quote:

Originally posted by Bud Meadows:
Jim & Joyce: Our prayers are with you during these trying times. You were kind enough to send us your Namibia DVD, which helped us greatly in our travels to Etosha and Swakopmund. My wife M.T. is also a nurse (BSN, MSN, DNP)and underwent a lumpectomy just a few years ago. Going through radiation treatments was difficult, but in the end was successful. Having been married to a nurse for 43 years, I know how feisty and determined they are in facing any challenge.

Here's a picture of us touring the Namib Desert, which you and Joyce recommended to us:

Thanks Bud,

It seems that video has made the rounds.

Cheers
Jim

Your wife and family are in our prayers this Christmas.

Ski+3

Thanks for the well wishes. Have gotten a run of PM's asking for an update. Nice to think that even folks who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Joyce would actually care enough to wonder how she is doing. Here's a cut & paste from a Facebook update.

Two rounds down and four to go. Joyce breezed through her second round of R-CHOP today. Since she tolerated it so well during the first dosing 20 days ago they accelerated the rate on the Rituxan (Rituximab), the anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody (basically a hunter killer that seeks out Large B-cell Lymphomas - similar to Joyce with a Mohawk and an AR-15). The overall total infusion of R-CHOP took about 4 1/2 hours and other than the expected drowsiness from the IV Benadryl, Joyce experienced zero side effects. BEASTMODE VERSION 2.0

We had some fun on Saturday. Joyce's hair started to depart her head so Brett Barringer brought over his clippers and we went to town. No sense going straight to a chrome dome so we took some detours on the way….



And just so you don't get nightmares from the above shot this is what she looks like "spiffed up".

Never thought a post about chemo would make me smile but this one did. You guys kick ass.

That is one tough classy lady.
Merry CHRISTMAS my good friends.

Joyce- you look amazing and well done on tackling it head on with the most brilliant attitude! Good luck with the remainder of the treatment and have a wonderful xmas with friends and family! All the best from Buzz and the whole CM team!

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and support….


Merry Christmas and may you get every accurate rifle you have ever dreamed of!!

Don't worry..I'm riding shotgun for Santa and he's well protected!!

Cheers
Joyce AKA Bait Babe

very nice

Best wishes forward , you guys are a real inspiration to all of us. We with little problems can learn a lot from you.
Brett is a good bugger!
Hopefully we can meet at the AK SCI in Feb
All the best to you both for the festive season and the coming new year

quote:

Originally posted by leopards valley safaris:

Hopefully we can meet at the AK SCI in Feb

Hope so!! It will depend on her blood counts at that point. Not a good idea being around crowds if the counts are down.

If we make it it will be our honor to stop by your booth and chat.

Merry Christmas
Jim

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Frostbit:


As usual, Joyce looks great now matter what, even with a mohawk. I just wished Jim had posted the pictures of himself and Brett with their hair cuts...now that will scare the cancer away!

Love you guys....Darin

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:
I just wished Jim had posted the pictures of himself and Brett with their hair cuts...now that will scare the cancer away!

Love you guys....Darin

Which one Darin? This one, the "Mugshot"?



Or this one at the end?

Jim;

That's the one....very scary to cancer!

Have very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We'll be thinking about you...hope I don't have that vision in my mind of you and Brett. Amazing that Joyce looks so beautiful even without hair!

Hugs, Darin

That was too much fun!

Brett

Update time:

Joyce had round three and is doing well. Just three more rounds to go. They removed the Vincristin from the R-CHOP Chemo Cocktail because of a peripheral neuropathy developing in her hands making them numb. Hopefully those symptoms will resolve in a few months time.

Nausea has been very manageable and Joyce has been going to prescribed "Chemo Physical Therapy" twice per week and driving the PT's nuts because they don't push her hard enough. Once a Crossfitter, always a Crossfitter.

Hair nubs going quickly since the clipper party and she developed a unique technique for removing the nubs as they die. She uses a clothing lint roller. We are thinking of patenting it and calling it the "Nubinator".

