Miso Hongry !!!!!

Well I guess I have to just go ahead and accept the fact that today was a great day for me! I went out to Hutto to see my nephews. We watched the Imax Space Station DVD and hung out for a good portion of the day. I went to the pool with them later and got to take some shots of the kids. While there, I met an amazing 3 year-old boy named Stone who has Downs. He had such a happy spirit that really touched and inspired me. He was a great swimmer too. After that, I went to Zen and got some miso soup. I was actually able to sip some of it before putting it in my tube and also had some water earlier in the day so let's just call this progress and give thanks!

RJ

Over One Big Hump

I finished radiation today and was showered by confetti by the staff and my family. I gave all of the staff hugs and thanked as best as I could with no voice. I had hoped to feel great today and my body had other plans after a morning feast of phlegm. I got sick right before Mom and I left for treatment. It has been quite a journey and we're not quite finished yet. I have a followup appointment in 6 weeks when I hope to be declared cancer-free. Until then, I guess I am in limbo as I await my body to return to some state of normalcy. Looking forward to a meal of some real food I can put in my mouth and savor. Giving thanks for the healing I am given every day--a gift!

RJ

Good Monday

Did chemo today and it was easy once the phlegm party in my throat settled down. Slept through most of it until about 1:00 when my uncle David showed up. Got my radiation after that and I only have three more to go! Hard to believe how 8 weeks has just flown by. My neck is healing up incredibly fast from the radiation burns and I am happy about that. Now if I can just get my voice back before Saturday's wedding...

RJ

Almost Done

Well, apparently there are one or two people that read this thing and every so often they bug me to blog... so I will give some updates about how tings been runnin' lately.

It is now Friday afternoon. Mom and I just returned from Whole Foods and treatment. I thought the day was going well until I very violently threw up everything in my stomach. It was no fun at all. Keep thinking I am getting used to that, and I am not. Still not as bad as the day last week when the docs put me on the Fentanyl patch. It was 50mcg/per hour and way too much for my sensitive system to handle. Threw up 8 times that day trying to get it out of my system. It was pure hell. Seems like there have been those days lately, hence my not blogging. My body is creating so much phlegm and mucus that I don't what to do with it. I wake up around every 20 minutes gagging on it and it's all over the place. Real fun I'm telling you! I'm just glad my body is making saliva and that all the suffering with the Ethyol looks like it paid off.

I have only 4 more radiation treatments to go next week and then I will be on to some serious healing. I may have two additional chemos, I am praying that maybe I won't need them.

I want to thank every person who has helped see me through this. Especially my family, for putting up with me and also Anne. Also, the people who came out to the benefits and pitched in, the bands & DJs who played and also Ruta Maya & Flamingo.

All for now, gotta go lay down and see what's on the tele.

RJ

Benefit this Friday

I hope those of you who didn't make it out to the last one can make this one. There will be four bands on-stage.

8:00 - reggae DJ (tba)
9:00 - Common Language
10:00 - Three Shoes Posse (with me on drums)
11:30 - Mystic Roots (from California, who usually backs Pato Banton)
1:15 - Crucial Prophets

There will be vendors set up also, including Anne's awesome Threads of Change t-shirts, which are very very comfortable. Healing Is Believing wristbands will also be available and they have been getting a great response from everybody.

Hope you can make it!

Blessings!

RJ

I'm Still Here

Hey peeps!

Just an update for you on the latest.

Had a great weekend. Went to see Kelly Willis with my sister on Saturday night and they have a tight band fi real. Lori was so excited to meet one of her favorite singers.

Opening the show was Hayes Carll and he was good too, some of his songs were funny. His drummer, Lisa Pankratz is the daughter of Mau Mau Chaplains drummer Mike Pankraatz and she was great too. I had not seen her play in a long time.

Sunday I ran sound at church and struggled to get through the day due to the rawness of my mouth. Luckily on Monday, I got some new drugs, one being a triple mix of liquids that numbs out my mouth when I need it. been doing pain pills as needed also so much better with that now.

Gotta run and get ready for The Dad Show show for tonight which is 6-7 pm on KAZI 88.7.

RJ

"I'm Back And I'm Proud"

Well I haven't written in awhile. Life has been up and down the last week.

It looks like I am done with eating food through my mouth. Making the transition to the tubular way. Certainly easier that eating with my mouth.

Lots of my hair falling out this week and I am wondering if that is going to slow down, or if I will end up shaving it off. Not sure at this point.

Played with Three Shoes Posse last night at Ron Paul's Austin Presidential Campaign 2008 grand opening. The performance went very well and we had fun.

Off to Kalaiah's birthday party right now.

Thanks again to all of you who have contributed with prayers, financial help and words of encouragement. You can still make donations through TexasReggae.org.

Know that you are blessed in all you do!

RJ