We have less than two weeks til the big day....
And I want every one to picture this.
My brother.
In a tiny pair of running shorts.
Wristbands.
And a sweatband around his forehead.
Running marathons.
Well....maybe that's a pipe dream, but it creates a pretty funny mental image.
Either way...good stuff ahead. I just know it! Keep that positive energy flowin'.....
It's all good in the hood!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Testing 1,2,3...All systems a GO! Corey's getting pruned.
Corey has been going through many tests leading up to his surgery which as you know will happen on May 7th.
Most recently he underwent a VQ Scan. (Pulmonary Ventilation/Perfusion Scan) This test was done specifically to see if it was really necessary to get his lung removed. Basically, they wanted to see if his lung was really in as bad of shape as we all thought it was.
The results were an astounding YES....it was THAT BAD.
To give you some idea of what the test entails...Albumin is injected into the veins and the lungs are scanned to detect the location of the radioactive particles as blood flows through the lungs.
This test is done to measure how much blood and air flow the lungs are receiving.
And basically, his left lung, in a nutshell is receiving none. No air. No blood.
Without going into great detail, we can sum it up by saying his left lung is dead. A big giant dead collapsed lung that has no ability to hold air and receives no blood flow, yet his body, is trying desperately to keep this lung alive, thus taking all of his energy from him...and from his healthy right lung. Not only that, it's filled with fluid, and infection. He has walking pneumonia...and truth is, he has no idea what it feels like to NOT have walking pneumonia.
Solution. Get rid of it. Immediately if not sooner.
If you can think of it in terms of a rosebush. You prune a rosebush by cutting off the dead leaves and flowers so that the live flowers can flourish. If you don't do this, the bush will waste it's energy trying to keep the dead leaves and flowers alive, thus killing the entire bush in the end. If you get rid of the bad parts, the good parts will live a long, healthy and beautiful life. But they have to be well taken care of. It's the same concept with the human body...it's the same concept with Corey's two lungs.
Corey needs to be pruned.
(But, hey....chew on this......He also had a Stress Test, and even with everything his body has been through and all of the extra work his heart has had to do to keep his blood flowing, his heart is testing as a perfectly healthy 30 year old man! Imagine!!!!)
Most recently he underwent a VQ Scan. (Pulmonary Ventilation/Perfusion Scan) This test was done specifically to see if it was really necessary to get his lung removed. Basically, they wanted to see if his lung was really in as bad of shape as we all thought it was.
The results were an astounding YES....it was THAT BAD.
To give you some idea of what the test entails...Albumin is injected into the veins and the lungs are scanned to detect the location of the radioactive particles as blood flows through the lungs.
This test is done to measure how much blood and air flow the lungs are receiving.
And basically, his left lung, in a nutshell is receiving none. No air. No blood.
Without going into great detail, we can sum it up by saying his left lung is dead. A big giant dead collapsed lung that has no ability to hold air and receives no blood flow, yet his body, is trying desperately to keep this lung alive, thus taking all of his energy from him...and from his healthy right lung. Not only that, it's filled with fluid, and infection. He has walking pneumonia...and truth is, he has no idea what it feels like to NOT have walking pneumonia.
Solution. Get rid of it. Immediately if not sooner.
If you can think of it in terms of a rosebush. You prune a rosebush by cutting off the dead leaves and flowers so that the live flowers can flourish. If you don't do this, the bush will waste it's energy trying to keep the dead leaves and flowers alive, thus killing the entire bush in the end. If you get rid of the bad parts, the good parts will live a long, healthy and beautiful life. But they have to be well taken care of. It's the same concept with the human body...it's the same concept with Corey's two lungs.
Corey needs to be pruned.
(But, hey....chew on this......He also had a Stress Test, and even with everything his body has been through and all of the extra work his heart has had to do to keep his blood flowing, his heart is testing as a perfectly healthy 30 year old man! Imagine!!!!)
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Pay It Forward!!!!
Most of you know that Corey developed Cancer (Non-Hodgekin's Lymphoma) at age 19. His cancer was discovered after he developed a lump the size of a softball on the side of his neck. It was found that it was not only in his neck, but in his spleen too. He had surgery to remove 90% of his lymph nodes in his neck, and a complete removal of his spleen, followed by 6 months of Chemotherapy.
Thankfully he beat cancer but his doctors now believe that the cancer is what exacerbated his already slow developing Bronchiectasis (hence his upcoming lung removal), which they are actually tying waaaayyyy back to his horrible bout with Chicken Pox as a young boy.
Where am I going with this you ask?
I wanted to give you his background on cancer, and his ability to beat it, because right now we have a chance to Pay it Forward.
A childhood friend of ours, Jared Fox, will be participating in the Team in Training 100 Mile Bike Ride for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. Jared will be riding in honor of Parker Vernon who was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 1 has been fighting this battle for the past two years. Thankfully, he has been fighting it with some success, thanks to the support of his friends and family and events such as this. Please take the time to visit Jared's fundraiser page, and donate what you can. Every little bit helps.
Parker is probably too young to fully realize how much support he has, but he can feel it. I truly believe in strength in numbers, the power of the mind, healing vibes, positive thought and energy....if you are unable to donate to the cause, please send out a healing thought, say a prayer, or light a candle at your local church in honor of Parker. Trust me. It matters.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE IN HONOR OF PARKER
Thankfully he beat cancer but his doctors now believe that the cancer is what exacerbated his already slow developing Bronchiectasis (hence his upcoming lung removal), which they are actually tying waaaayyyy back to his horrible bout with Chicken Pox as a young boy.
Where am I going with this you ask?
I wanted to give you his background on cancer, and his ability to beat it, because right now we have a chance to Pay it Forward.
A childhood friend of ours, Jared Fox, will be participating in the Team in Training 100 Mile Bike Ride for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. Jared will be riding in honor of Parker Vernon who was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 1 has been fighting this battle for the past two years. Thankfully, he has been fighting it with some success, thanks to the support of his friends and family and events such as this. Please take the time to visit Jared's fundraiser page, and donate what you can. Every little bit helps.
Parker is probably too young to fully realize how much support he has, but he can feel it. I truly believe in strength in numbers, the power of the mind, healing vibes, positive thought and energy....if you are unable to donate to the cause, please send out a healing thought, say a prayer, or light a candle at your local church in honor of Parker. Trust me. It matters.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE IN HONOR OF PARKER
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