Saturday, July 2, 2011

The Opposite of Fun

My lovely husband has cancer.

It's a week ago Wednesday that we found out. The man that is never sick, doesn't smoke, and runs 3 to 5 miles just about every single day has cancer. We are still reeling.

Our amazing Doctor (the same one that operated on my deviated septum) performed surgery on Monday and removed a cancerous tonsil and a bunch of malignant lymph nodes in Gregg's neck. This past week has been hell for my lovely husband. Excruciating throat pain and the inability to eat cheese, his favorite food group. As soon as he heals up, he'll start weeks of radiation and chemo.

Usually at the beginning of summer, I will declare, "This will be a Summer of Fun," and we will try to do at least one fun thing a weekend and maybe even go out during the week. This summer Gregg has declared "This will be the summer of the Opposite of Fun." The man has a way with words.

But this is not going to turn into a cancer blog. This is the one and only blog you will see about Gregg (if you want to know how he's doing, ask in the comments). There are tons of support groups and personal logs and everything else cancer out there. This will remain Ray the Blind Dog's blog. But I wanted Ray's fans to know because they are such a supportive, caring group.

My lovely husband has cancer.

Gregg and his Support Group

13 comments:

  1. Jean and Gregg, my thoughts and prayers are with you. You said you were reeling, that has to be an understatement! I will be wanting updates. Be strong, have have faith, and know a lot of people care about you. HUGS, Brenda

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  2. Lynn (in Louisiana)July 3, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    I check your blog everyday and am sad to read this news. I will think of both of you often during the next few weeks. From my experience, it helped to focus on one day at a time, always looking forward.

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  3. Jean & Gregg, we are sad to read this. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. ~Chris & Heather

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  4. Christine in ColumbiaJuly 4, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    Gregg and you are in my thoughts and prayers as he recovers from surgery and goes through his treatment.

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  5. Gia in Manchester, UKJuly 9, 2011 at 4:23 AM

    I don't know you. I read your blog because I am a dog person. Specifically a 'lost cause' kind of dog person. I love your stories about Ray.

    This post has brought tears to my eyes.

    A stranger from across the pond is thinking of you and sending you ALL positive vibes.

    (Tomorrow I am running in the Race for Life, a UK wide event raising money for cancer research. I will add Gregg's name to the list of people I am running it for. If that is OK.)

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  6. We are touched but all the support from people we've never met (and those we have). Thank you.
    Gia, Good luck in your race! Gregg would be honored to have you run for him and wishes he could be there running too.
    jean

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  7. Oh that is just such really crappy news, I am genuinely sorry to hear it, just want to wish Gregg a total recovery in the shortest time, can't offer to pray as not really the praying kind but sending lots of positive well wishes over to you all...I just found out this week that a close friend is also having treatment for stage 3 cancer, it is just all too prevalent now, please take care of yourselves and have lots of Ray hugs. x

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  8. Oh, crap! I've been reading your blog in order from the beginning, but after reading this post, I had to jump ahead and then saw the post on 12/31/11 that Gregg's PET scan was clear. Still, my thoughts are with your family.
    ~Melinda from Texas

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Melinda. Gregg is doing very well. It's hard to believe that it was two years ago already.
      There's a video on youtube about Greggie. I asked his friends to write supportive things for each of his treatments. Assigned them each a number to write on. They came up with some really creative things. While we were at Gregg's first treatment, a couple of my friends put them up on the wall going upstairs. After each treatment, he would take the corresponding number down and read what was on it. I took a photo each time so that the friend that sent the number could see him reading it. I was going to send them each a photo but in the end had to make a video which I posted on youtube for all to see. It's shocking. (you can access it on my channel. It's called Gregg's Numbers).

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  9. Ok, I used to think that I was pretty tech savvy, but apparently I'm just a doofus. I can find Ray's YouTube vids, but not "Gregg's Numbers". Which, by the way, I LOVE Ray's hike with out takes. Hysterical.
    On another note, my Greg was placed in a medically induced coma due to massive lung infection also two years ago. It wasn't cancer, but I think I know how you felt. Loss of control is, for lack of a better word, awful.
    If you could send a link to Gregg's Numbers, I would love to watch it. Also, I do have a Google account. Who knew?

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    1. Did you get the link that I sent you?

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    2. Also I added some 'tags' to Gregg's numbers so that you should be able to search youtube and find it this time.

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