Exhale, Waiting to Inhale

Sitting in an uncomfortable swivel chair in something akin to an old-time phone booth, but with suction-and-vacuum-sealed doors, I had to inhale, hold my breath, hold my breath, hold my breath, exhale, then inhale and exhale rapidly as if I were trying to hyperventilate myself.

That was just one of the tests by the respiratory therapist earlier today.

I also had a few X-rays of the lungs, which showed up clean (whew!), and a good chat with the doc.

Dr. Sigfredo Aldarondo said my coughing might be caused by acid reflux. Since my reshaped stomach (now in my chest) is so close to the smaller esophagus and since there's no sphincter to keep stomach fluids from the esophagus, that could be the problem.

He prescribed a new med to replace the Pepcid I've been taking.

We'll see if that helps. I'll keep you posted.

Checking In With The Doc

I'm going to see Dr. Sigfredo Aldarondo (pictured at right, from the Florida Hospital Web site), the ace pulmonologist, for a checkup scheduled months ago.

Dr. Aldarondo first treated me while I was in the step-down unit at Florida Hospital. He was very comforting and assured me that my breathing difficulties post-surgery would wane. He was not wrong.

But it's a good thing we made the appointment soon after I left the hospital because off all my post-surgical issues -- other than the pain -- my biggest problem has been breathing, or, more precisely, coughing.

Dr. Z and Dr. Pfeiffer concur in their opinions that my persistent coughing was caused by the radiation treatments that saved my life.

It will be good to hear what Dr. Aldarondo sees as the proble, and whether it should be treated in any way.

I'll be back with an update this afternoon, after my visit with Dr. Aldarondo.

12,000 and growing

It took a lot to get here. But here we are. Since launching CancerVivor.blogspot.com a lot has changed. Much of it for the worse, but it looks like things are picking up.

I say that because of the reunion via phone last month of the Kohn siblings -- Amy, Dan and myself. Meeting Tracy, my other sister, is yet to come and I look forward to it.

But much has passed since the blog went up. I went through seven weeks of intense chemotherapy, six-plus weeks of radiation at the same time, surgery and the recuperation one needs to get over all that -- if one really gets over it at all in a deeper sense.

Then there were the eight-plus months Mom went through, along with the rest of the family, as she wended her way through horrible medical issues that eventually took her life last month.

Which brings us to here, to now. I've begun to develop a relationship with my new family, and we're all documenting it at kohnzone.blogspot.com.

And in that time, as of this morning, May 7, 2008, 12,004 page hits have been recorded on the two blogs. I'd like to reiterate it's probably the same few dozen people checking out the progress on both fronts, and you're very welcome to continue stopping by.

While you're here, click on an ad or two as you stumble by them. The money raised -- so far about $15 -- will go to the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, the place that helped save my life.

Whew!

I saw Dr. Z today. He showed me a great Web site, actually a blog on this very service, and during the visit also went over my CT results.

"No news is good news," he said at one point. That's because the scans were fine and he said I'm looking great. That was after my three-month checkup, and I don't need another for four months.

What a relief!

He agreed that if there were a problem he'd have called, thus the "No news" comment.

But there was other news. It seems the good doctor is in the running for Man of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You can go to this link and vote for Dr. Z, and by vote I mean donate to the organization to give him points toward the nomination. http://www.active.com/donate/cflmwoy/mwoyDZehnge

I can point to many of his qualities, such as his depth as a doctor, his bedside manner, his good humor and, of course, the fact he helped save my life, as reasons to help him and the society out. Don't hold his affection for all products Mac against him. He also pitched a wonderful blog my way that spoofs his hero, Steve Jobs. So how bad can he be? The site is actually a blog, and it's at http://fakesteve.blogspot.com/.

Again, whew!

A new blog

In light of the startling news I mentioned in the previous post, I've created a new blog, kohnzone.blogspot.com. Please check it out when you get a chance. - Keith

A lot to add

Greetings all. The past couple of months have been filled with many "ups" and a very dramatic "down."

The upbeat news will follow the sad so this entry leaves you with a smile, not a frown.

First, actual news. I had my CT scan last week and see Dr. Z this coming Friday for my three-month post-operation checkup. I hope that if there were positive results on the CT I'd have heard by now, so I guess things are moving along well.

The sad news was the death of my mother, Beatrice Spitz, on April 5 (pictured at right nearly ready to attend granddaughter Jenny's wedding in December).

While not unexpected after her lengthy illness, it was nonetheless surprising because of her seeming daily improvements.

Between the time of her discharge and her death, though, she had many pleasant moments.

Like, days before her discharge, when we took her to a Spring Training game for her birthday (right, with granddaughters Karen and Kim and daughter-in-law Catherine behind her). It was her first Major League game since the 1950s.

She also had many family visits since her transfer to Orlando in late November (such as this one below with granddaughter Kim).
We took her to SeaWorld Orlando a couple of times, to the mall, to restaurants regularly and outdoors from time to time.

She also was blessed in December by being in attendance at Jenny's wedding (at right, with Chris putting the wrong ring on Jenny's finger as Kim, a notary, officiates).

I truly believe she had a wonderful month prior to her death. And I think she was happy I was doing so well post-cancer surgery. She died knowing that I'm on the mend.

There really are no words to describe my feelings about this loss, except to say she was loved by so many and I know that this love will never die. Mom's family, her many friends and even acquaintances have made contact with me to tell me clever quips about her, stories I hadn't heard and stories I have. Those are the things that we can rely up on to remember Mom. I am sure she's in a better place with her wonderful parents and sisters and brothers nearby.

Now for some upbeat news, and Lord, we need it.

It had been about 1 1/2 weeks since Mom's death when I decided it was time. Time to look into the other half of my family. I'd know my father Mel Kohn, died in 1992. He had been estranged from Mom since before my birth and I had no contact with him at all in my life. I'd found an obituary for him a couple of months ago and decided to track down the survivors listed -- four children. They would be my two sisters and two brothers.

So at home before work on Thursday, April 17, I did some computer research and tracked down Amy Jones, my sister. Of the three other siblings, one, my brother Andy Kohn, had passed away in January 2007 after a lengthy illness, but another brother, Dan Kohn, and sister, Tracy Jones, still live out West.

Amy and I had a wonderful first contact, relating some good stories and shedding tears over our too-long separation. Since that time, I've spoken to Dan, an aunt, Joan Kohn, a cousin, Arlene, and two nieces -- two of Amy's daughters, Grace and Abby.

I've sent along photos and my family out West is in the process of getting some to send me.

I've only known myself as an "only child" -- it's part of my identity. So this has come as quite a shock, though a wonderful shock it is.

I'll keep everyone posted as things progress, but for the time being Catherine and I plan to travel to California in June to meet the other half of my family.