Bad news...good news....

[ChuckBurrows]

Over the last 4 years I have made mention of my health issues and how they have affected me and my output. I started having severe gastric troubles and overwhelming fatigue to the point I had to drastically cut back on my work load which of course has affected my income and quality of life (we lost our hme of 14 years, but freinds came through and have allowed us to live in fair comfort in a camp trailer they bought....I'm not not whining though - life is tough, but could be a   lot tougher!
I also began to lose weight - a total of 100 pounds (yes I was way overweight at 285 lbs on a heavy boned 6' frame and did need to lose weight) over the last 4 years a a failry regular rate , byt then there was a speedy loss off 25 pounds since March. Back 4 years ago the underlying cause evaded the doctors  - they even checked for cancer and while I had some oddities in the lymph system all tests came back benign - reckon some of the little buggers were lying doggo though. I was just starting to get back on my feet in January of this year and was really looking forward to getting things done when in late February the gastric problems once again reared their ugly head. With a compromised immune system I also had to win a battle with a staph infection and later a strep one over a three month period whihc sure didn't help things. I finally began to get back to more normal in May, but then the first week of June I went to see the doctor because I was having trouble breathing. I had figured that it was my normal spring allergies, but my regular fix its weren't working. They took a chest Xray and found that I had a pleural effusion, a build up of fluid in the space between the pleural lining and the chest wall that had formed a sack with almost 2 litres of fluid that was lying on my right lung and had caused it to collapse. Air is getting pretty thin here at 6500' ASL to begin with and having only one lung functioning wasn't helping my breathing. This led to me having to have the fluid siphoned off via a big needle and vacuum jars twice a week.
Anyway long story shorter - I have been diagnosed with stage 3B atypical non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - and of course since I've always been an oddball, I contracted a type that's doesn't fit the other 70 or so types, the reason it took so long to diagnose properly.
I started chemo two weeks ago and will have 5 more at three week intervals. The good news is that after only the one therapy I have seen an big improvement in the amount of fluid being siphoned off - it had been between 1.5 and three liters each time until last Friday it was only 650 milli-liters, and when I went 8/12 there was not enough buildup to have to do the procedure (I was sure glad because I'm am tired of having holes poked in my old hide!). So with fingers crossed I am down to maybe just once a week or perhaps even longer - the next chemo may in fact dry it up completely. I have also already had some of the swollen nodes begin to shrink. I have also handled the chemo drugs well with little side effects other than fatigue, but even that is better than before - probably because I can breathe and my ole brain is finally getting enough oxygen. Also my weight has stabilized at 185 (which is a good weight for me, but I need to build back up muscle ton if not mass.)
So for now things are looking very positive and it looks like I may be around for a while longer to harass ya'll.
The general consensus is while perhaps the cancer is not totally curable at this stage, it is highly treatable and the outlook is at least 10-15 years longer life expectancy after treatment and at age 61 that's good news heck I reckon any day I wake up without having dirt shoveled in my face is a good one....Besides my wife says I'm such a cranky demanding ole coot I'm just too ornery to kick the bucket yet (my attitude has always been the "bad" guys tain't gonna win - not yet anyway)
I also want to publicly thank those customers who have been so patient with me - I very much dislike owing folks, but having VERUY understanding customers has sure lowered the stress levels and stress is not good when having cancer or anything else for that matter. If things continue to go right I hope to have all orders caught up and be back on track for new work by the end of this year.
Also as BIG shout out to all of the very caring health workers I have come in contact with during this trying time for my wife Linda (who is a cancer survivor - 16 years and still counting) and me...

[Camano Ridge]

Chuck, of course I am sorry to hear of your health issues. However I am extremely happy you are doing better and your outlook is more positive. Hang in there and please don't go away from these boards. Your input is highly desired.

[Graveyard Jack]

Always hate to hear of bad things happening to good people but that's great that they can treat it and that it's already showing signs of improvement! I think I speak for everyone when I say that we want you to stick around for a while. We'll keep praying for you and plan on my name being on your waiting list next year.  

[dwight55]

No one ever likes to hear the bad news, . . . but we are very much excited about the good news.

Glad things turned in your favor, . . .

May God bless,
Dwight

[Forty Rod]

Getting a serious medical condition named after you is a piss-poor way to become famous.  Besides, it doesn't work.  I mean who even remembers who Augustino Polio was?

