Pre and Post Op

Busy week of pre Op, then operation, then post Op.  In August I was diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer or cancer of the uterus.  Although it is unknown what causes this cancer it was interesting to me that I had none of the risk factors typically associated with it.  The treatment recommended was a radical hysterectomy including removal of the ovaries and nodules around the aorta.  The testing required leading up to the surgery was intense and included pap smears, ultra sounds, pelvic exams, then a visit to the oncologist, Dr. Suri, and then EKG's, echocardiogram, urine and blood analysis, a mammogram, and rounding up all previous test done a year ago for comparison, then finally a visit to the anesthesiologist.  The day before the surgery a clear liquid diet was needed including digesting a gallon of sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and potassium chloride or White Recon or yukky stuff (I managed about 1/2 of it). Upside: I hit a weight level I hadn't seen in a decade :)

My sister Sue decided to fly to Houston to be with me which turned out to be a godsend and I'll be forever grateful for her presence during this time. 

During the visit with Dr Suri (which I joked with him and called him my middle son as he's 35 years old) he told me about a relatively new system for performing this procedure which was developed in the last 5 years or so called the da Vinci system which allows this surgery to be performed robotically.  Because of this system the surgery would be far less invasive and the recovery time much quicker.  The gynecologists that worked on me during surgery which began at 1:15 pm on Wednesday October 22nd, were Dr Paul Cook, Dr Ziad Melhem, and the lead doctor, Dr Roz Nanda.  Each of them took a quadrant of the overall procedure and then Dr Suri removed the ovaries and nodules around aorta.  The actual surgery took just under 2 hours and they all seemed quite pleased with how it went. 

I was in my own room by 8:00 pm that evening and Doug and Sue were there to greet me and presented me with a Get Well balloon and a stuffed toy that reminded me of Gem. 

Sue stayed the night (and had to sleep on two chairs pushed together) and provided much needed comfort.  The two things that helped the most throughout the first night were water and the feel of the toy.  Within 12 hours of the surgery I was shifting from side to side and within 36 hours was on my feet and took some steps.  Twenty-four hours post the surgery I still had some of the anesthesia in my system and wasn't performing all of the functions needed to be released so ended up staying a 2nd night, again Sue was there the entire time.  Release finally came late in the day on Friday and I came home to flowers and gifts from neighbors and family.  Thank you everyone for your thoughts, calls, well wishes and prayers.  Pathology report will be available next Wednesday and hope to hear that all's clear and life as normal. 

Charlotte, NC

Upon touching down in the U.S. after returning from London, I had a few hours before boarding a flight and heading to the Ballantine Hotel which is a great four star resort in Charlotte, NC. 

And in the past week and while I was there some very special family members celebrated anniversaries:

Happy 6th Anniversary Ted and Sara (October 11, 2014)

Happy 1st Anniversary Tyler and Gabby (October 15, 2014)

 

Hugs and Kisses to these newlyweds, the best is yet to come!

 

And it's always good to get back to Houston; this guy (unknown) made me smile as seeing cowboys is a typical site here in Texas, makes you know you are home.

 

 

And speaking of, I'll be Home in Houston for a few weeks!!

Dallas, TX and then off to the English Countryside

As my neighbor to the north (45 minute flight - 4 hour drive) I don't really feel like I'm traveling when I head to Dallas, "it's just right up the road" as they say here in Texas.  But the fact is sometimes it's just better to drive.  Some of the longest flights I've ever been on have been to Dallas and this trip was no different - scheduled arrival time 8 am, actual arrival time 12 noon.  I managed to salvage one meeting out of the day and then went through a similar ordeal getting home.  Makes for a long day.  Yet I like Big D and have had lots of good times there, but different vibe than Houston.

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Less than twenty-four hours later I was back at the airport and took off for my first ever trip to London.  I loved England in general, at least the parts I saw.  Upon landing at the airport I was escorted through the terminal and whisked off about an hour southwest to Hampshire - listening to my driver speak the "Kings English" and where upon arrival tea and biscuits awaited at the Four Seasons, served of all places, in the library :)

After touring a small part of the grounds and attending to some business I headed off to sleep, then  next day went to the town of Winchester and toured Chawton House (where Jane Austen's brother Edward had been the owner) and saw Winchester Cathedral (where the Austen's attended church), and also saw where Jane, her sister and Mother lived.  These photos will not do justice to the cathedral, every inch of it was gorgeous and the art amazing and of course the history of events that have taken place here, fascinating.

