Knifeman 4/27/21

Here’s part of a PM conversation I had with him back on Feb. 20th. This conversation started out unrelated to his illness. Seems to be doing well and is almost through with his Chemo treatments:

I sincerely appreciate the kind words. I am doing well and the kids are growing like weeds. I'm still in remission and have around 6 months or so left of chemotherapy. In total, it will be around 4 years of chemo total but lord willing, the end is in sight. My doctor's are very happy with my progress and I typically feel well. My immune system is in terrible condition so I stay home and avoid people aside from my appointments. I am very much looking forward to making a full recovery and being able to take our young children out again. We're hoping that within a year my body will be back to normal enough to visit restaurants, go to amusement parks with the kids, etc..
 
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I'm doing well fellas. I've got a few months left and hopefully I will be finished. It would put me right at 3.5 years of heavy chemo. From what my doctor tells us, it will take my body a fair amount of time to recover but I am certainly looking forward to no more chemo. I did have covid back in November and was in ICU for a few days. Things did get a bit hairy but Caitlin says I'm hard to kill. I was highly encouraged to get the covid vaccine by my oncologist so I did a few a days ago. I know a lot of you are against the vaccine (with good reason) but my circumstances are a bit different. I had some rough symptoms but they were somewhat expected. I'm not really looking forward to the second dose but it has not been nearly as bad as having Covid was.

Colt turned 5 in March and will start school in August. River is 3 as of December and is bossing her brother and me around daily. Both are really good kids. Colt and I ride motorcycles daily and try to maintain the farm as best as we can.

Caitlin is doing well and works harder than any of us being Mommy to me and the kids.

I'm on here everyday lurking for a half hour or so, sometimes longer.

Thank you all for thinking of me and my family. It means a lot. Please do keep us in your prayers as we try to round this final corner of treatment.
 
knifeman32 said:
I'm doing well fellas. I've got a few months left and hopefully I will be finished. It would put me right at 3.5 years of heavy chemo. From what my doctor tells us, it will take my body a fair amount of time to recover but I am certainly looking forward to no more chemo. I did have covid back in November and was in ICU for a few days. Things did get a bit hairy but Caitlin says I'm hard to kill. I was highly encouraged to get the covid vaccine by my oncologist so I did a few a days ago. I know a lot of you are against the vaccine (with good reason) but my circumstances are a bit different. I had some rough symptoms but they were somewhat expected. I'm not really looking forward to the second dose but it has not been nearly as bad as having Covid was.

Colt turned 5 in March and will start school in August. River is 3 as of December and is bossing her brother and me around daily. Both are really good kids. Colt and I ride motorcycles daily and try to maintain the farm as best as we can.

Caitlin is doing well and works harder than any of us being Mommy to me and the kids.

I'm on here everyday lurking for a half hour or so, sometimes longer.

Thank you all for thinking of me and my family. It means a lot. Please do keep us in your prayers as we try to round this final corner of treatment.
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Thanks for sharing, looking forward to seeing you around again.
 
Thanks Jerek!!!!!!!
 
Excellent! Super happy to hear an update!

We met before this forum came to fruition (different user name now) but you and yours left a lasting impression in a short amount of time. Your life/lifestyle at the time made a mark on me during a time of personal struggle.

Your current tribulations are a constant reminder of what can be put before any one of us. But the acceptance, perseverance and perspective you and your family show. Shows us all exactly how to keep moving foward with the same faith and willpower that anyone should be proud to possess.

You and yours are constantly in my thoughts.
 
That's great news!!
 
Best news of the day. My wife and I met Jerek March 2020 and he has been in our prayers since.
 
Awesome news Jerek!! Glad your doing well and that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel after your long journey. Hard to believe Colt is starting school, still remembering the picture of you and your kids walking down the hallway of the hospital, man do they grow up fast. Take care and keep us updated when possible.As always you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

James
 
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Trevillian said:
Excellent! Super happy to hear an update!

We met before this forum came to fruition (different user name now) but you and yours left a lasting impression in a short amount of time. Your life/lifestyle at the time made a mark on me during a time of personal struggle.

Your current tribulations are a constant reminder of what can be put before any one of us. But the acceptance, perseverance and perspective you and your family show. Shows us all exactly how to keep moving foward with the same faith and willpower that anyone should be proud to possess.

You and yours are constantly in my thoughts.
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I appreciate the kind words. It's been an interesting journey and certainly not one that any of us expected. I've grown mentally and emotionally because of all of this (and physically too... thanks steroids). I'm truly thankful for the life I have and each day that is given to me.
 
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teamglock2002 said:
Awesome news Jerek!! Glad your doing well and that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel after your long journey. Hard to believe Colt is starting school, still remembering the picture of you and your kids walking down the hallway of the hospital, man do they grow up fast. Take care and keep us updated when possible.As always you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

James
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I'm honestly dreading him going to school. The schools here aren't terrible. I actually taught in the elementary school that he will be going to for a short spell. I dread it because that rascal is my best buddy. Colt and I literally do everything together. River is still a mama's girl. My days are going to be a lot more boring without him here with me. He's been my shadow since I stepped foot out of the hospital 3 years ago. When I get home from chemo treatments and I'm feeling rough, he's always there with a big smile and to tell me that he loves me. I couldn't have asked for better kids. That's for sure.
 
