Renal Cell Carcinoma

andreacha

How very sad to come back each day and see our community falling apart. I hate to admit that I can't see how we can keep this going. All of Greg's devotion gone. I pray that each and every one of us improves and are able to enjoy the time given us. God Bless.

Carool

I’ve been thinking the same thing, andreacha. Maybe it’s just a lull. It’s up to us to keep it going, I guess.

I look here at least once a day.

How’re you doing?

Teachertina

I also was wondering about this. Where is everyone? Is it just too sad to use the site without Greg? I hope that folks know to look under the questions tab for new posts. Since getting the vaccine I want to know how everyone is doing that got vaccinated, side effects, etc. I feel liberated from quarantine now! We had a family gathering last weekend and it felt so good to get to hug them all! We had 7 family members who got COVID and survived it, thank goodness! I encourage all to check with your oncologist about getting it. It’s an ugly virus and I don’t want you guys to go through that! We have enough to worry about already! Sending real hugs to you all!

Carool

Hi, Teachertina! It’s so good that your family was able to get together, and that everyone is now okay (I’m sorry some of your family members got the virus).

My partner and I got the Pfizer vaccines, and the two-week period has elapsed, so we’re good to go. Of course, we still must mask and observe the safety measures necessary even before we were vaccinated. He had no side effects, and I had maybe a very low fever, plus aches and a blissful ten-hour sleep with no interruptions even for bathroom needs!

Molly72

I hate to agree-- the site seems rather different, and not like it used to be.
Carool is correct, it's up to us to keep things going.

First shot was a month ago, no problem at all.
I get second vaccination shot tomorrow & will be quite relieved, as Michigan is in another surge
of cases.No doubt due to spring breakers coming home from Florida & other beach areas and coming back to schools. We still stay home & do not socialize, too dangerous.
Most of our state is good with masks & behaviors, but of course we have a bunch of bad boy type militia types who tried to kidnap our governor because she tried to keep our state safe from Covid. They are in jail now!
Politicizing health behaviors is beyond my understanding,
Stay safe.

Carool

Molly72, I’m glad they’re in jail.

And that you’re getting your second shot.

New York is also on the upswing with the virus. So I’m not feeling all that free, even with the vaccine. But definitely more at ease now.

MarcieB

Molly, I am getting my second shot tomorrow too. I have heard it is the second one that might give you trouble, but everyone is different so, we'll see.

I too, have been mourning the lack of communication on this site. I thought about starting a post called Tuesday Check-Up yesterday...because I always got my treatments and check-ups on Tuesdays. I thought it might be nice to at least have two days a week that we could gather and talk to each other? Tuesday Check-Up and Thankful Thursdays.I guess no one wants to take on the responsibility of being consistent?

Carool, I check the questions every morning too. I wonder if everyone else does? I think it would be worth knowing how many people look? I think we all kind of expected the new moderator to keep things going, but now I think the only thing he is doing is making sure we do not get spammed (which is a LOT!). If it is up to us to keep going, I think we need a plan. I am willing to take one day a week to post a question - even if it is only, "What's new, pussycats!" (lol) Seriously, I could take Tuesdays and if there is a week coming that I am unable to do it I can let everyone know.

Any thoughts?

PS - I am also glad those militant yahoos who tried to kidnap the governor are behind bars. No one needs that kind of scary behavior and it made our whole state look bad.

Molly72

Nice idea Marcie, it is comforting to have people to communicate with since many of us are somewhat isolated.
Some of us are still going thru all the cancer nasties, and some us us have completed & finished hopefully, with it, and some of us have started on a whole new set of health problems. But we wish to keep in touch with our old on-line friends on this site.

I will start checking in & give some "opinionated" thoughts and comments & I hope everyone else will too---we don't want some dull and boring site! We need some fun, especially after 2020.
Hope our 2nd shots tomorrow are not too bad.

Carool

MarcieB and Molly72, good luck with your vaccines.

andreacha, thank you for reviving this site. MarcieB, your idea is great. I can take Fridays, unless someone else wants to (I doubt we’ll have to fight over it, lol). If you do Tuesdays and I do Fridays, it’ll span the weeks. I’ll start this Friday, if that’s okay.

In Greg’s memory, and to help ourselves and others who join WH.

legaljen1969

If anyone else wants to add another day to the ongoing gathering and discussion, I am happy to "sponsor" a day. I need this forum to keep my sanity.

I have been trying to be quiet because, in general, I am not feeling all that positive lately. Two absolute meltdowns in the span of two calendar weeks is not all that encouraging. LOL

I miss the activity on the site as well. I do wish we were all more active. I think following Greg's journey was important to all of us and we all came here to check in on him and to wish him well. He was a great encourager. I know we all miss him.

I used to do what I called "earth angels" on my Facebook page. I can't do it right now because I am, once again, restricted from Facebook for opening my big mouth and posting something that went against the point of view of the Facebook Gods. So I suppose when I am unrestricted, I will be just reading OR I will be posting only puppies and rainbows.

Anyhow, the concept of "earth angels" was to point out people I knew who made a positive influence in my life. It was not for anything in particular. I just picked someone that I thought might need a little reminder of how they influence me- in big or small ways. It definitely helped me focus on the positive a lot more.

legaljen1969

@Teachertina, although I know it is a bit sad and different here without Greg- I have not felt it is too sad to use the site without him. I know we all process loss and grieve differently, but for the short time I got to know Greg on this site- I feel like that is exactly what he would NOT want- for everyone just to retreat and be sad for him. He was such a fighter. He got every ounce of life that he was supposed to get. He didn't go down without a fight. He tried treatment after treatment. He traveled miles upon miles. He loved everyone around him and encouraged others to do the same.
While I miss Greg's posts, encouragement, knowledge, and wisdom- I am a person of faith and believe Greg remains with us all as a guardian angel.
I know Greg knows we are all busy people and sometimes we don't always have the time to pop in and post, but I also think that allowing this site to vanish is exactly what Greg would NOT want to see. He grew this beautiful forum for us, and know he wants us to enjoy it. So, in that connection, I propose we all tell at least one thing Greg contributed to us. I will start.

