William Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Well, Bad news and Good news my marble collecting friends. After having a not so great voice for a while paired with a rather quick weight loss, I was diagnosed with throat cancer in March. After a throat scope, it was discovered that a tumor the size of a big gumball had grown off my larynx, almost completely blocking off my esophagus. It had "rolled" over my airway, making breathing very difficult as well as swallowing food. I underwent a procedure at the end of March where they "debulked" this mass, too allow a little more room for breathing and eating. During this procedure, I also received a tracheotomy, which I still have. After a week stay at the hospital, I came home with the news that they think they still caught it in time. Not only is there the tumor too deal with, but apparently the cancer has all but consumed my larynx/voice box. My next step. Gain as much weight back as I can. I normally weigh around 175-180, which has pretty much been the norm most of my life. Entering the hospital on the 28th of March, I checked in at 149 pounds. Ouch. I have been weighing myself every other day since April 9th and this morning I am back up to 159.8! Yay! Oh, I didn't mention that I have been fitted with a Gtube (feeding tube) in my stomach, the main reason for this of course was to assist in the nutrition category. I can still eat by mouth but am limited to basically soft easy to swallow foods. The big, life changing surgery is coming up the 26th, this Tuesday. The surgery will be an all day thing involving 2 surgeons. The first surgeon is going to be removing my larynx and all my lymph nodes in my neck on both sides. The second surgeon will be removing skin from my leg and grafting everything together in my throat as well as closing off my esophagus. Yep, a Laryngectomee. After this, I will be a patient at the hospital for about 2 weeks, give or take. Then, it's come home and heal up some more and gain weight back, again. After about 4 to 6 weeks, I will begin a month long chemotherapy treatment program just to clean up any microscopic cells that are left from the surgery itself. Good thing is, I get too live. Bad news is I lose my voice forever. I'm going to be ok with that, a small price too pay for life I say. I just thought I would share this journey that I am on with my friends here at MarbleConnection. It just feels good to simply talk about it. Thanks for reading and listening. I appreciate all of you 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad G. Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Prayers comin at ya Brother. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akroorka Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 3 hours ago, William said: Bad news is I lose my voice forever You will always have a voice here my friend. Keep up the good fight, you will be in our thoughts for sure. Thanks for sharing this with us. I look forward to your return to a healthy life. Marble--On!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peltier Mibber Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 My thoughts and we'll wishes are with you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph Posted April 24, 2022 Report Share Posted April 24, 2022 Wow. OMG. Such heavy news. What a great attitude you have. Prayers! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted April 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2022 22 hours ago, Chad G. said: Prayers comin at ya Brother. Appreciate All the prayers coming from your neck of the woods. If you attend services today, tell them I'm going in smiling 👍😊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted April 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2022 18 hours ago, akroorka said: You will always have a voice here my friend. Keep up the good fight, you will be in our thoughts for sure. Thanks for sharing this with us. I look forward to your return to a healthy life. Marble--On!! Logging on here became a part of my life, love this hobby! MarbleConnection does wonders for a person, that's why I'm gonna miss not posting any pics for a while after Tuesday! If we were to measure our voices with anything glass, I'd say it's pretty darn loud in here! 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted April 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2022 13 hours ago, Peltier Mibber said: My thoughts and we'll wishes are with you. Many thanks for your thoughts my Peltish friend 😁👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted April 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2022 9 hours ago, Steph said: Wow. OMG. Such heavy news. What a great attitude you have. Prayers! Some of you are familiar with my past and what I've had too deal with over the last maybe decade or so, not a stranger to Mr. C. If anything, facing this nasty disease with my loved ones in recent years has only made me harder. And frankly, I'm tired of being on the short end of the stick. I'm going to win in the name of the ones I lost. 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire1981 Posted April 24, 2022 Report Share Posted April 24, 2022 Stay strong William. I’ll be thinking of you during your battle. 🔥 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojo Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 My prayers are with you from the Netherlands 🙏🕯 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 Man.... .William ..F#!! Cancer . Kick its ass My thoughts are with you my marble friend .. And just repost your old pics you know we just like to look at some other mibs... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 Wow, this is some unsettling news. Hang in there and stay strong, William. I will be thinking about you and hoping for the best outcome possible! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted May 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2022 Good morning....just wanted to update my second family here at MarbleConnection. Survived the surgery! They safely removed all the cancer. I actually just transferred from the critical care unit last night to a "regular" room. Progress! Looking at maybe getting my last 2 drains removed today and tommorow. Then possible swallow study Wednesday to get me back to eating by mouth again. They might go in again later in the week to do a quick "clean up " of my trach area. Hopefully going home in a week or two. What a ride. Thanks for your prayers and support. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph Posted May 2, 2022 Report Share Posted May 2, 2022 Great news! Good luck on Wednesday! Get you some food! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted May 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2022 15 minutes ago, Steph said: Great news! Good luck on Wednesday! Get you some food! Yes indeed, this Ensure into the gut only is getting old quick 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad G. Posted May 2, 2022 Report Share Posted May 2, 2022 Great news William !!, good to hear from you, thanks for lettin us know how you're doin, be prayin for an even quicker recovery for ya Brother, soon to be eatin some solid food 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire1981 Posted May 3, 2022 Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 Good deal. It’s really good news to hear you are doing well 🔥 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted May 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 Thanks friends 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Posted May 3, 2022 Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 Awesome to see you posting my friend...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted May 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 A few pics that aren't "gruesome" 😬 My little fun corner that Patty keeps adding to....my current diet (at least I have 3 flavors), my view towards Minnesota across the Mississippi. 45 minutes through those hills is home!...then, a half way decent mug shot. Felt good to clean up some today! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akroorka Posted May 3, 2022 Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 2 hours ago, William said: a half way decent mug shot I have seen quite a few mug-shots--way too many. Yours is the best by far. Thumbs up for sure! Marble--On!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumblebee Posted May 3, 2022 Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 Glad to hear you're back on the mend! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad G. Posted May 3, 2022 Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 Lookin good Brother 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted May 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 More good news just a little while ago....I aced my swallow study! Out of 62 live images (of which I watched in motion) of me swallowing contrast (yuck), not a single little leak in the "flap" they put in last Tuesday. We have complete separation of the 2 "pipelines. Just what we wanted. Now awaiting diet changes. Hooray! Tomorrow they take me in too see up the stoma area a little bit and don't see any reason for me too stay here after tommorow! Fingers crossed but can anyone say HOME? Super excited! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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