Thanks for the continued well wishes, prayers, and messages. It's much appreciated.

We have formed "TEAM WOJO" for the "Relay for Life" to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. They have been extremely supportive to Joyce with varied programs including one called "Look good, feel better" at which experts showed how to apply make-up to replace lost eyebrows. Something you would never think about otherwise. Remember, "They are Sisters, not twins so don't make them perfect". Too funny!!

If you care to donate to the American Cancer Society via "TEAM WOJO".... here is more information.

LINK

Best wishes for the two of you Jim.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Which one Darin? This one, the "Mugshot"?

Jeez Jim, just like sexting, once it is out there, you can't call it back.

I'm going to have fun with this photo some day ...

By the way, some things you just can't "un-see".



I am scarred for life now.

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
Blah, blah!!

Jealousy showing. Haters gonna hate!

Personally, I prefer this version of the picture of her. She looks mean in this one!

Sorry, there was nothing I could do with your picture that didn't make you look like a clown.

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
Best wishes for the two of you Jim.

Thanks Todd!

ah, half way home and over the hump. it's a good feeling. hang in there and best wishes and prayers for the second half!

Jim, my thoughts and prayers are with Joyce and you during this time, if there is anything I can ever do for you guys let me know, as the pleasure I get from reading your hunt reports always fill me with joy.

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Clark:
Jim, my thoughts and prayers are with Joyce and you during this time, if there is anything I can ever do for you guys let me know, as the pleasure I get from reading your hunt reports always fill me with joy.

Kind words and much appreciated. Joyce and I have all the help we could possibly ask for in the army of friends surrounding us. Even on the mostly anonymous venue of AR kind offers such as yours mean the world to us. Thank you.

I suspect there will be more hunt reports to come some day in the future.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
ah, half way home and over the hump. it's a good feeling. hang in there and best wishes and prayers for the second half!

Thanks!! Other than the neuropathy and some passing fatigue/nausea she is doing remarkably well.

She had to fill out an insurance form last week and one of the questions was "How do you describe your health"

Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

She put down excellent and moved on to the next question. She then pointed it out to me and laughed. "I have cancer and I put down my health was excellent. I just don't feel sick".

I think she is Badass!!!

Jeff

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:
I think she is Badass!!!

Jeff

Totally badass!! Fearlessly badass!

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:
I think she is Badass!!!

Jeff

Totally badass!! Fearlessly badass!

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
ah, half way home and over the hump. it's a good feeling. hang in there and best wishes and prayers for the second half!

Thanks!! Other than the neuropathy and some passing fatigue/nausea she is doing remarkably well.

She had to fill out an insurance form last week and one of the questions was "How do you describe your health"

Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

She put down excellent and moved on to the next question. She then pointed it out to me and laughed. "I have cancer and I put down my health was excellent. I just don't feel sick".

i was lucky enough to miss the neuropathy but the nausea/fatigue was a pain. part of the problem, though was that being self-employed, i had to keep working to earn a living- so i had my treatments on Thurs and showed up for work Fri, not exactly at my best. hats off to Joyce for a ++++ attitude- it really goes a long way...

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
ah, half way home and over the hump. it's a good feeling. hang in there and best wishes and prayers for the second half!

Thanks!! Other than the neuropathy and some passing fatigue/nausea she is doing remarkably well.

She had to fill out an insurance form last week and one of the questions was "How do you describe your health"

Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

She put down excellent and moved on to the next question. She then pointed it out to me and laughed. "I have cancer and I put down my health was excellent. I just don't feel sick".

i was lucky enough to miss the neuropathy but the nausea/fatigue was a pain. part of the problem, though was that being self-employed, i had to keep working to earn a living- so i had my treatments on Thurs and showed up for work Fri, not exactly at my best. hats off to Joyce for a ++++ attitude- it really goes a long way...

I doubt she would feel safe working as a Nurse right now. She does have a bit of "chemo brain" going. Found her phone in the pantry yesterday. I doubt you would want her giving you any meds right now.

