What follows right here is one thing that I’ve stored below wraps for the final six months. I did not need to say something about it by design. I waited till this level the place I’ve a strong, if not 100% thought, of what is taking place. Thanks in your love, curiosity, and concern!
Again in late October I had one thing occurring in my digestive system that simply wasn’t proper. I went to see my main doctor, Dr.Wagstaff. He examined me and set me up for an MRI at Key West Pressing Care. When the outcomes got here again the outlook was not significantly encouraging.
There was a development on the tip of my colon and I used to be arrange with a surgical procedure date with Dr. Flanagan., a surgeon primarily based right here in Key West. He felt it might be good if I spent Thanksgiving at dwelling having fun with the vacation and the surgical procedure would observe the next Monday. I although that was an awesome thought and thanked him.
Regretfully, my physique thought in any other case and I discovered myself on my knees in ache the Friday after Thanksgiving. Who knew? Dr. Flanagan did the surgical procedure the following day, on Saturday.
This all came about at Decrease Keys Medical Heart. I would wish to take the chance to say that everybody there , in addition to everybody concerned from the start when this all began, Dr. Wagstaff, Dr Flanagan, their staffs, and the Decrease Keys Medical Heart had been first charge, high notch. Via out, they took nice care of me, so thanks to all!!!
I used to be within the hospital till Wednesday. The outcomes got here again from the biopsy on what they lower out of my colon. Most cancers was the prognosis. On the flip facet, my colon was now most cancers free (Thanks Dr. Flanagan!)! As well as, there have been two cancerous lesions on my liver. In addition they mentioned there was one other lesion on my kidney, nevertheless, relating to the kidney, not one of the docs appeared all that involved about. Neither the lesions on my kidney or my liver had been focussed on at this level. They needed a most cancers specialist physician concerned.
Once I was launched from the hospital the next Wednesday, I jumped proper again into the motive force’s seat. The docs informed me I might play, however to not carry something over ten kilos. Happily, Dani was accustomed to lifting the gear. As well as, we’ve an 8 yr previous Bose L1, that kicks butt, sounds fabulous, and weighs solely 35 lbs!
So, all the pieces was just about again to regular! We had been again to being a duo in any respect of our Shanty Hounds gigs.
Per week and a half later we had been taking part in a sundown sail gig and it was on the closing levels. All if the songs at this level had been upbeat and pedal to the metallic. Nicely, after we bought to the dock, I used to be having chest pains. After an ambulance bought me to the hospital, they decided that I used to be having a hart assault. Later, I discovered this was not the case, nevertheless in the meanwhile it wasn’t up for debate. They had been taking the protected route, which I recognize.
I informed Dani I liked her with all my coronary heart and I at all times would love her. I made a fast doc stating that every one my earthly belongings had been hers, then they gave me an injection that I needed to signal for which thinned my blood. They threw my ass on a helicopter, which I bled throughout, and flew me to Mt. Sinai, in Miami Seaside. Critically, I wasn’t positive if I would make it? About 3/4 of the way in which there the ache in my chest was gone, because of blood thinner. At that time I knew I would reside to see the morning dawn. Earlier than that, I had my doubts and I used to be praying for Dani, within the occasion it was my closing voyage.
Whereas on that flight, questioning if I would make it, I started to consider my family and friends. I noticed that I’ve had probably the most lucky life that I might ever ask for!
I used to be adopted at delivery by my mother and father, Robert and Lillian Rehm, plus, that got here with an older sister too, Patty! This was probably the most fantastic household I might ever ask for! My mother and father had been nothing wanting superb! Patty, 5 years my senior, launched me to all types of unimaginable music and whereas she wasn’t a musician, that love of music she instilled in me, was motivation for me to learn to play the guitar. This was facilitated by my cousin Bryan Granelli, who lived a few homes away and gave me my first guitar on a whim, and taught me my first chords, A, E, C, and D. Thanks Bryan, thanks Patty! Thanks Mother and Dad!
Then there are my buddies! From day one I’ve been blessed with the best buddies, in all levels of my life! How did I get this? I have never a clue, nevertheless, I am so grateful!
My buddy Vintz and I am going again to the playpen. Of my shut group of buddies that I had rising up, from 0 – 20 years previous, I might name any one in every of them proper now… and there are a few them I have never talked to in 40 years, however our dialog can be like we talked yesterday. My childhood buddy, Tim Garrity, spent every week visiting in February. I’ve identified Tim since I used to be two. My buddy since 4th grade, Kerry “Gonzo” Dwyer and I chat through textual content a number of occasions every week. He had a band that I joined in eighth grade. the primary band I used to be in!
My buddies from once I lived in Miami and within the music scene there, which I stumbled into completely by probability, are as near me as my buddies rising up! My buddies Bruce and Gloria Turkel truly drove me dwelling from Miami twice, on points that left me stranded in Miami!
