Author Topic: Hi everyone, Happy New Year  (Read 3147 times)

waypoint

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Hi everyone, Happy New Year
« on: January 17, 2012, 11:29:07 am »
I was sitting here reminiscing about the past years and decided to jump over to the AN forum just to see how everyone was.  I didn’t realize it’s been that long since I was on here.  It’s great to see a lot of familiar names still around providing help, and welcome to the many others that unfortunately have had to make this journey.  Life will will return after AN.  Physically, I’m fatter than I’ve ever been. I can’t blame the AN thought.  I just love to eat and the Kim gets upset if I don’t eat her cooking (which is great).  Back in 2010, we celebrated our 10 wedding anniversary and had a destination trip to Breckenridge to ski with the entire clan.  We skied Winter park in 2011 and will be leaving Thursday for Steamboat Springs.  Pray for lots of snow.  I remember my biggest fear pre-AN was SSD.  Honestly, as long as I have hearing on the other side, it’s been a none issue.  The bigger issue was left side facial paralysis, which has improved tremendously over 4 yrs and I still continue to work at it every day.

A few years ago, my follow up MRI showed something on my right side that the doctor said was so small that we would just W&W.  He suggested was I could be NF2.  He sent me to get a spinal MRI and to see an eye specialist to look for tumors in the back of my eyes to confirm NF2. Both came back negative, so I don't know quite where I stand.  Regardless, I still can’t shake that there is smothing on the right side.  So, I get annual MRIs.  Doc said, no change in December and to come in June to see him.  I refuse to let this control me  so I continue to live my life and try to mark off as many things as possible on my bucket list.
 
Ok, what else.  We were excited about being expecting parents a while back only to be disappointed by a miscarriage.  We are now at the point where if it’s meant to be it will. We started looking into adoption. Let me preface by saying wading through the AN stuff was a cake walk compared to trying to make heads or tails of an adoption process.  I’m ready to be a daddy and Kim would make an awesome mother. 

Back to AN.  I’ve been doing a lot more boating, fishing, skiing, hunting, cruising, gardening and eventually plan to start exercising regularly again.  As I said, life continues and it’s your choice what you make of it post AN.
Here is the pic of the elk I took last winter. Sorry if i offend anyone with a hunting picture, but I am proud of it and my accomplishments. We eating elk meat from here to enternity. Best Wishes to all and Happy New Year. (It’s the year of the Dragon)

« Last Edit: January 17, 2012, 04:51:03 pm by waypoint »
2.4cm AN removed, Retrosigmoid, 10/1/07
Memorial Hermann, Dr. Chang & Dr. Alp
lost hearing Lt side, paralysis Lt side hopefully temporary
recovered from the balance issues at about 4-6months

Jim Scott

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Re: Hi everyone, Happy New Year
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2012, 02:55:02 pm »
Hi, waypoint ~

Thanks for the comprehensive and informative update.  It's very encouraging to others to see that post-op AN patients can go on to enjoy life in every way, as you are.  I hope your adoption plans come to fruition and I also hope you'll 'drop by' a bit more often.  :)

Jim
4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

waypoint

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Re: Hi everyone, Happy New Year
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2012, 04:52:05 pm »
Sorry all.  I didn't realize the picture link didn't work.  It should now.
2.4cm AN removed, Retrosigmoid, 10/1/07
Memorial Hermann, Dr. Chang & Dr. Alp
lost hearing Lt side, paralysis Lt side hopefully temporary
recovered from the balance issues at about 4-6months

Kaybo

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Re: Hi everyone, Happy New Year
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2012, 04:56:28 pm »
WAYPOINT!!!

I was just thinking about you the other day!!  Sounds like you are doing so great!!  We are in the houston area now and need to have a meet up - I would love to meet Kim!!  Let me know what you think!!

K   ;D
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

waypoint

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Re: Hi everyone, Happy New Year
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2012, 07:22:48 am »
Hi Kaybo,

I was thinking about how you were too and that's what brought me back around yesterday. I thinking about that AN Christmas luncheon get together we all had several years back at the Logans Steakhouse.  Sounds like we all may need to regroup for another luncheon.  After reading some older threads here, I'm glad to hear that you are doing much better. The girls look beautiful and are growing up so fast. 
2.4cm AN removed, Retrosigmoid, 10/1/07
Memorial Hermann, Dr. Chang & Dr. Alp
lost hearing Lt side, paralysis Lt side hopefully temporary
recovered from the balance issues at about 4-6months

leapyrtwins

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Re: Hi everyone, Happy New Year
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2012, 11:45:50 am »
Waypoint -

good to see you; thanks for the update and the amazing picture of you and the elk (my older brother is a hunter and a taxidermist, so I'm not offended at all).

Good luck to you and Kim with the adoption process.

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways

Kaybo

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Re: Hi everyone, Happy New Year
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2012, 04:00:38 pm »
I am up for anything!!  I certainly would love to host everybody at my house but I don't know if everyone wants to drive out here...I'm not sure what part of Houston you are in and I know that Brendalu has moved further away.  I certainly don't mind driving either - "have GIRLY van, will travel" has always been my motto!!  Let me know what you think and then we can put it up here as a new category for anyone in this area that wants to come!

K   ;D
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

Soundy

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Re: Hi everyone, Happy New Year
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2012, 04:22:19 pm »
I don't think we have talked but I have read you in the past ... hope your adoption plans go through and you and your wife are soon parents ...

my daughter had a comment on the Elk ... it went something like this ... "Holey Comole , I'm jealous" ... her quest for a big buck this year went unanswered ...

camole ??? what does camole mean ?
3mm AN discovered Aug 2004
Translab July 2 ,2007
3.2cm x 2.75cm x 3.3cm @ time of surgery

waypoint

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Re: Hi everyone, Happy New Year
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2012, 12:44:37 pm »
Thanks Soundy, Learytwins, and Kaybo. Its always good to see familiar names here.
God bless you all. 
2.4cm AN removed, Retrosigmoid, 10/1/07
Memorial Hermann, Dr. Chang & Dr. Alp
lost hearing Lt side, paralysis Lt side hopefully temporary
recovered from the balance issues at about 4-6months