Steve Jenkins
12-02-2004, 4:12 PM
This is a copy of his farewell note on the Knots forum.
Good bye to a good man.
Lee,
The hard copy of all of the posts in this thread arrived Saturday and, thank you. I have not been able to get to the computer in some time now, but with the help of my wife Sherryl who, as you know, is a medical transcriptionist, I want to respond with my thanks.
Over the months, I've tried to be be vague about exactly what my health problem is for fear that it would generate a thread like this ...as if I were seeking sympathy.There really isn't any need for sympathy. I've had a good life and, while it is doubtful I am going to live much longer, I certainly don't feel cheated.
Now that the cat is out of the bag with this thread, there is no reason to conceal what my health problem is...So, for anyone who is curious, here are the unfortunate facts:
I really haven't been well for upwards of a decade. It began with ulcerative colitis back in the early 90s. Since then I have received the best of medical care and have played it by the book, BUT regardless of annual colonoscopies and careful monitoring, it proceeded to get worse until, in November 2001, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I immediately had my colon removed and, at the time of surgery, there appeared to be no metastasis to any of the some 156 or so lymph nodes associated with the colon. At that time, it looked like we had it beat and, while I would have to live the rest of my life with a colostomy bag, I would actually be able to function and feel better than I did during the years of colitis. However little over a year ago, I had to have a CAT scan regarding another health issue (prostate). This CAT scan revealed wide-spread tumors of colon cancer in my abdomen.
By this point in time, it was sheets-to-the-wind with respect to any surgical solutions. I was immediately put on chemo, but none of the various FDA-approved colon cancer chemos have worked for me. There is nothing left to try. My doctors have put me in a home hospice program. I am receiving the best possible care in terms of pain killers, but the problem is the amount of these drugs I now have to take to relieve the pain space me out so bad that it is hard to be comfortable and still think clearly. So, the only option is to drop out of the boards and deal with keeping the pain under control.
I have very much enjoyed participating on Knots and I have come to think of you (Liberals and Conservatives alike... :O) ) as personal friends. It is a disappointment to have to hang it up, but that's just the way it has to be.
Godspeed to you all - Jon
Good bye to a good man.
Lee,
The hard copy of all of the posts in this thread arrived Saturday and, thank you. I have not been able to get to the computer in some time now, but with the help of my wife Sherryl who, as you know, is a medical transcriptionist, I want to respond with my thanks.
Over the months, I've tried to be be vague about exactly what my health problem is for fear that it would generate a thread like this ...as if I were seeking sympathy.There really isn't any need for sympathy. I've had a good life and, while it is doubtful I am going to live much longer, I certainly don't feel cheated.
Now that the cat is out of the bag with this thread, there is no reason to conceal what my health problem is...So, for anyone who is curious, here are the unfortunate facts:
I really haven't been well for upwards of a decade. It began with ulcerative colitis back in the early 90s. Since then I have received the best of medical care and have played it by the book, BUT regardless of annual colonoscopies and careful monitoring, it proceeded to get worse until, in November 2001, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I immediately had my colon removed and, at the time of surgery, there appeared to be no metastasis to any of the some 156 or so lymph nodes associated with the colon. At that time, it looked like we had it beat and, while I would have to live the rest of my life with a colostomy bag, I would actually be able to function and feel better than I did during the years of colitis. However little over a year ago, I had to have a CAT scan regarding another health issue (prostate). This CAT scan revealed wide-spread tumors of colon cancer in my abdomen.
By this point in time, it was sheets-to-the-wind with respect to any surgical solutions. I was immediately put on chemo, but none of the various FDA-approved colon cancer chemos have worked for me. There is nothing left to try. My doctors have put me in a home hospice program. I am receiving the best possible care in terms of pain killers, but the problem is the amount of these drugs I now have to take to relieve the pain space me out so bad that it is hard to be comfortable and still think clearly. So, the only option is to drop out of the boards and deal with keeping the pain under control.
I have very much enjoyed participating on Knots and I have come to think of you (Liberals and Conservatives alike... :O) ) as personal friends. It is a disappointment to have to hang it up, but that's just the way it has to be.
Godspeed to you all - Jon