The identical is true with the completely unimaginable buddies I’ve met right here in Key West over my fifteen years right here. Many reside right here, many trip right here. Like my buddies rising up, and like my buddies from Miami, all of those individuals are absolutely the most superb, loving, giving individuals one might solely dream about having of their lives and to have them in my life is an honor, past perception. I like all of them!
I have been married twice. My first spouse, Mercy and I are on glorious phrases! We have talked about it greater than as soon as and regardless that we’re not married, we each think about ourselves household. I have never seen her because the early 90’s, however it might be nice to see her once more and meet her husband, who looks like an awesome man.
My second spouse, Gigi, lives in Colorado and we get alongside high-quality.
Dani Hoy and I should not married, however we would as effectively be. She is nothing wanting superb! Not solely will we share our private life collectively, however we additionally share our skilled careers collectively. We have been doing it for 9 years, so by some means it really works out! I have been informed that what we’re doing is unimaginable, however what the heck? We’re doing it!
I am by no means hesitant on saying “I like Dani Hoy!”.
Once more, I have been so lucky!!!
The one I suppose I actually need to thank is my delivery mom. I’ve realized an excellent deal about her in the previous couple of years. Let’s simply say that life along with her would have been akin to being in a crashing automobile going 120 mph with out seatbelts. Thanks Theresa Hanley for giving me this unimaginable life that I’ve!
So, well being smart, December was a regroup month, at the least a part of it. I began again taking part in music in early December, having been out of motion for every week.
Critically, I haven’t got time for this well being shit. I’ve an excessive amount of to do!
I play music, write books, write songs (I am at the moment revealed not with one however with two completely different music publishers, one in Nashville abs the opposite in London, England.) Plus, I am taking part in over 300 gigs a yr.
Like I say, I haven’t got time to cope with this. I’ve different work to do and it is work I am obsessed with!
On the flip facet, prefer it or not, I’ve to cope with it.
In January I began Chemo remedy as Genesis right here in Key West. My physician there may be Dr. Sas, whom I’m very snug with and the employees there are all fabulous!
On Chemo, you may’t drink something chilly. It truly hurts! You can also’t decide up something chilly. Identical as ingesting one thing chilly. Overlook beer, or rum, or something alcohol. I have been informed you could get actually sick in the event you combine the 2. I’ve sufficient points with out complicating issues additional by getting sick. Moreover, I am very lucky relating to alcohol. Through the years I’ve drunk greater than my share. I am truly an authority on beer and have been for over forty years, each in books and the pallet.
I even have hosted a beer video weblog. Nonetheless, with all that behind me, I’ve by no means been depending on alcohol. I might cease at any time when I needed with none antagonistic response, or any craving. So after they informed me I could not drink, it was not a problem in any respect. My chemo would begin on a Monday on the clinic and run for about two to 3 hours. Once I left, they hooked me up with a pump that went below my shirt and I would have that for 48 hours. For the following week and a half, I used to be not receiving any chemo, although it stayed in my system. Throughout my time “off” they informed me I might have a beer as soon as each different day. Between the start of January and the tip of March, I believe I had two beers.
As I discussed, chemo has odd results on one’s style buds. I did discover it fascinating that that alcohol usually, be it beer, wine, or spirits, had no attraction for me in any respect whereas I used to be on chemo.
I used to be taken off chemo firstly of March, having executed 6 or 7 remedies, as they needed me to presumably have one other surgical procedure. At that time, the chief surgeon at Mt. Sinai, Dr. Hochwald, mentioned that they might do one other MRI and both “lower them out, or burn them out” I used to be good with both and I favored Dr. Hochwald from the beginning.
I had the appointment final Wednesday up at Mt. Sinai for the MRI. It went with out incident.
This was adopted up a few hours later with a session with Dr. Hochwald.
“We do not see something there. The Chemo appears to have executed what we needed” Acknowledged Dr. Hochwald.
The most cancers is gone. Nonetheless, that does not imply it will not come again, in due time. The docs will all examine notes and give you a plan. It could be surgical procedure, it could be extra chemo, it could be each, it may be getting checked each few months. We’ll see what they decide is the most effective path to observe.
No matter they counsel, I am good with.
So far as The Shanty Hounds go, we had been “The Strolling Wounded”. Dani had her shoulder and neck points, which she had surgical procedure for, whereas I had the aforementioned issues. However damnit, we bought all the pieces executed! All labored out fairly effectively. Once I was laid up, Dani was there to cowl me, and whereas Dani was down, I used to be capable of cowl the gigs. Now we have rather a lot to be pleased about! It was nostril to the grindstone, so to talk. Nonetheless, whereas I say “Nostril to the grindstone”, what we do is not actually work, is it? We, actually “play” for a residing.
Subsequent week I am going to hear from the docs and see what the following transfer will probably be. I am going to put up that as a remark right here on the weblog. If you would like a notification, the weblog ought to inform you once I reply, offering you’re subscribed.
In the meantime, I am going to proceed writing music, writing books, being revealed musically in Nashville and London U.Okay.
Thanks all in your love and help!
Chris
RE: Help! Learn beneath! Thanks prematurely!
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