September 19, 2008

Today would have been my grandpa's (John L. Moore) 99th birthday. I miss him and his guidance and counsel. I wish he could see the person that I have become with my faith, my marriage, my family, my military career and my business which is named after him.

He was a man with an 8th grade education, build about the same as me, receding hairline and all. He was a fighter and a great salesman. He could pass off an old dog as a pup and get top dollar for him. And the dog would usually return in a few weeks for him to sell again. He taught me a lot about business and the value of being honest and true to your word. Most of his business dealings were done with a handshake.

He loved to drink. Drinking was a real struggle for him and brought out the bad in him. Watching him when he drank was one reason why I never enjoyed drinking. His example taught me self-control was something I did not want to lose. Or waking up in jail.

He married three times. He had a daughter by his first marriage, but I never knew her. My dad was his only child from the second marriage. And his third marriage was to my mom's mother after my dad and mom were married. He had known my mom's mother from her friendship with one of his sister. He was my grandfather and my step-grandfather. In case you're trying to figure this all out, I'll give you a little help. This third marriage made my mom and dad my aunt and uncle also.

He and my grandma raised her four remaining kids. He always considered them his kids whenever he spoke to me about them. I think he did what he could to be a father and regretted sometimes not being a good one. This was especially evident to me after my father died. He called me Jackie (my dad's name) for many years after my dad's death. He took me under his wing, teaching me what he knew about being a "good mechanic" even thought he was a carpenter. His definition of a good mechanic was someone who could work with their hands to make a living.

Well, this reflection on my grandfather is running long and he was not one to drag on. He liked getting to the meat of things so here goes...

I remember grandpa being baptized later in life and I was his godfather. Later I was his confirmation sponsor. I think in his own way he was trying to seek God's forgiveness for all the bad years of his life. I think he was also trying his best to go to heaven when he died so he could see my father. I could see that pain in him for many years after my father's death. I only wish I could have been more of a help to him in seeking God and knowing him in a personal relationship. My relationship with God came some years after his passing.

But if I know my grandfather, and he is in heaven, he is probably trying to sell God on some sort of remodeling project. And the deal will be closed with a handshake.

News Flash

Tonight, just as Patti and I were leaving for Wednesday night prayer meeting, the phone rang. It was Southwest General Hospital. We figured we had better take it so Patti handed the phone to me. It was a female voice and when she said she had the results of the 5 biopsies, I just knew that it was going to be good. All 5 were negative. Praise God for that good report.

Patti and I are both bushed after our 5:15pm to 5:15am trip to New Richmond, Ohio to look at a McDonald's that we are remodeling and is right in the midst of the power blackout in the Cincinnati/SW Ohio area. Patti drove the entire 4 1/2 hours back as I was sore and hurting from being in the car so long and doing things on the job site that I should not have done. Anyhoo, Patti is a good wife and we talked almost the entire way down and back. It was erie driving along and seeing no lights for miles and miles. The only thing lit up near the town was the power plant and then three miles down the road, the McDonald's because we have generators there for lights and running the equipment.

I thank God for the safety he gave us last night and the good report from the doctor's. I have felt for some time God's hands of protection around me and my family and the comfort that it brings. I just need to work on asking God for wisdom for future treatments and lifestyle changes. Also to ask Him to work on the testosterone deficiency as it's rough dealing with all the emotions that were not there before. I still think I could go on the men's or the women's retreats that are coming up at the church and be comfortable and fit right in either group. (I hope you all realize that this is just my poking fun at a really tough thing for me to deal with, so laugh with me and not at me on this.)

September 11th Surgery

It is now 9:36PM. Patti and I just got home from the hospital. My surgery took place at 6PM. Right now I am tired, sore, but not hungry as we ate after we left the hospital. The surgeon reported to Patti that the stuff that he removed looked like lypomas and not cancer. He feels everything went well. My back looks a mess, but that is to be expected. I am not suppose to drive or sign legal documents for 24 hours as I was under a general anestetic. I will be going to work tomorrow, Patti will drive me there. Lots of things going on at work and I want to be a part of it. Besides, it beat laying around in bed.

I thank God that this is finally done and that the surgeon gave a good report. The biopsies will be done in about 4 days. Stitches and such should be gone in about 2-3 weeks. Patti is taking good care of me. Thanks to all who have prayed over this.

Doctor's / Surgery update 9-10-08

What a day to be going in for surgery, 9-11. Anyways, saw the surgeon today. He seems to think that the lumps are either lypomas or just bumps, but he will remove all three plus some moles that are in the area. The greatest concern is the one under my arm and the damage that the surgery back in December did to the area. Therefore, instead of just a local anesthetic, they will put me under lightly. When the surgeon touched the area my arm went into spasms. So much for watching the surgery. I was hoping to give them some guidance or learn a new trade while I was in there. Surgery is scheduled for 4:30PM. I have to be at Southwest General at 3:00PM to get prepped. No stitches, he will use tape like the big surgery before. For going there, I thought that I might be anxious, but I guess not. My BP was 113/72 with a 72 pulse. I may have had cancer, but I obviously don't have a heart or circulation problem. For that matter, an anxiety problem either.

Pray that all goes well tomorrow. Pray for wisdom and a steady hand for the surgeon and the staff that all goes well.

Update

In the past couple of weeks we have found some lumps that the doctor feels we need to biopsy or remove as soon as possible. We have found one in my arm near where my first surgery took place. There is also a very large mass on my back on the right side near the bottom couple ribs. I went to the oncologists on Friday and he set up with one of the surgeons at Southwest General to get a biopsy or remove them. That will happen this coming Wednesday if the surgeon feels it is simple to remove or biopsy there right in the office. If it would require a more extensive operation that will occur on Thursday at 4:30.

I feel that the one on my back is a lypoma, a fatty cell cist like I have had removed several times over the past 20 years. The one in my arm near my armpit is about the size of a pea. I am not sure just what this is so it is best to get it removed. I will ask the doctor to remove it all if possible instead of two operations if it tests positive. It is not uncommon for Melanoma to reoccur near the original spot. If found when it is small, it usually is best to get it removed quickly. Either way Patti and I are confident that we will be able to get thru this.

Please remember me in your prays as the waiting and the unknown can be trying. Thanks.