Hello supporters, well-wishers, friends, family, and survivors...

This will be the first of many notes I plan on writing to you so
that you can hear about the state of the union directly from my
union.

If you get bored, skip to the end. An important message awaits.

In a bit of a surprise move by my incredible doctors,
I was sent home yesterday (Thurs, 11/15/01)! They muttered
something about nurses, sexual harassment, and needing the
bed anyway -- and then they made me sign a release form
promising to get well and never have cancer again!
I said OK, signed the paper, and came home.

It's taking some adjusting now that I'm home. I'm moving about
a lot more -- cautiously though -- and am sitting up more. I was
pretty much lying flat the entire time in the hospital. Everything
is lower here at the house, so I'm having to get used to that as
well. I have a great team here helping me, though, and I know
that I'll make it because of them and you.

To understand my current state, here are the things I'm dealing
with. I'm battling each one until they're all gone:

• Hodgkins Disease spread to my neck, chest, back, spine,
  abdomen, spleen, and bone marrow (I'm pretty advanced
  stage 4 -- but the chemo will take care of all of it). I'm on
  a 12-week program to be completely cured.
• I've had major back surgery to remove a growth that was
  pushing against my spine. I'm now quite immobile until
  the spine heals (hurts to twist or push with my hands).
  This will take a few weeks to heal.
• I had moderate surgery where they inserted an IV
  tube into my chest. It comes out of my chest as two
  plastic tubes where they can now draw blood (fast!) and
  insert my chemo medication. I'll have it in as long as my
  cure is taking place. It's not sore and just needs protection
  from water.
• I'm learning to walk again. The growth against my spine
  took away my ability to walk, but I'm already getting some
  good feeling back in my legs and am doing exercises
  to strengthen them. I expect it to be at least a few weeks
  before I don't rely on my walker anymore. I'll probably then
  move to a cane for a while, if only to feel distinguished.

All in all, I'll need a few weeks of down time to get my back
and legs into shape. I should then have more mobility and
my life should regain more normality as I focus on battling
the cancer.

No weepy tears. I'm lucky that the cancer didn't paralyze my
legs and that we found it when we did. I'm now moving
forward and I'm incredibly grateful for that.

So, I'm just about at the end of my first week of chemo and
I feel that, given the circumstances, I did ok. I'm hoping that
each week gets easier as my body heals and fights at the
same time.

Thank you Brad and my parents (arrived today).
They have the honor of feeding me, listening to me whine,
and cleaning up any messes I leave (by accident or on
purpose). I cannot do this without you.

And thank you for all of the love and support you've given.

Make no mistake about this...

YOU ARE SAVING MY LIFE

I love you all. Take care of yourself each day.

m