned when his close friend called me and said to get there asap. He was in and out of consciousness (more out than in) when I got there after 20 hours of flying. I got to his room, he mumbled something to the effect of “I’m so glad you’re here” and passed away a few hours later. As others have said, early detection is critical. I visit the urologist 2x year and the derm 2x year. I’ve had four squamous and one basal in 18 months (fair skin, growing up in the tropics, in the sun everyday at a young age…not a good recipe). Stay strong everyone. Hug often.
Frank
Sasquatch
Keep up the fight !!! Check into holistic medicine, my wife has helped me with that. She has stopped hair loss, the diarrhea, and vomiting I should have suffered during my chemo. Granted that’s just some of the side effects, but it helps. DM if you want more info, I can certainly share. But mostly want to send more positive vibes your way.
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
Happy and healthy new year to you and your loved ones! It’s been a while and we went through some rough times to finish 2022. The boy caught RSV in Nov and the Flu in Dec so a couple hospital stays. Then I’m pretty sure he passed the Flu to me the week of Christmas.
What a HELL of a 2022. We are near one year of treatment and 2023 is starting out better. A month ago he had spinal tap #13 and finished one major chemo drug so our clinic visits are less and his mood is better. Last year, he would cry 99% of the time when we left him at daycare. But starting out this year he’s been a happy boy. Maybe he’s older and wiser or maybe he stopped feeling shitty. Probably all of the above.
Another happy story. So to date myself, this year is my 20th HS Reunion that is going to be a banger with a venue and all. Some anonymous donors pledged to match every dollar spent in Dec on seats/tickets to our family. We received a little more than $1,000! This is the msg a posted in the private group. -
“To the anonymous donors and December ticket purchasers and anyone praying for Harrison, sincerest and deepest gratitude to you. You are a Roarior 🦖 Blessings and good health to you all in this new year.
We received a healthy donation from the Class of 2003 that will help us more than just financially. Cancer will knock your family down and chew you up. It means the world to us to receive this act of kindness to help us stay positive and ‘Make Leukemia Extinct’! Medical expenses can be worked out but Harrison’s happiness is the most important to encourage his treatment and reward him for his fearlessness. Honestly, we pretty much give him anything he wants or craves. The countless McD, Target/Walmart, and ShopRite trips to feed his nuggets, croissants, and cereal cravings and to add to his to Jurassic World dinosaur collection are just some simple things that make his day brighter. He also loves arcades and rides. YOU ARE HELPING OUR LITTLE HERO BE HAPPY AND POSITIVE. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts 🧡 We are praying for other survivors as well and please message us if you know anyone that we can support through their fight! 🙏🏼”
Sorry I feel like I’m just spewing whatever but so much can happen in a couple of months plus the Holidays. Jeeez so glad that is over. I totally lost it one day. Like I went bonkers! I can’t deal with trying to host Christmas Eve dinner and help get cancer to fuck off. Mrs was frustrated at me for not cleaning up a room so between being sick, and taking care of him when TF was I going to clean up a room. So I lost it and just threw everything in that room that needed to be cleaned up outside and most notably a dollhouse on the front lawn. I banged and slammed every door and wall I could for like 20 minutes and some scars to prove it. It was some epic shit. Haha. We laugh at it now but that tantrum was needed. Fuuuuck cancer and thank you for people asking and praying for us. Big kudos to the cape less heros, docs and nurses. Well, it’s another new cycle tomorrow. Prayers please 🙏🏼
What a HELL of a 2022. We are near one year of treatment and 2023 is starting out better. A month ago he had spinal tap #13 and finished one major chemo drug so our clinic visits are less and his mood is better. Last year, he would cry 99% of the time when we left him at daycare. But starting out this year he’s been a happy boy. Maybe he’s older and wiser or maybe he stopped feeling shitty. Probably all of the above.
Another happy story. So to date myself, this year is my 20th HS Reunion that is going to be a banger with a venue and all. Some anonymous donors pledged to match every dollar spent in Dec on seats/tickets to our family. We received a little more than $1,000! This is the msg a posted in the private group. -
“To the anonymous donors and December ticket purchasers and anyone praying for Harrison, sincerest and deepest gratitude to you. You are a Roarior 🦖 Blessings and good health to you all in this new year.