We were both close to retirement and this was the perfect excuse for her to pull the plug after the heartless bastards fired her. The email came the day she called them from the hospital bed post back surgery to tell them she had been diagnosed with cancer. They gave her 9 days notice of termination and loss of benefits. She took the news way better than I did.

Honestly, they did what they had to from a Corporate standpoint.

That is really rotten treatment!!

Frankly , from my 33 years on Corporate Experience including benefits, termination due to a health condition after long employment is not adequate cause.....they are simply trying to cover their own tails on future premiums....

You might have a big case for reinstatement....better get an atty working on wrongful termination!!

Bless you both on this long road and wishing you an EXCELLENT Outcome!!

Cheers,

quote:

Originally posted by 470EDDY:
That is really rotten treatment!!

Frankly , from my 33 years on Corporate Experience including benefits, termination due to a health condition after long employment is not adequate cause.....they are simply trying to cover their own tails on future premiums....

You might have a big case for reinstatement....better get an atty working on wrongful termination!!

Bless you both on this long road and wishing you an EXCELLENT Outcome!!

Cheers,

Shouldn't have mentioned it!! The "atty" path is not the way we roll. They did praise her abilities in the termination email and stated she would be welcomed back when well.

As I said she's ready for retirement and what better reason to finally do so than this diagnosis and treatment?

She harbors no resentment towards them. They needed to fill that position.

WOW!! Strange world we live in today....never heard of a termination that would be retracted after recovery...I understand holding positions and replacements, etc....

You are VERY Honorable people and I am sure that will also enhance recovery.

Wishing you well and full recovery soon....

Cheers,

Jim & Joyce are Top Shelf with me.

quote:

Originally posted by bwana cecil:
Jim & Joyce are Top Shelf with me.

Joyce is definitely top shelf. Me, I'm just effin' lucky.

I was a bit worried about "chemo brain" myself, but everybody i put to sleep woke up properly, so i guess i didn't get it on a side note, when my sister went through chemo for breast cancer, she did get it but it mostly cleared up. it sounds like a joke- but it really isn't..... sorry to hear, Joyce, of the poor treatment by your employer but at least it didn't affect your attitude

Jim & Joyce, you are a team, and together you will win this fight! Hang in there and keep a positive mind, that along with the chemo, the two of you will be back in Africa to pop old spots before you know it! Our prayers are with you and Joyce!

………………………………………………………

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:

i was lucky enough to miss the neuropathy but the nausea/fatigue was a pain. part of the problem, though was that being self-employed, i had to keep working to earn a living- so i had my treatments on Thurs and showed up for work Fri, not exactly at my best. hats off to Joyce for a ++++ attitude- it really goes a long way...

My hat is off to you for working while you were undergoing chemo. I don't know how you did it. My nausea and fatigue are worse on days 3 and 4. It is good to hear from "survivors" like yourself. Makes this journey easier to bear and gives me even more optimism!

Thanks to all of you on this forum for the kind words of support and encouragement. I do appreciate them. It is something I will never be able to repay you for but know this, I will try to pay it forward whenever possible. Joyce

quote:

Originally posted by little miss:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:

i was lucky enough to miss the neuropathy but the nausea/fatigue was a pain. part of the problem, though was that being self-employed, i had to keep working to earn a living- so i had my treatments on Thurs and showed up for work Fri, not exactly at my best. hats off to Joyce for a ++++ attitude- it really goes a long way...

My hat is off to you for working while you were undergoing chemo. I don't know how you did it. My nausea and fatigue are worse on days 3 and 4. It is good to hear from "survivors" like yourself. Makes this journey easier to bear and gives me even more optimism!

Joyce, i did it because i had no choice. no sick leave, no disability, and bills to be paid-LOL. like you, the nausea/fatigue hit me worse on day 3-4(Sunday-Monday). by the following Sat. i was getting the Procrit/Neupogen shots for profound anemia/leukopenia. my biggest fear was working in a hospital with a lot of really sick, septic people and no immune system to fight off infection. but God looked after me and years later- all is good. and i am SURE, you will be OK AND COME OUT THE OTHER END A STRONGER PERSON!