Ugh...trouble during the night, but a good ending...

Friends and Family,

Hello Friends and Happy June again. Man o Man was it a hot, humid one today.

Woke up this morning about 2:00am and needed to pee. Staggered into the can and tried but no pee-pee was happenin'. I immediately got my trusty catheter and within a few seconds, life was good again. Off to bed and back to sleep only to wake again about 5:00 with the same urge and the same urge and the same result (or lack of one). Once again called in the "cath crew" and life was good again. I was a bit concerned and decided to stay up and see what would happen if I hydrated myself good...coffee, juice, etc. Before leaving for work I went 2 more times and things were working well. It was a day of urgencies and frequencies but atleast I could go. I am not sure what happened or what is going on. I can feel a minor obstruction when I cath and need to apply a bit of pressure to get fully into my bladder but it works and for now..THAT IS GOOD !
I am not scheduled to return to Doc Polsky for a month and am hopeful things will get better. I am so blessed that I have been able to do this for myself. Thanks for Doc and Nicole for showing me and providing the catheters. I am getting better each time I have to do it and is almost a natural thing..the key word being ALMOST. I plan to change my routine and do my cathing in the mornings instead of at night, that way I will be up and active and in my opinion lessen the chances of any obstructions happening. No, I still don't have a medical degree but I do know my body and how it is suppose to feel and when it is not working right. Please pray with me that things will continue to move forward and improve and if they remain the same...I am still blessed, I am cancer free and know that I still have a lot of life to live. Thank you all for ALL you do for me, for your love and prayer and Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me.

Mike

June 14th, Flag Day, 7 Months cancer free !

Friends and Family,

Today we should be flying our United States flags in celebration of Flag Day. I am as patriotic as anyone but the greater celebration today is for 7 months cancer free. 7 months and 2 days ago I had surgery to remove a malignant prostate. It is still a journey but I am so much farther down the road now than even a month ago. Yes, I still have some issues and things are less than 100% but I have a full, long life to look forward too.

Today I am supposed to sing in church, a song I have done 2 or 3 times but today it has a very special meaning. "Drinking From My Saucer", a song recored by Michael Combs, tells my testimony very well right now. I am truly "drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed."

Please continue to pray for each other. You may have a friend that is dealing with issues that he or she just cannot talk about out loud. Perhaps your heart is heavy and you needs your friends to pray for you. Pray for the sick and hurting and their families. Pray for our children and our nation.

TODAY is a great day! Let's all try our best to live it out loud! I love you ALL and thank you for loving and caring about me.....and Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me.

Mike

"....like flossing your teeth"

Friends,

Hope everyone is having a great summer so far. I am I think, working hard and playing some and thankful for each day I rise from a warm, dry bed in an air conditioned home, having running water to wash my face and food to have a meal...so many in our world, even our communities are not so blessed.

Health wise: I am OK, just when I thot it was safe to say I am just about 100%, there was an issue. I knew I was not peeing like I should be and had been. My stream was significantly reduced from even a week or so earlier. SO.....off to see Doc Polsky and Nicole. Felt certain I knew before I heard him say the words that I would need another dilation. Sure enough, that is what we did (no valium) and home again and peeing great! It was uncomfortable but not painful. The doc is so good and genuinely regrets any time he has to do something he knows is unpleasant for me. Nicole is ever so sweet, very respectful and kind and treats me like I am her favorite patient....a treatment I suspect all their patients get! Anyway, I am doing good now, cathing every other day or as I need too. I told the doc it is like flossing your teeth, doesn't hurt and only take a couple of minutes but not something I like to do or want to take the time to do. Well, I am still not flossing my teeth like I should but I am going to be cathing on a regular basis.

Thanks for your prayers and your love. Please continue to pray for all of us who have had cancer, for our families, for those still battling cancer and other illnesses, for the wonderful doctors, nurses, and care givers. I love you ALL....

Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me
Mike