Week 5 - 4/1/2007 till 4/8/2007 - Page 9

4-1-2007 till 4-8-2007

            I am blessed with a great wife Judy who makes me feel wonderful, keeps up with all the pills and shots I must take and gives me encouragement. I also have a great staff so my business continues to run smoother than ever. In fact they have listed and sold more homes with me available only part time than went I was there full time.  If I don’t hurry up and get this challenge over I might not have a job.  I still have never had a negative thought about what I am going through or a depressed thought, nor have I felt sorry for myself.  This is a journey that will open my eyes to things I have never seen before.  So far I feel very fortunate to have met some of the people I have met and been exposed to as a result of my sickness.               

             It’s Monday 4-2-2007 and I just received the news that the blood clots are still in my legs.  This means I must give myself shots for at least 8 more times to help thin the blood, however the most devastating news was my white blood count was down to almost nothing.  A normal person’s body has a white blood count of 1200+.  My count was 12.   Even a novice like me knows that is not good.  I was ordered to go home, put my legs up, do not walk around, and do not be around people.  I could not go to my office, shake hands with anyone.  In other words I was to become a hermit in my home.  In addition the doctor gave me a shot to increase my white count and I had two additional shots to give myself each day to build the white count up.  How long would this last, I asked?  The doctor said he did not know but I needed to be back in two days for more blood test and monitoring.  WOW.  What a bummer.             

            The nurse that gave me the shots said I would experience some joint pain that night.  I experienced no pain at all.  However the next night around 9PM I started aching in the hips.  This became worst and worst until it was like a tooth ache or a severe case of the flu.  Every joint in my body hurt.  I have a very high pain tolerance but this was bad.  Finally I took three Tylenol and the pain eased off enough to sleep. My next appointment was Wednesday 4-4-2007 with Dr. Babcock at 7:30AM.  I was sore in the hips from the night before but basically I felt good.  Blood tests were completed and Dr. Babcock came in and said he was amassed. He told me that he cannot believe that the blood clots were gone and the blood count was back to normal. 

            All this in only two days.  I think this is a miracle. He took me off all shots and told me that he is scheduling X-Rays for Tuesday morning 4-10-2007 prior to my second Chemo treatment. This is good news because I am curious as to what is happening with the cancer and the X-Ray would give us a clue.  

I am losing my hair

            That is what my wife Judy said on Thursday morning 4-5-2007.  I said what do you mean? She them pointed out that my shirt had a lot of hair on it.  I immediately took a small pinch of my hair and pulled.  WOW, it was coming out in locks. I will never forget the 5th of April, the day I officially started losing my hair.  This took me by surprise even through the doctors had told me that I would lose my hair, my eyebrows, my eye lashes and most body hair.  I had to sit down for a few minutes.  What is it about us humans when we can be more concerned with hair loss than the notification that you have lung cancer?  Is that the vain side of all of us?              

            Immediately my mind raced.  I have a TV interview with WACH 57 on Monday about real estate.  Can I keep enough hair to look businesslike in that interview?  I must try to keep as much as possible so when I washed my hair I pat it dry.  Rubbing a towel over my head would remove even more hair.  My hair was coming out in unbelievable amounts and I did not have much hair before the cancer.  

            My family was down for Easter and I told them let’s not turn the ceiling fan on high. We don’t want to blow the rest of my hair off.  It is amassing but the growth of nails, hair even my beard has stopped.  I am being attacked by the Chemotherapy.  Now let’s pray that the Chemo is attacking the cancer with the same aggressiveness.  When you see me next time I will be bald.  I am told this is the “in thing”.  I am not sure but one thing is for sure, I will experience the bald look, like it or not.  I have thought about wearing an 18 century judge’s wig, all white,  at the board meetings however I am now sure my constituents would appreciate that humor.             

            I am still very positive. The cards, letters, emails are great.  I never thought those would mean as much as they do.  The real estate brokers and a lot of Realtors have stayed in touch and have written me hundreds of emails just to say they are praying for me.  You will never know how important this is and how much just an email means. 

            If you are reading this and you know someone that is going through something like this, please take the time to write a note to them.  Tell them you are thinking about them and reach out.  Chances are they are down and depressed and need encouragement.  Like I said in an earlier update. God said reach out to someone in need and try to make a better world.  You can do that through contact.  Don’t feel sorry for the person suffering from a life threatening disease.  Treat them as if they are cured and getting well.  By all means do not tell them about your aunt or uncle that had the same illness and died after 6 months. This is not what they need to hear. They need positive reinforcement and your support.

            I am now on the way to complete recovery and I hope something I have written will help you understand the many facets a cancer victim experiences. 

$77,900 - Irmo, SC @ New Friarsgate

MLS#

309903

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

3

Baths:

1 Full / 1 Half

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of EXIT AGAPE Real Estate Service
Cute bungalow with fireplace, wood laminate flooring, and just enough room. Back deck and spacious back yard, along with convenient location, add ...

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$30,000 - Irmo, SC @ None

MLS#

309877

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

2

Baths:

1 Full / N/A

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of ERA Wilder Realty
Motivated seller. Bring offer. House sold As Is. Great investment property.

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$114,900 - Irmo, SC @ New Friarsgate

MLS#

309851

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

3

Baths:

2 Full / N/A

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of Weichert Rlt,Ray Covington
Spacious 3 bedroom & 2 bath home with great open floorplan on a good size lot in culdesac. Very convenient to Irmo & Harbison area shopping, dining...

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$139,800 - Irmo, SC @ Hidden Oaks

MLS#

309835

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

3

Baths:

2 Full / 2 Half

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of Russell & Jeffcoat
CHARLESTON CHARM in IRMO. This home is in great condition with new windows, new vinyl siding, and fresh paint. The living room has a charming tile ...

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$179,900 - Irmo, SC @ Ashford

MLS#

309829

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

4

Baths:

2 Full / 1 Half

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of The Correll Company, Inc
Great home on a cul-de-sac with shady wrap-around porch. Fenced yard with big patio. Huge laundry. Updated within last 2 yrs. New tile, carpet and ...

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$237,000 - Irmo, SC @ Belfair Oaks

MLS#

309761

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

4

Baths:

2 Full / 1 Half

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of Coldwell Banker United
OUTDOOR LIVING AT ITS BEST!! THIS BACKYARD WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF! Come on home and enjoy sitting on your private screened porch overlooking a b...

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$155,000 - Irmo, SC @ Ashford

MLS#

309713

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

3

Baths:

2 Full / 1 Half

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of Coldwell Banker United
VERY CUTE HOME! Updated hardwood floors in foyer and Dining Room. Great Room has a gas log fireplace and is open to the Kitchen. All bedrooms have ...

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$500,000 - Irmo, SC @ Bookman Mills Farm

MLS#

309631

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

6

Baths:

3 Full / N/A

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of Keller Williams Columbia
Great house, DROP DEAD GORGEOUS VIEW OF RIVER/RAPIDS, NATURE ALL AROUND. You won't want to miss this home. Six bedrooms, three baths, gleaming hard...

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$275,000 - Irmo, SC @ Wyndhurst

MLS#

309601

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

4

Baths:

2 Full / 1 Half

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of Weichert Rlt,Ray Covington
Custom built two story brick traditional on crawl space, owner transferred. Sun room overlooking to private wooded green area with energy-efficient...

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$123,000 - Irmo, SC @ Ivy Green

MLS#

309591

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

3

Baths:

2 Full / N/A

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of ERA Wilder Realty
Charming neighborhood boasts manicured landscapes, sidewalks and central park w/ gazebo. Situated on quiet street and conveniently located to shopp...

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