Thread: Checking in

Tweet

Thanks Ryan.

As far as making it back, I don't know I've been in Hospice for 3 months now, and so far I'm not noticing anything that can be directly linked to the cancer. My back has been really bad the last couple of months, but a lot of that can be attributed to the degenerative arthritis which gets bad every time the weather changes and it seemed to do that on an every other day basis most of the winter. When I can I end up out in the shop working on the 68. The goal is to get it built and if I fell capable making one last trip back, but who knows.....at least it gives me a goal and beats the hell out of sitting in the house and watching TV for the brain dead. LOL.




.

“…..One question tho.. why FECUSTOM? a former life story? 8-)…..”

Come on Mike, you know better than to give a gabby old man like me an opening like that……..of course there’s a story.

HA! There is always a story right? And I just realized it says "Gabby" old man.. I thought it read Crabby, old man... LOL!
Great write-up too. Like you I enjoy the mechanicals best, and the paint / body work least... Did you get to at least take the big car for a ride and see what that 401 could do?

"......Did you get to at least take the big car for a ride and see what that 401 could do?......"

Just yard drove it (a couple of times ) It was healthy. The cars traded hands a couple of more times since I sold it. Both times to other acquaintances of mine. One sold off the Tri-Power but did do the interior and started on the body work. When I talked to the current owner last he was digging up parts for a 4 speed swap. Oh well maybe some day it will actually end up on the streets again.


.

Thought I’d do a quick update. It’s been a little over a year since I was told about the cancer and given 4 months without treatment to survive. It’s been 8 months since I stopped the treatments and went into in home hospice.

As far as the cancer, it’s stage 4 but at this moment in time the effects seem to be minor and the pain is pretty much controlled with the pain meds.

The biggest problem is still the degenerative arthritis in my lower back. I’m fortunate I can still get around with just a cane. With the weather turning colder in the mornings I’m getting a later and later start getting around and it’s pretty painful till the meds kick in. I hate sitting in the chair waiting for the day to start. Zuul doesn’t seem to mind the later starts however.

Zuul by M Patterson, on Flickr

On the bright side, sitting in the house gives me an excuse to keep up with the build book for the Valiant. The progress on the car has slowed significantly but Cade and I still plugging away.

Z Build book by M Patterson, on Flickr

I’m also helping Austin with a project he’s working on (it’s pretty much a shop class for this home schooling…...he’s getting pretty good reading a tape measure and doing fractions LOL).

Having watched mom in her later years (she was also afflicted with arthritis) and my brother pass from cancer last year I pretty much know what ahead for me. I really believe I’m doing as well as I am because I haven’t given up. Life right now is pretty damn good and I’m enjoying what I can still do. I’m surrounded by family and friends who I love and who love me.

I’m not writing this for any sympathy, just to let everybody know I’m doing OK and don’t need any. Life is still pretty good and I’m enjoying it.


.

Wow Mike glad your still kicking, and doing well enough to enjoy your time and your family. Keep up the good fight, and glad your still with us. Your posts with Cade and Austin have always boosted my moral, seeing folks who pass on their legacy and love of cars and hotrods!

Great update, Mike! I adhere to Clint Eastwood's philosophy on aging, "Don't let the old man in!" Once in he's hard to evict.

Thanks for keeping us involved with your projects!

i'm 12 years out on lung cancer. i am on the joe tipen protocol . so far so good. does it work? hell i dont know but it has 0 side effects. But i am still cancer free.

mycancerstory.rocks

“…..i'm 12 years out on lung cancer…..”

Shine the first time a read that earlier in this thread I was surprised. I’ve watched your projects and the collecting of cars/parts for future projects and have always been impressed. Maybe I just missed the cancer thing if you had posted it earlier, but it did catch me by surprise.

I think in a lot of cases when people get the diagnosis they just give up on life. You and others (I would like to include me in that) tend to make the most of the time and keep going as long as their able. I suspect that’s what you did when you got the news. I’ll admit I’ve slowed down considerably but I think that’s more due to old age and the arthritis. I think keeping going actually lets you go longer.

Keeping the stress low is also a big factor. There’s no such thing as a stress free life so we’re at least used to a certain level of it. After getting the news though, it can be pretty overwhelming worrying about what will happen to the ones we’re leaving. Honestly I went through that panic too. Fortunately, having watched what mom went through and being the executer of her estate I knew what to expect and in reality we had been preparing for this for several years. A couple of the “we’ll get to it someday projects” (preplanning/prepaying funeral, getting VA POCs for Donna, going over the wills ect) got moved to the front burner. The property had been put in a trust to protect it for the Grandkids (and we had passed the 5 year “look back” time). I was able to sell a couple of the cars for what they were worth and between that and the insurance Donna will do OK. Missy and the Grandkids live next door now which I’m sure will make it easier for her. I’m at peace that the family will be OK and that is a big relief.

The only thing I really don’t care for is the weekly visit by the hospice nurse. Don’t get me wrong I like the nurse and she’s very competent, it’s just the weekly reminder of the situation I don’t like…..but hell maybe I need that too. The one bit of advice that both the hospice nurse and my primary care provider at VA gave me that I did disregard was the “at this point you really don’t need to worry about what you eat or how active you are ”. I’ve been on medication for cholesterol and high blood pressure for several years. That I disregarded and still eat “sensibly” and so far my blood work still looks good and I feel reasonably good most of the time.

Anyway I’ve rambled enough enjoy the holiday everyone.


.

Mike, I hope folks who read your story and get a sense of your inner strength will learn from it. Since this is Veterans day I'd like to think that the positive attitude you exude is, at least in part, a result of your military experience. The lessons we learned during those sometimes dangerous and stressful times had/have great value.

i remember pop saying we went to war as kids but we came home as men.