battle?

 Norm Macdonald

last trip south...

Exit plan team member...

Found this article when I started investigating my options 2 months ago.  Finding any kind of care in remote areas is always tricky.  My PCP got the ball rolling after my appointment yesterday.  Spoke to my case worker Tiffany this morning and she is already on the job.  First hurdle to overcome was the dreaded "out of network" threat from my insurance company.  In just 4 hours she got BCBSTX to grant me an exemption so they will cover the nursing costs.

family...

Heading to an Airbnb in Alpine on Friday for a week.  I am overwhelmed by all the positive messages from my readers.  I never imagined that this blog would create an extended family that would offer such support in my time of need.  Thank you!

Back in Alpine...

Appointment with my PCP tomorrow to discuss hospice options.  Booked a couple of nights at The Antelope Lodge.  I stayed here this week 16 years ago right before I headed south to start building my TFL hut.

sweet...

Proverbs 3:24  When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 

on to a new adventure

Ever since the first CT scan found a tumor on my pancreas, I pretty much resigned myself to the fact that my time was up even though I had more tests to go through.  I tried hard not to get my hopes up because I know that pancreatic cancer is always death sentence.  My recent surgery on Friday confirmed what I have already come to accept.  The cancer is inoperable - stage 4.  I have been "getting my affairs in order" and I already made arrangements for Ben to be relocated to his new home and owners in a week.  I am opting out of meeting with an oncologist to discuss chemo and will be going straight into hospice care soon.  The blow of an early departure is softened by the fact that I retired and have been living life completely on my own terms for the past 15 years and won't be leaving a family behind.  While people die all the time, it's pretty hard to wrap my head around the fact that my turn is coming up.  My only fear about it is that I am undeserving of God's grace... 

50/50

In case things go wrong tomorrow...

thanks for following along with The Field Lab journey.

on countdown

 

Heading to Lubbock Wednesday.

Go under the knife Friday.

To be continued....

seek

Psalms 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 

So here's the scoop - for now.

They found a small malignant tumor on the tail of my pancreas.  

No evidence (so far) that it has metastasized.

I am scheduled for surgery back in Lubbock on December 1.

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Thanksgiving

Thankful for the time I've had...and the time that's left.

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back with my boy...

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search me

Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  

lake road

photo taken Wednesday by a neighbor...

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Back in the big bend...but

Still too muddy to make it all the way home - 

so camped at my friend's highway house north of TFL.

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Heading home tomorrow...

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Seasonal...

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Lots of tests...

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Scoped...

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