We received a healthy donation from the Class of 2003 that will help us more than just financially. Cancer will knock your family down and chew you up. It means the world to us to receive this act of kindness to help us stay positive and ‘Make Leukemia Extinct’! Medical expenses can be worked out but Harrison’s happiness is the most important to encourage his treatment and reward him for his fearlessness. Honestly, we pretty much give him anything he wants or craves. The countless McD, Target/Walmart, and ShopRite trips to feed his nuggets, croissants, and cereal cravings and to add to his to Jurassic World dinosaur collection are just some simple things that make his day brighter. He also loves arcades and rides. YOU ARE HELPING OUR LITTLE HERO BE HAPPY AND POSITIVE. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts 🧡 We are praying for other survivors as well and please message us if you know anyone that we can support through their fight! 🙏🏼”
Sorry I feel like I’m just spewing whatever but so much can happen in a couple of months plus the Holidays. Jeeez so glad that is over. I totally lost it one day. Like I went bonkers! I can’t deal with trying to host Christmas Eve dinner and help get cancer to fuck off. Mrs was frustrated at me for not cleaning up a room so between being sick, and taking care of him when TF was I going to clean up a room. So I lost it and just threw everything in that room that needed to be cleaned up outside and most notably a dollhouse on the front lawn. I banged and slammed every door and wall I could for like 20 minutes and some scars to prove it. It was some epic shit. Haha. We laugh at it now but that tantrum was needed. Fuuuuck cancer and thank you for people asking and praying for us. Big kudos to the cape less heros, docs and nurses. Well, it’s another new cycle tomorrow. Prayers please 🙏🏼
Attachments
-
B8DBCB5D-824E-407E-B1B4-207F5CCFF7A5.jpeg -
BDE94158-0AA3-4317-820B-5F0D1C5688F2.jpeg -
D5B85840-C6F4-446B-9EC4-32EA7D8BAC01.jpeg -
55876640-6F13-44C5-A24E-E0EAAB854745.jpeg -
F67C7038-7DB2-4E0C-B481-88A0D7748550.jpeg -
45F82355-0F83-458B-9AA3-FB15510DE776.jpeg -
90A650A1-98BB-4D3D-AFB7-358EDB703C21.jpeg -
1D3A48E9-E5C7-47E8-B640-4B18205ED8E8.jpeg -
57B28889-4772-4FD4-BB27-64E0FC4A27CD.jpeg -
3163F2A2-B948-4619-B3E6-F0B0B5FE6A07.jpeg
Last edited:
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
Sporting stickers on helmets
1speeder
Well-Known Member
I've been away from the forum for a long time and just now followed along your thread. I'm a 3x blood cancer survivor, been through 4 chemo protocols, a clinical trial that failed, an allo bone marrow transplant (my sister was my donor), etc, etc. When I was in the hospital during those years, I'd see the kids with their chemo pumps and IVs and it stuck in my head. It is 16 years later and every time I see a St. Jude commercial, I get emotional and tear up.
Your son is a warrior and your love and support is inspiring. Stay strong and know that you are not alone.
I lost my Mom to multiple myeloma almost 20 years ago. You and your wife are Rock stars. The two of you are your son's Super hero's. and your boy is very tough and brave. My kids are older and we have tons of stuff in the attic. Let me know if you need anything. Toys ,clothes whatever. and I will see if we have any dinosaurs.
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
@1speeder WOW and you kill it on a bike now. Thank you for sharing and your kind words and sympathy. Thank you guys @Ejd @Patrick
Let's speak honestly... if you have children there is probably no one else you love more. This journey is a gut wrenching emotional roller coaster.
Just 'youtube kids'
We actually took away the iPad. It's been one week and he is not losing it. It was making him too much a couch potato. Would like to reintroduce games but not sure when.
Let's speak honestly... if you have children there is probably no one else you love more. This journey is a gut wrenching emotional roller coaster.