Great news! Cancer sucks! I’m glad you’re beat it!
 
knifeman32 said:
I'm doing well fellas. I've got a few months left and hopefully I will be finished. It would put me right at 3.5 years of heavy chemo. From what my doctor tells us, it will take my body a fair amount of time to recover but I am certainly looking forward to no more chemo. I did have covid back in November and was in ICU for a few days. Things did get a bit hairy but Caitlin says I'm hard to kill. I was highly encouraged to get the covid vaccine by my oncologist so I did a few a days ago. I know a lot of you are against the vaccine (with good reason) but my circumstances are a bit different. I had some rough symptoms but they were somewhat expected. I'm not really looking forward to the second dose but it has not been nearly as bad as having Covid was.

Colt turned 5 in March and will start school in August. River is 3 as of December and is bossing her brother and me around daily. Both are really good kids. Colt and I ride motorcycles daily and try to maintain the farm as best as we can.

Caitlin is doing well and works harder than any of us being Mommy to me and the kids.

I'm on here everyday lurking for a half hour or so, sometimes longer.

Thank you all for thinking of me and my family. It means a lot. Please do keep us in your prayers as we try to round this final corner of treatment.
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Thanks for the update Jerek. Glad to hear you are doing well brother.
 
Just saw the update this morning. Nice to hear you are on the right road. Lifted my spirits that's for sure. Stay well and God bless
 
That's really good news Jerek, and thanks for dropping us an update. You have a lot of people (including friends you've never met) pulling for you and your family. I suspect the quality of your kids comes from the quality of Mom and Dad.

As a fellow cancer survivor, I'll keep you in my prayers.
 
knifeman32 said:
Jerek had treatment the beginning of May and this past Thursday. Both of these included chemo and a lumbar puncture. He had a lab check halfway between his April and May treatments. His counts had fully recovered by this time, so they restarted his chemo pills at the lowest dose they could possibly give him. They added a lab visit the following week and his counts were stable. When he went in for treatment in May, his counts were still stable. His doctor was happy with his labs and decided to leave his dosages where they were and felt confident that his counts would remain stable. This was the first month he did not have to come in for lab checks and only had to go for the monthly treatment. He has definitely enjoyed only having a monthly visit. On Thursday, his doctor said his counts were exactly where they want them to be. They are slightly suppressed from the chemo pills, but not too low. They had originally discussed trying to increase his dosages again, but knowing how sensitive his body is to the chemo, they have decided to leave his medications alone. The dosage he is getting is enough for him and is doing exactly what they want it to do. Unless something crazy happens, he will only have to go in once a month from here on out. These monthly visits/treatments will continue for about 2 years.

We were able to go to Hillsville over Memorial Day weekend. This was the first time Jerek was around a crowd (outside) without wearing a mask. He is still hesitant to be around crowds indoors, especially without a mask. This will improve with time. We do miss seeing everyone at the shows, but have enjoyed being able to slow down and spend more time with our kids. We have two backwoods loving kids and couldn’t ask for more.
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Is this a challenge to resume The Great Marshmeller wars! This old warhorse ain’t dead yet!
 
Gunbelt said:
Is this a challenge to resume The Great Marshmeller wars! This old warhorse ain’t dead yet!
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You don't stand a chance you old fart.

I miss you buddy.


Thank all of your for the kind words and thank all of you for keeping us in your prayers. It means a lot to me and my family. It really does. All of the kind words that I've received over the past 3.5 years have always lifted my spirits. Lord willing, I'll be ringing the bell at the cancer center soon. I may just rip that sucker off the wall and take it with me.
 
Jeppo said:
How’s @knifeman32 doing?
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I'm hanging in there brother. Thanks for asking.

Still have regular doctor appointments and probably will for the next ten years or so. Blood counts are what my doctor calls "my new normal". Which is low but not seriously low. Still trying to avoid the public as much as possible since my IVIG levels are poor and pretty much stay poor. I feel good though.

Aside from that, just trying to be a good dad. Colt gets out of school in the next few weeks. He'll be in second grade at the start of the next school year. My little River will be starting school and entering into kindergarten. I feel like I'm getting old.
 
@knifeman32 glad to hear you are doing ok. Let us know if you need something!
 
knifeman32 said:
I'm doing well fellas. I've got a few months left and hopefully I will be finished. It would put me right at 3.5 years of heavy chemo. From what my doctor tells us, it will take my body a fair amount of time to recover but I am certainly looking forward to no more chemo. I did have covid back in November and was in ICU for a few days. Things did get a bit hairy but Caitlin says I'm hard to kill. I was highly encouraged to get the covid vaccine by my oncologist so I did a few a days ago. I know a lot of you are against the vaccine (with good reason) but my circumstances are a bit different. I had some rough symptoms but they were somewhat expected. I'm not really looking forward to the second dose but it has not been nearly as bad as having Covid was.

Colt turned 5 in March and will start school in August. River is 3 as of December and is bossing her brother and me around daily. Both are really good kids. Colt and I ride motorcycles daily and try to maintain the farm as best as we can.

Caitlin is doing well and works harder than any of us being Mommy to me and the kids.

I'm on here everyday lurking for a half hour or so, sometimes longer.

Thank you all for thinking of me and my family. It means a lot. Please do keep us in your prayers as we try to round this final corner of treatment.
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Best of wishes for a full and speedy recovery sir!
 
J, glad to hear your doing well. We miss seeing you at the shows. Love the shirt. Hang in there. Can't believe how old the kids are, and I know you can't. My daughter just finished her Sophomore year in High School. Times flies...
 
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