Hope you're doing better every time you check in.  (HINT!)

Prayers up from the Taylor household.

[Major 2]

Hmmmm ... John Jacob Hemorrhoid .... better that if it was Assteroid ....

Kidding aside , hang in there Chuck, knee mail is on its way  

[Skeeter Lewis]

It takes guts to face down all that adversity. Thinking of you -
Skeet

[Red Cent]

Always figgered you were a cantankerous old koot but I also figger ya got a good and big heart. I believe you have a number of friends that should have a little influence on the big guy up there.
God Bless you Chuck. Keep it positive and get weller.

Red

[Mogorilla]

Prayers up for you Chuck.  Keep fighting the good fight.  Hope you get back to wowing us with your artistic talent soon.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Although things have been tough for you, I'm glad you are seeing results from the treatments. This group is a powerful one and they're on your side. Looking forward to hearing more good reports. Prayers up here.

[Gus Walker]

Howdy Chuck. Glad to here your doin well with the treatments. My father came down with melanoma back in 83. He went through all the experimental chemo at that time so i know how rough it can get. My prayers are with you and your family.

[Curley Cole]

Chuck

long story short my dad came down with lung CA. They opened him up, cut out half the lung and the doc said they couldn't get it all so we should have him put his affairs in order as he had a pretty short time to live. That was something like 8-10 years ago, anf a few years ago they said he was CA free! This coming Wed. he will be celebrating hiss 80th bday.

my point is we just don't know what is around the corner. Sometimes it is a bus....but sometimes it is the pot of gold at the end of that rainbow. Robin Williams killed himself partly because he couldn't stand the pain of the parkinsons any more,and I can relate to that because my pain is getting to where I can not stand it. But it wouldn't be fair to those who love me to have to clean up the mess I made on the way out. 

for you my friend I am praying for a big pot of gold. I spent 43 years working with people and their stories. If you ever need to vent drop me an email.

we all are thinking of you.
curley

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

Happy they finally found the problem and have been able to treat it.  Now the best news is that you will probably be around another 10 and more years.  By your expiration date, I will be long gone either physically or mentally, so I will not have to say good bye. 

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Hang in there Chuck, you're tough, you'll get through this...


tEN wOLVES

[santee]

Yeah he will! He's got a great attitude, too. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, Chuck.

[ChuckBurrows]

Thank you all for your concern and prayers. I plan on sticking around for a while longer, my biggest concern is my wife - she just turned 68 and is not in the best of health either. One tough cookie though - she's been on her own since she was 14, but still I'd like to stick around for her sake (although some days she may not think so...LOL!)
The other reason is I've got some things I'd like to get made and maybe will have a chance still - just watched a Man Called Horse for the first time in beaucoup years and it reminded me I always wanted to make one of those prairie chicken headdresses as used in the movie and first recorded by Bodmer and Catlin.
I've got from now until next Friday off from any appointments so I hope to get some projects/orders worked on as well - headed out shortly to mi compadre, Jerry Rodri's, forge to work on a couple of pieces - energy level is pretty good today so maybe....
One of my big problems with all this is the sheer boredom that will set in when my body just won't work right - only so many movies to watch and so many books to read...otherwise my mind set is good, depression even in the worst times has never been something I "allowed" and I've always followed Patton's advice about not taking the counsel of your fears...

and it's official - I'm losing my head hair anyway - so far beard and mustache are staying put - not unusual...
I've had long hair most of my life since I was 14 - cut it just a few times in the past for work, but it's been at least 25 years since I did. Good thing I'm not vain I reckon, but then I've always known I'm not exactly Cary Grant...

On the other hand I seldom leave the house without some type of hat and when in the shop I wear a do rag so no real loss and it will grow back eventually - of course I'll probably scare little kids now looking like an ugly Yul Brynner!

[ChurchandSon]

If ya'll need ANYTHING ...give a yell....

[Cliff Fendley]

Chuck, best wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery. I've had a tough last couple years myself. Hopefully we will both be back full swing soon.

[santee]

...of course I'll probably scare little kids now looking like an ugly Yul Brynner!

 

[buckskin billy]

glad to hear your old butt is still kicking around i'll keep you in my prayers