 After all the touring we worked up an appetite so went to a pub, The Wykeham Arms, and of course had fish and chips.

I couldn't resist taking photos of the toilet there, so English.  One of the original Thomas Crapper & Co. versions.

Then back to Four Seasons to freshen up before heading over to Highclere Castle to meet Countess Fiona Carnarvon who opened her home and gave us a behind the scenes tour of where Downton Abbey is filmed, and then, gave us a signed first edition of her 2nd book, Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey.  If that wasn't enough, none of us then expected the bonus of having a full tour of the King Tut archaeological dig that the former Earl had discovered that is in the basement of the house (no photos allowed).

Next day:  Tower of London, the ceramic flowers that are all around are a temporary art installation in honor of veterans, the red flowers indicative of the blood they shed.

and St Paul's Cathedral (where we climbed all 350 steps to the cupola)

& Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

and yes, an iconic London phone booth.

Next day:  Windsor Castle - really kind of cool to visit.  No pictures allowed inside.

I had on my "bucket list" while I was in London to go to Biblion Bookshop but never made it, so I was delighted that while in Eton I ran across the Eton Antique Bookshop and picked up a copy of John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress".  First time I had ever heard about this book was when I read "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott and in the first chapter she describes the girls (Meg, Jo, Beth & Amy) reading this.  I've wanted it ever since.  So fun.

 

 

Then Runnymede (where the Magna Carta was signed - June 1215, seriously),

 

 

 

 and finally just some Gorgeous countryside before leaving England and the Four Seasons.

I'm ready to go back any time.

 

 

 

Chicago, IL, House under Repair, Newport Beach, CA and Susan Komen run

"I'm a-leaving on a jet plane . . .", and for this trip it happened to be one of those really nice Boeing 767's.  I wasn't upgraded to first class but I was in business class so not a bad way to travel @ 950 miles in a couple of hours.  Chicago is one of those great cities, period, and I typically travel here 4 or more times a year.  It was really nice when Jake and Gina lived in town because I got to see them a couple more times than I might otherwise have been able to, but now I miss them as Charleston isn't on the business route quite as often. The weather in Chicago can be gorgeous but fickle this time of year - 80 degrees in the morning and then high 50's, with wind, later in the afternoon.  The majority of my business here takes place close to the airport in an area of town called Rosemont.  I've stayed in this area enough times that I sort of know my way around.  I remember years ago there was nothing in Rosemont but a few hotels, now it's grown up to an entertainment mecca with a convention center, massive retail outlets, theaters, sporting events, and tons of restaurants and way more hotels.  I like to walk or run along the Des Plaines River Park that parallels River Rd when time permits.   Here's my



colleague Michael Brandenburg
while we were at dinner at Harry Carey's one night.

Then home for a day to see the water damage to the front of my house due to a crack in the stucco . . .  

and then a separate area of water damage, this one due to a leak in the roof.  Repairmen are busily working away now for the next several weeks replacing wood, drywall, paint, etc. 

And then off to Orange County via Denver in an even more awesome plane, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.  I flew in one of these for the first time a couple of years ago and loved it and then they took them off the market due to some issues with lithium-ion batteries.  Glad they were able to bring these back, and some of the assembly is now taking place in Charleston, SC. 

 

I spent a short amount of time in Orange County, primarily at a customer appreciation type event with colleague Ryan Strick who ordered up the "In n Out" burger truck for the event and I got to try a "double double animal style".

and our colleague Terike Novak showed up too.

Then back to Houston in time to walk in the Susan H Komen annual 5 k Race for the Cure.  I met up with some more colleagues, Amanda Strazishar, Shannon Lowry, and Rose Klappa Caraglia (in front) while arriving at the check in point and we formed "team renegade" taking off on our own and following our own forged path.  Thanks ladies for helping to get in 10,000 fun steps today and collecting money for a great cause too.