Mr. Toad's Most EXCELLENT Adventure

[Toad]

I'd love to be able to write a great bungee jumping mystery post like Elfie did. I'd love to be able to disappear and come back with a post like Nash managed.

However, that's beyond me right now. All I have for  you is the "Current Adventures of Mr. Toad". I wish it was pure fiction but it's totally pure fact.

You guys know I had a health problem that caused the loss of my Class I FAA medical and eventually lead to my retirement from my airline.

That was a heart problem, pretty easily cleared up with a stent but not to the satisfaction of the Feds, although 3 tip-top notch cardiologists think I'm A-OK.

Now, however, in one of life's funny little twists I have a new more interesting problem. A sonogram looking for gallstones turned up......... SUPRISE MR. TOAD!!!!......... a 4.5 cm mass on the upper part of my right kidney. And, as icing on the cake, two lesions on my liver. Kewl! What more could I guy ask as a birthday present? I turned 53 two days after they told me this happy stuff.

Some of you may recall that last April, my six years older brother had his right kidney removed for a cancerous tumor that had taken up 2/3  of his kidney.

Looks like I'm headed down that trail.

Cutting to the chase, I have a chest/abdomen/pelvis CAT scan tomorrow at 1:40 Central time. They think the kidney mass is cancer (just like my brother's only smaller than his was) and they think the liver lesions may just be clumps of blood vessels all twisted up (no biggie, they might be benign liver tumors known as hemangiomas which are a cluster of abnormal blood vessels
forming a swelling).

My doc says he'll get word to me on a preliminary reading by nightfall tomorrow.

This could well be Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

I've never been big on organized religion, finding my truths in the cathedrals of the outdoors. It seems to me that the beauty I find, the intricately entertwined balance of nature and the chaotic order therein cannot possibly be purely by chance.

So while I am not of a particular religion, I am indeed a "believer". The personal proofs I have found in the universe around me were all the convincing that I needed.

For those of you who also believe in a Higher Power, I would gratefully accept any "good words" you can put in on my behalf.

Stay tuned; this is going to be interesting.
 
Ok.... maybe you won't find it interesting. I, however, find it really has grabbed my attention and I just can't wait to see how all this turns out.

[GRUNHERZ]

Dont die..

THat would [SIZE=12]REALLY [/SIZE] piss me off.

Good luck Toad!

[Swager]

Damn Toad, that kinda blows!  I will tell ya thoughs that your attitude sounds good.   I truely hope everything turns out for the best.

I'll be thinking about you in my prayers.  Take care Toad and keep us informed.  

One of your many on-line friends,

Swager

[SOB]

Damn, good luck Toad.

[NUKE]

Toad, I'm feel for you and will say a prayer for you.

When I was in my twenties, I had cancer (non hodgkins lymphoma). They scaned me and found and egg sized growth in my liver too. It tuned out to be hemangiomas. Harmless.


Please let us know how it goes tomorrow.

Take care,

Nuke

[Charon]

Damn -- what can you say. I know a number of long term cancer survivors who got through it and are moving ahead with normal lives. My Mother is one. Fight the good fight, and good luck and best wishes.

Charon

[culero]

Best wishes, Toad!

culero

[Halo]

Bummer.  Hang in there and prevail!

And take comfort in the idea that no matter how long our present lives last, to paraphrase sci fi writers and Desiderata, we are all stardust, and we are all children of the universe.  

I like that.  Kinda keeps things in perspective.

[slimm50]

I'll be praying for you Toad. If ya don't mind I'll put yer name on our Sunday School class's prayer list.  Couldn't hurt, right? Please keep us posted.

[Suave]

Liver and kidneys? What the hell have you been drinking?

Give 'em hell Toad.

[Mini D]

Post a picture of your kidney after it's removed.  And don't let the doctor try to convince you you need to have your balls shaved for the operation... that's just a little trick they play on you.

Hoping everything comes out ok.

[Sixpence]

Sorry to hear that Toad, best wishes to you. I have been thinking about seeing a doctor ever since you posted about body scans, I have been putting it off way too long. Good luck, I hope all goes well.

[Toad]

Y'all have my personal permission and encouragement to stick me on any prayer list you know of.

I figure "HE" knows who Toad is; heck, "HE" knows everything, right?

Yah, I'm a bit scared. Who wouldn't be.

Funny thing. Today my son scored two tickets to see the Chiefs lose to the Panthers.

During the opening ceremony they introduced a Kansas Sergeant that won the Medal of Honor on D-Day. A guy named Walt Ehlers, I think. The PA was pretty poor.

EHLERS, WALTER D.

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and dare: Near Goville, France, 9-10 June 1944. Entered service at: Manhattan, Kans. Birth: Junction City, Kans. G.O. No.: 91, 19 December 1944.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 9-10 June 1944, near Goville, France. S/Sgt. Ehlers, always acting as the spearhead of the attack, repeatedly led his men against heavily defended enemy strong points exposing himself to deadly hostile fire whenever the situation required heroic and courageous leadership.

Without waiting for an order, S/Sgt. Ehlers, far ahead of his men, led his squad against a strongly defended enemy strong point, personally killing 4 of an enemy patrol who attacked him en route. Then crawling forward under withering machinegun fire, he pounced upon the guncrew and put it out of action.

Turning his attention to 2 mortars protected by the crossfire of 2 machineguns, S/Sgt. Ehlers led his men through this hail of bullets to kill or put to flight the enemy of the mortar section, killing 3 men himself. After mopping up the mortar positions, he again advanced on a machinegun, his progress effectively covered by his squad. When he was almost on top of the gun he leaped to his feet and, although greatly outnumbered, he knocked out the position single-handed.

The next day, having advanced deep into enemy territory, the platoon of which S/Sgt. Ehlers was a member, finding itself in an untenable position as the enemy brought increased mortar, machinegun, and small arms fire to bear on it, was ordered to withdraw. S/Sgt. Ehlers, after his squad had covered the withdrawal of the remainder of the platoon, stood up and by continuous fire at the semicircle of enemy placements, diverted the bulk of the heavy hostile fire on himself, thus permitting the members of his own squad to withdraw.

At this point, though wounded himself, he carried his wounded automatic rifleman to safety and then returned fearlessly over the shell-swept field to retrieve the automatic rifle which he was unable to carry previously. After having his wound treated, he refused to be evacuated, and returned to lead his squad. The intrepid leadership, indomitable courage, and fearless aggressiveness displayed by S/Sgt. Ehlers in the face of overwhelming enemy forces serve as an inspiration to others.

I thought... "Problems? I don't have no steenkin' problems. All I have to do is have 1/100th of the courage of that guy."

I appreciate your support. I'll let you know. The Higgins boat ramp drops tomorrow.

Don't let me get all sobby and wussy. If I do, slap me.

D-day. Medal of Honor. Young soldier.

I have a an example. Would that I can follow it.

[Dune]

Prayers otw Toad.

Best of luck.

[Sandman]

Best of luck, Toad.