Hello loyal readers and Friends of Peter from guest host, Carol (without an “e”, Dee!). I feel your need to know and I shall respond. I would like to be doing this jointly with Peter, so I’ll try to include his thoughts whenever possible. You know how much he loves his blogosphere and how much he would prefer to be communicating with you directly, but until such time as he can resume his posts, I’ll fill you in on what’s happening, along with much-appreciated help from Hillary, who has offered to transcribe the e-mail messages I send from my desktop computer. If you’ve ever hunt-and-pecked your way through an e-mail on an i-Pad, you know what I’m talkin’ about; if I had to do it that way, my posts would be maybe three lines on a good day, and I would not use any adverbs, nor adjectives.
Today is Day 22. I have every day of chemo/radiation marked on my calendar, and the last day, Day 42, will be February 20th. This means he is halfway through and on the downward slope toward the finish line. The treatments are beginning to tell on him, with the most serious effect being loss of appetite. He can usually manage a decent breakfast, but then for the rest of the day he just nibbles a bit, if that, and then only if I can persuade him to. At his weigh-in Tuesday we learned he has lost eleven pounds in one week, if the scale was right. This morning he wanted a Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuit but couldn’t finish it…good for him that at least there was something that sounded good to him. We also find some success with smoothies, which pack a lot of nutrition of you design them right.
We always look forward to weekends because he gets a radiation holiday for two days and, by Sunday, he starts perking up. His sister, Lis, has been coming out to Athens a lot, to visit, prepare meals, help with whatever needs doing, and give us support. Brother Gaby and Gaby’s grandson, Erik, will be visiting us in mid-February. We feel the love!
As usual, I am praying for a quiet night with The Beast (Peter’s dialysis cycling machine). I am experimenting, but apparently throwing a bedroom slipper at it does not silence the alarm, and I have to be careful because I don’t want it to get mad at me.
Bonne nuit!

Idnt' knowhat to expectfrom what they named "the Protocoll.
Sure , had alternatives and considered them verycarefully,including, DOING Nothing.
Final, we started process which wil extend42 days rxcept the weekends

Well let me tell you that I have been poked and blood drawn practically ouy of every veinn

My D-Day is February20 and Icaint wait
My world would havebeen considerably bleaker over the pastfew weeks ifit had not been for the timely cards and precious notes

Gosh, I am so lucky to have friends like
youa secal load fell on Carol, because one day I could set the dialyzer te he next it was gone
Same typing anddoing emmail. It is gettind better. I also hadthe pleasure of overseasvitors
Brother W

Bother Gerhard came to Duke just before chistmas and his visit was very timely.
Then, last week brother Walter and his pretty daugher visitedfor 11days. You cant' imagine what visits such as these doto your spirit.

Between Carol land the
Girlwe will try to kee
Theblog open

I Apologize for theemany mistakes. Iam still not100%

Love you all

You probably thought I went off and died. You are not the only one's. who thouhht that.

Some days I feelOK. and i feel raring to go and some day i feel not so hot.

The toughest treatment for me is the mask, pictured table not even giving a1/8 inchearlier in a post. And barelyly able to breathhe

trying to lie still. They are sedating me, but it still a struggle. 23 to go!! Maybe theDoc will reduce the protocol

It is longest 5 minutes you ever experierenced. Imagine being screwed on thi

I do want to thank for the many well wishes. They are uplifting in ways that you cannot imagine you are the best.
How are you doing? Is the most Sked question i am getting

Itis not an easy one to answer. On hand i M painfree( except when the gout sets'.on the other hand this blooming sedation pill theygave me at Duke has me void of my normaldrive,including positive outlook.

There seems to be a small impairment with mytyping skills, but I will trykeeping up the blog.

Bless God and much gratitude

Peter

p.s.keep Lori's mom in your prayers. Perhaps Lori can update us.

There was this very nice wall hanging up in my patient ward and I took a picture, however, then I had my relapse and did not post anything for awhile. .

I still feel that we are close to Kwanzee and the wonderful message to publish it
late.Note, item #7

To all my friends and family, I am wishing you the very best in 2013. May all your wishes come through and may we all enjoy a prosperous new year!

I should know by Friday, my exact schedule. For some of you, my decision reversal cane as a surprise. There was this overwhelming data in favor of radiation and chemo, that I could only concur. Let's see what happens. It was not an easy decision, that is for sure. Continue, sending me prayers.

Love, me