Friday 4/1
4 pm. Wednesday’s PSA results posted on Portal. PSA = 48.5
5:30pm. Smiling Laurie cycles up to my sunny reading spot on the porch, she asks, I inform, we are now concerned!
Saturday 4/2
Excellent day with Laurie – wonderful coastal hiking excursion. Worked on mental preparation for upcoming biopsy and physical preparation to reschedule RR departure. Poor Chris and Linda, am I stiffing them?
Monday 4/4
11:30 am. Biopsy.
Tuesday 4/5
12:30 pm. DEPART for RED ROCKS! Say goodbye to Laurie.
Barely feel well enough, physically and emotionally to depart. Expect to see Laurie in 8 days as she is flying down to visit me at the condo before launching on her Utah backpacking journey. Definitely not feeling smug.
Thursday 4/7
9:30am. Standing at the base of “Prince of Darkness”, preparing to climb. This is a climb I had been dreaming of attempting for over 15 years. Totally psyched – Thank you selfless Linda!
Monday 4/11
7 pm. Bob and I at condo. Received call from Dr. Walker informing me of sobering biopsy results (high volume, aggressive cancer, Gleason Scale 9).
8:30 pm. Called Laurie. Talked with Chris who said I MUST get in touch with Justina at OHSU. Sent out second “Health News” email (attached).
Tuesday 4/12
7am. Tried to set up West Valley Imaging appointment (WVI) – scheduling, referral, records & insurance. Portal request to Oregon Urology Institute (OUI) & subsequent multiple calls.
10 am. Stated climbing “Cat in the Hat” with Bob. GREAT! Throughout the day, continued back and forth with OUI and VWI – ughf.
5pm. Finally got Moni to fax records –YES!
I love you!
Thank you for doing the blog. While my brain wants to constantly get updates, it seems a bit absurd that I should be asking you to make me feel better about your situation. Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated by this friend.
Micahael and Laurie, of course you embark on this latest journey with zest, optimism, and full engagement! Despite the seriousness and what must be alarm, you manage to make it sound like another mighty mountain to be explored. My friends, ANYTHING you want, need or think about, just ask and it is yours! With love and admiration…
Me Too! Rich and I are here 1000% and more. We are confident that this is a doable 10c climb. I bit dicey with perhaps a slip once or twice, a pause at the crux (perhaps you pay rent there) and then the “dyno” move at the top! You did it!
Miguel-
Thanks to you and Laurie for taking your time to put this blog up. We want to know how you are doing without being intrusive, and this works perfectly. We love you! Take the lead, we got you ‘on belay’ buddy. Keep climbing….you’re gonna crush it. Big Hugs to you, and Laurie too.
Mike and Laurie, we’re so with you on this, sending so much energy you might see Northern Lights in Eugene ! You made it through the swim at Crystal, this should be a piece of cake, well, maybe the whole cake… Thanks for the blog and keeping us updated. Take good care both of you.
Love, Steve and Nancy
Mikey and Laurie, Thanks for putting up this blog. Want you to know you are very special peeps and so great you have eachother at this difficult time. You are beautiful! I can understand navigating the medical world in such an emotional state would be a huge challenge. You’re very smart to reach out to others for help. Tom and I are behind you, thinking of you and sending extra energy your way.
Love TnT
Great idea for the blog! I love it, and I walk down memory lane reading it. It has been my experience with you that you meet challenges head on and with a gusto that can be reckoned with. I remember biking with you in the old days. I would be exhausted, with having already gone 40 miles, and you would cycle next to me and say, “Hey Spence…..only 10 more miles.” Perfect outlook. Arms around you and Laurie always. Love you. Spence
I’m delighted to report that when Mike and I climbed at the UO REC yesterday, I’d say that he was climbing as strong as I’ve ever seen him. He wore me out (in a good way), at least partly by inspiring me to do a number of routes near the top of my skill level. Muy divertido!
I feel the need to comment on Mike’s handling of the rapidly unfolding events of April 11-13. Even those of you who know him well would probably be astonished by how well he handled the adversity of receiving very difficult news and having to work ridiculously hard to make his bone and CT scans happen in Henderson. He was the intermediary between OUI and WVI, and in my opinion Mike had to work VERY HARD to ensure that all parties received the information that they needed from other parties. Some of those parties seemed to just plain dropped the ball and, had it not been for Mike’s perseverance and thoroughness (and patience!) and a few angels on either end, the scans might very well not have happened. I think of myself as a very patient person, but I definitely would have lost it by the time everything was finally in place. He was a paragon of clear communication, patience, understanding and dignity.
You never would have believed that he’s from New Jersey. 😉