From FrederickC - When Life gives you lemons.....

Greetings fellow Challengers.

I was recently contacted by fellow painter, and longtime friend, JP, who was wondering if something was going on, given that we were already near the end of January, and I only had a single post to my name. So if you will indulge me, I will bring you quickly up to speed with what has been happening with me over the past month and a half.  This is not a plea for any kind of sympathy, perhaps in a ploy to get more points (or is it? 😉). When I took my basic infantryman's course so many decades ago, my platoon sergeant correctly informed us that,"if anyone was looking for 'sympathy', could find it in the pages of the dictionary, somewhere between 'shit' and 'syphilis'." And what do you know? There it was. (Those sergeants know everything. 🤣)

 Anyway, just prior to Christmas I experienced a few motor control issues and a fainting spell that were serious enough to need to be investigated further. The end result was that while sometimes life gives you lemons, on other occasions, it's a brain tumour.  But no worries.  After an initial visit to my GP, I was quickly processed with CT and MRI scans, and admitted for surgery. The main tumour was removed after a seven hour operation, and sent off for a biopsy. I had immediate improvement to motor function once it stopped pressing on my brain. Improvement was so rapid that I was  released home after only 3 days post-op. By the end of this week I should have the results, and a plan will be in place for a program of chemo- and/or radiation therapy to deal with the second one that was unfortunately less accessible.  And then we will move forward from there. 

 

Titanium staples that will come out on Thursday.  

I have now been home from the hospital for just over a week, and am feeling much better, although a little tired now and then due to the frequent visits from friends and family who have been kind enough to visit, chat, bring food, etc. Thank you, one and all . I have several projects that are already in the works. (more Terrain - sorry, Byron. 😢, which I will putter at as time and energy permits, until the clock runs out. However far I get, will be how far I get.  

First day back - no need for cane or walker now.

 

The only down side at the moment is that I could kill for a pint of English brown ale, but until further notice it's, 'no booze for youse.' 🍺

 I am sending a big shout-out to the local Fawcett Avenue Conscripts, but most importantly to my lovely wife, Cathy, who has become my PA, 'night nurse', and 'Lord High Everything Else'. 💖💖

  

Cheers, 

FrederickC