Just 'youtube kids'
We actually took away the iPad. It's been one week and he is not losing it. It was making him too much a couch potato. Would like to reintroduce games but not sure when.
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
Today is Harrisons’s Anniversary! 🥂 we’ve done some fun things the past few days. Toy shopping, dinner, aquarium, more dinosaurs
rlb
Well-Known Member
Just catching up here Manny and glad to hear your little man is doing well! It seems like you're holding up well too. I couldn't imagine coming through the process without losing it multiple times too. Everyone has their breaking point, only so much you can carry after giving it all to your family.
Thanks for sharing this story. It's a reminder to always count your blessings, and that you never know what the person next to you is facing on any given day. Sending positive vibes that Harrison and the rest of your family stays strong!
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
@1speed just going back to that photo and them bikes are old and rad!
Hey ya'll. Blood donation in recognition of Harrison (and anyone else you know or don't know) is now an annual event! Still keeping up with the chemo maintenance and our boy is looking and feeling good! Diggerland is awesome!
Hillsborough Hero - Blood and Platelet Drive - June 10 - Hillsborough Elementary School
Hey ya'll. Blood donation in recognition of Harrison (and anyone else you know or don't know) is now an annual event! Still keeping up with the chemo maintenance and our boy is looking and feeling good! Diggerland is awesome!
Hillsborough Hero - Blood and Platelet Drive - June 10 - Hillsborough Elementary School
THATmanMANNY
Well-Known Member
what’s up friends. I hope everyone and survivors are doing well! Share your feelings here if you would like 👍🏼
Maintenance is like 3 weeks of medication a month, oral and IV. Needless to say every couple of weeks life is pretty overwhelming based on how Harrison does and how we hold up as a family. Definitely some bad and sad days. BUT Summer has been really fun (beach, sun, amusement rides, zoos, cousins, lots of new dinosaurs) and there was a lot of anxiety getting back to the grind. First day of Pre K today and it was a success and fortunate that he is tapering off on some drugs. A couple weeks ago we gave pedaling a try and not quite there yet. Maybe in the winter or spring. We went to field station dinosaurs in Leonia last week. He thought he was walking into Jurassic Park. He fucking loved it. Stay strong and healthy!
Edit - when we left the Dino park a staff member stopped us. She noticed our Make Leukemia Extinct shirts and asked if someone here has Leukemia. I told her about Harrison. She then said she has been in remission for7 years and she gifted Harrison a stuffed Stegasaurus. I don’t know how I kept it together but I gave her a hug and said thank you.
Maintenance is like 3 weeks of medication a month, oral and IV. Needless to say every couple of weeks life is pretty overwhelming based on how Harrison does and how we hold up as a family. Definitely some bad and sad days. BUT Summer has been really fun (beach, sun, amusement rides, zoos, cousins, lots of new dinosaurs) and there was a lot of anxiety getting back to the grind. First day of Pre K today and it was a success and fortunate that he is tapering off on some drugs. A couple weeks ago we gave pedaling a try and not quite there yet. Maybe in the winter or spring. We went to field station dinosaurs in Leonia last week. He thought he was walking into Jurassic Park. He fucking loved it. Stay strong and healthy!
Edit - when we left the Dino park a staff member stopped us. She noticed our Make Leukemia Extinct shirts and asked if someone here has Leukemia. I told her about Harrison. She then said she has been in remission for7 years and she gifted Harrison a stuffed Stegasaurus. I don’t know how I kept it together but I gave her a hug and said thank you.
Last edited:
iman29
Well-Known Member
Wow that staff member needs a major raise.
Great to see him and all of you still fighting strong!
Frank
Sasquatch
Many prayer and hopes of continuing progress for Harrison! Sending lots of positive vibes to you and the Mrs as I know you are suffering right along with him.
I too am touched by the staff members simple, yet powerful show of support. I have discovered that there are sooo many big hearts out there, it gives me hope for the future.
After 6 hrs under the bag today, I loved the post Manny! As always f cancer.
I too am touched by the staff members simple, yet powerful show of support. I have discovered that there are sooo many big hearts out there, it gives me hope for the future.
After 6 hrs under the bag today, I loved the post Manny! As always f cancer.