No, not just TGIF, I want to give a follow up post to my announcement of a few weeks ago for my loyal readers because many of you had invested yourselves in my personal challenges.
As many of you know, my family had a huge medical challenge recently. It was all about this familiar symbol.
Back on the week of October 18th, my lovely wife went through a double mastectomy, which seemed to be the best option given the situation. The surgery was succesfull, with no complications, but we had to wait for final lab results and follow up scans. It’s been a rough couple of weeks, and to top it off we lost a beloved family pet of 15 years Monday. Minners is finally drinking clean water somewhere.
So dear readers, please forgive me if I’ve been dour and a little snippy here. I know I have been a bit rough around the edges. I’ve been so frazzled I forgot to do our weekly Sea Ice News last Sunday. I forgot to take out the garbage Wednesday, and at coffee yesterday morning I couldn’t remember the name of a person I’d known for years. Stress is a weird thing.
Late last night, after two days of follow up at Stanford Medical Center. We got the news. No metastasis, they got it all. Now it’s just the long but certain road physical therapy.
I gotta tell you it was like somebody cutting the guy lines to the giant lead balloon I’ve been tied to for the last three months. It took off into the stratosphere, never to be seen again.
I want to thank you all for the kind words, prayers, and most especially for the support of WUWT with ideas and guest articles. I want to give a special thanks to Willis Eschenbach, Tom Fuller, and Steve Mosher for guest posts. Special thanks go to Evan Jones and D.B. Stealey for their support and the kind letters they sent me, and to Charles the Moderator for keeping the chaos managed.
If I’ve missed anyone, please don’t feel left out, I’m just a bit scrambled mentally. Everybody gets gold stars.
In a day or two, I’ll be back to chasing errant weather stations and missing “M”‘s in METAR reports.
Discover more from Watts Up With That?
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
So pleased to hear this, my MiL had a mastectomy some 15 years ago and got the all clear, I’m sure they are even better at them now.
Wishing you both strength and happiness.
Best wishes to you and your wife, Anthony. I know what’s happening inside your minds, and I share it: my wife and I went through the same thing 3 years ago, and that was her second major bout with cancer (first one was Cervical.) So far so good. She goes in for her periodic checkup(s) in 10 days. May the gods see fit to continue to allow you to bask in the presence of your beloved; every day is a gift.
Why our wives tolerate us I’ll never know.
Something like this really brings home just
how special they are. I’m so glad to hear she
is doing well. Best wishes to her and your
family Anthony.
Dave
Thoughts with you and Mrs Watts. Been down the road and got the T shirt, so know how it feels. Its funny how at terrible moments other things seem to go wrong as well- had this happen myself— my dad committed suicide and within 10 days my favourite dog got kicked by a horse and its hip shattered ( he made a good recovery but it took its time)
Some off my friends have beaten the “C”. I think as science gets better they can do so much more—- cheers to real science
Very welcome news. Thinking about you both.
I hate the waiting game, I had to wait almost two and a half year once to get some neurology tests done only to have to understand that the results was neither positive nor conclusive, rather the tests were inconclusive and of which without further testing they couldn’t say either or conclusively, so in all practical manner I’m still waiting after five years and I hate to wait, but It’s more important to me to be able to spend my time and money as I see fit, which is why I went into the whole fabled yellow balloon business, smiling of course like having an apple pie (or hippie), to boot.
Count yourselves lucky but be sure to have money to count I say. 😉
Congratulations on the good news! I’m really happy for both of you.
Anthony–
As a cancer-surviving cat lover, I think I can safely say I know how you feel. With best regards and thanks for all you do.
Dave H.
Wonderful news, Anthony! I hope all sorts of good news just keeps coming for your family. You have no reason to apologize though, you were outstanding and I’m sure the missus would agree. I hope you don’t mind, but I will be using the photo for this piece (which I’ve saved off as ‘good news anthony’) as my desktop background. Here’s to a speedy recovery and many, many happy years in each other’s company.
All the best to your both….. and speedy recovery!
On a selfish note, I am happy that this place is not losing steam!
I (as an Englishman) once heard an American say this to me and couldn’t understand the context. Now I think I do (and I shall snip it myself):
‘F*ckin’ A man!’
KBO.
Been there, done that…Sister in Law and also a dear choir member/friend of 20 years.
In the case of the Sister in Law, one of the first 4 graduates in Chemistry from a small college in IL in the ’60’s with my Brother became an MD. Then 12 years ago, when my SisinLaw was struggling with the decision(s), my Brother’s friend and fellow graduate of 30 years plus before, drove to a major metro from his country practice (about 300 miles away) and paid a visit. Let’s just say decisions were about equivalent to your wife? Result: Cancer free for the last 12 years.
My Sis in law? Two sisters. SAME THING. And one “delayed” and didn’t do the right things. She had a ROUGH GO.
SO I read what happened with you too folks, and I say: BRAVO ANTHONY AND HIS WIFE DID IT RIGHT!
And you can BET I have a pretty good understanding of the “emotional stress”.
Now: GET BACK TO WORK ANTHONY, the WORLD IS COUNTING ON YOU! (No Pressure!)
What a wonderful result! This is, indeed, great news. I hope her recovery is speedy and without complication.
And Mr. Watts, if you are around Palo Alto again any time soon, drop a note if you would like some company, it would be great to have coffee. I drive past Stanford Medical Center every day and work within “lunch” range of there.
Wonderful, wonderful news. Know the family team will be there for the physical therapy/recovery as well. The loving support counts as much as the skillful doctors.
Best wishes to you and your wife. Have s speedy recovery!
Good news! Best wishes for a full recovery 🙂
It’s nice to see the compassion and empathy expressed. I believe that 1 in 5 women will face a similar diagnosis, so most likely everyone is affected by it in their families or circle of friends.
I give thanks that you and your wife and family are at this better place now. There are many realities ahead, emotionally and physically, requiring patience and adjustments for you folks. One is forever changed by this experience. So I continue to send out best wishes and prayer for you all.
We all rejoice. Perhaps, when recovery is well along, you and your bride might get away together and share some laughter and cuddles. I’m sure guest posters would be willing to take up some of the slack in order that you two could celebrate together.
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine …. -Proverbs 17:22 (KJV)
Anthony,
Great News! God bless you and your wife. Our prayers continue.
Like many others I had glistening eyes when I read your post, I ran to tell my wife the news. Silly 47 year old boy that I am.
She is as thrilled as I am about your wife, and just as saddened by the loss of your pet.
Thank you for thinking of all of us, and keeping us updated in your time of stress.
A speedy recovery to you both.
Roy (UK)
Good news. Best wishes for a good recovery.
Great to hear, Anthony!
Glad to hear it.
The best of luck to you and your spouse!
All the best to your entire family in the coming future. Happy to hear the good news.
Anthony,
Glad things worked out on it. Very glad they caught it in time. I have a cousin and sister in law that have gone through this, both successfully. Now if we can rid climate science of its cancer, we’ll be in really great shape.