Photo shoot day!

Good morning from Lake George! I'm pretty much going to keep this first post short because I'm still in a semi-state of shock. Today is my first full day here and I'm still trying to process all that's happened in the last few days.

Everyone here is amazing. The location is amazing...

It's time for me to get ready for the shoot. I'm a little nervous but the team here is great so I'm sure it will be a lot of fun.

Stay tuned...


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Location:Bluff Head Rd,Hague,United States

...fast forwarding.

It seems like it's been forever since my last post on this blog. So much has happened since then I have no idea where to begin. Things are beginning to come full circle for me so I thought it would be a good time to dust off this blog and start writing.
I remember when this whole thing started. All the feelings and thoughts racing through me. I remember getting the news in early April of 2011. Cancer. Bang! Just like that. I knew I was feeling sick but never had even considered having something like cancer. The days after that were indescribable. I had been given my options and had chosen a plan of action, but I still felt very much in the dark.
I found the Colon Club (www.colonclub.com) during an online search for general information. My docs were great but their information was more about what I couldn't do than what I could do. It was on this site where I learned about the annual Colonder. The Colonder features 12 colon cancer survivors and their stories in the form of a calendar project to raise money for colon cancer awareness. It was a huge motivator for me to read stories of people who had faced what I was going through. I read every story of every person featured and it helped me realize I could not just beat cancer but still enjoy the active life I loved.
I would have never imagined, just two years later, that I would actually be on the other end (no pun intended) this time. I got the word a while back that I was chosen to be a part of the 2014 Colonder.
In two days I leave for New York to meet 11 amazing people not including an awesome team behind the scenes that makes it all happen. Every one of them with an inspiring story to tell about their win over cancer. I'm excited about being a part of this amazing project! I'll be documenting my trip to the photo shoot here so stay tuned!
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Location:Houston

Dear cancer....I'm still here.

Dear cancer,

It's been a year now since we started going at it... You took my grandfather when I was young, and I never really got to know him because of it. Several years passed and then you decide to take my father from me. He's my hero and losing him was something I've never really gotten over.

Last year you started in with me. I ran thru all the emotions and then settled on just one. My family and friends came and lined up behind me and we all prepared ourselves for what needed to be done. I prepared myself for bad days but I honestly wasn't expecting how bad those days would be. It was like hell on earth but now I know I can handle anything you can dish out. No way I was gonna quit. And in case you are thinking about coming back, my promise to you is more of the same from me.

Now, I'm sitting at home enjoying my evening. Spent the whole week this week putting in full days at the office. I'll be going for a nice bike ride in the morning. I'm able to sit in the saddle now without any pain and my legs are getting stronger each week. I am still receiving chemo treatments for the next few months but that's just to help make sure I don't have to deal with you again.

You were never welcome here and now you're gone....but I'm still here.

Rene




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Out of the hospital, day one...

Man I feel like a mess but it's good to be home. No kidding. I never got more than two hours of sleep at any one time while in the hospital. Keeper having people coming in to take blood, or give me meds, or take my vital signs. My favorite was the nurse that would bust into the room at three am just to ask if there was anything I needed... It's my impression that she might not go very far in the health care industry.

I think the best moment for me was getting wheeled out of the lobby and seeing mom waiting in the driveway with the car. As soon as I got into the car, a huge wave of emotions hit me all at once. I thought about my father and grandfathers fight with cancer. Thought about how great God was in allowing me to be well enough to leave the hospital only four days after going through two major procedures, a colostomy, and the removal of a grapefruit sized tumor. We thanked the surgeon before leaving and he said it wasn't him and then proceeds to point up to the sky... Someone is looking after me...

The fight isn't over but we just won a huge victory. The surgeon feels he got all the cancer and now it's time to heal up before another round of chemotherapy to ensure there is no trace in my body. We are done with being defensive and now it's time to go on the offensive with this...

I smell arroz con pollo cooking now so I better go... Man, It's good to be home.



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In recovery mode

Surgery is done and the doc said everything went great. No indications that it's spread anywhere else. My main goal now is just trying to move around. Taking some good meds right now. They don't let you sleep much here but it's all good. Looking forward to going home.


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Getting ready for tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big day. Hopefully I will be cancer free by this time tomorrow. Lots of things going thru my mind right now. The ostomy I'll be having is a life changer but it's way better than the alternative. I'll be surprised if I get any sleep tonight but that's ok. There will be plenty of time for that later. I go in tomorrow at 5:30am and the surgery is scheduled for around 7am. I'm ready to get this over with. Let's do this!!



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...almost time.

Tomorrow I go in for my pre operative appointments. It's been a few weeks since ive finished up chemotherapy and radiation treatments and all of it has been to prepare for Thursday's surgery. I'm not looking forward to it but I am looking forward to getting it over with. The doc says I'll be in the hospital anywhere from 5-10 days...fun. Oh well, let's do this. Three more days to go. I'm ready to be cancer free.


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