Greg was the first person I knew other than my grandfather who had a laryngectomy. My grandfather never had the benefits of modern technology as he was born in 1895 and had his surgery sometime in the 1950's. He passed away in 1982 so he lived a good full life and basically just died of old age. I digressed about Greg so back on track. My grandfather had a fighting spirit much like Greg and I believe it helped both of them get every ounce of joy and experience out of their lives. There was nothing either of them would not have done to make the lives of those around them better. Reading about all of Greg's treatments and the advances in medicine was fascinating to me- to see how far things have come since my grandfather's time. My grandmother's greatest difficulty was the "quiet" in her home once my grandfather could no longer speak. It was like isolation for her in many ways and there was always a radio or TV on everywhere in the house. This past year has been hard and I think we have all experienced isolation on a level that most of us never thought we would have to endure. Greg's example taught me to trust the peace that comes with the silence. He taught me to trust that the silence does not mean no-one is there- but that maybe they are quiet in their quest to develop something powerful. Sometimes the quiet before the storm is good. That's my Greg tribute.

Carool

@legaljen1969, I agree that Greg wouldn’t want WN to go (nor would Donna). And I’m sorry you were put in what my Facebook friends call Facebook jail. And a few of them have also done time there. FB can be seemingly very arbitrary in their judicial decisions! I, too, am very outspoken there (politically, against what I see as injustice), but for some reason I’ve avoided being thrown in FB jail so far....

Anyway, getting back to your question regarding Greg: I really like what you said and your last few sentences about what Greg taught you. For me, his relentless resilience was amazing. Yes, people want to live, but many would’ve resigned themselves to dying, after so many internal threats against his life.

But what I also admire about Greg is his creativity. His furniture is beautiful and a testament to him, and I’m sure his music was, too. So I’ll say that my awareness of his ability to continue to be creative in the face of so much illness is one very meaningful gift he left me.

Thank you for starting this thread, legaljen. And I hope you’re soon freed from FB jail!

Molly72

Legaljen-
Well-behaved women rarely make history, or something like that.

legaljen1969

@Carool, I didn't start the thread. LOL But I am glad I started something that I hope more people will contribute toward keeping as a dialogue.

Carool

@legaljen1969, I meant the thread about what Greg did for each of us.

Teachertina

So good to see y’all back on this site! Love the sharing of what Greg taught us in his own way. For me it was his sense of humor even when things were rough. I try to not take everything so seriously now. He helped me realize that I can find or make something good happen for myself and others every day. Right now he’s bringing us back together, isn’t he?

MarcieB

Hi everyone, I am loving reading all of these memories and I am grateful to Carool and legaljen for being willing to help keep it going. Legaljen, I have an idea - how would you feel about being the weekly floater? (lol, I know that sounds weird...!) but, what if you took a random day of your choice every week to post a question, call for an opinion, tell us a story...all the things we have been doing? You could take Monday, Wednesday or Thursday and you could mix it up! I think people will check to see if you are posting that day. (fun!) And if there is a week coming when you won't be able to do it, just announce that? Look - it takes three of us to fill Greg's shoes...not surprising.

I would write more, but I just woke up from a *second vaccination nap.* I'm just a little out of focus right now, I should be good tomorrow.

Molly?!! I hope you are doing good?

legaljen1969

@MarcieB, I would be happy to be the "weekly floater." I have a feeling that since you said that sounds weird, you think the same thing as I do when I hear the word "floater." A little lonely refugee that refuses to go down without a fight in the porcelain whirlpool? LOL My husband tells me "You are always my favorite t**d, I s** you not."
Anyhow, I know that's not what are saying when you ask me to do the weekly floater thing. I will be happy to mix it up, and maybe do more than one day.
If anyone else wants to take a day, I am happy to share. Hey there is no reason we can't all have lively discussions.

On that note, does anyone else hear the Progressive insurance commercial with "Flo" and the pitch for "Flo-tection" and think she is advertising for the wrong product. I think there is another product that would use the humor of "flow-tection" in a much funnier way. Okay, I am a little twisted but..... Maybe it's just me.

Molly72

MarcieB-- We just had our shots at the Rite Aid in Pinckney-- no lines, no waiting, no pain & so far
no bad reaction. We had Moderna, and the druggist said there might be a reaction tomorrow.

legaljen1969

It is not easy to get vaccines here yet. I can't seem to get two appointments close together (One for myself and one for my husband- not a first and then a follow up). Our state went from the last phase at "55 and above" to "everyone over the age of 16." We may have to just our vaccines on different dates at different times. Appointments are about 3-4 weeks out right now and you have to snap on it really quick or the times are gone. I have tried 3-4 times and by the time I make myself an appointment and go to look for times for my husband, all of the slots are gone. Literally within 2-3 minutes. It is as bad as trying to get toilet paper now. You have to dash in, throw people to the sides and claim your slot. LOL

Molly72

It took me about 1 month of trying everywhere to get an appointment for the vaccine. Was on the computer at least 3 times a day looking for spots, and I am way over 65 and have several medical conditions.
Finally got ours in a drug store about 15 miles away, but we had different appointment times on the same day.
The second Moderna shot had after-effects, but nothing bad at all. Just fatigue. No big deal.

Carool

andreacha, how’ve you been? I so appreciate your starting the revival of WN by writing what you wrote.

faithfully58

I do check in ever now and then reading your memories of my precious Greg made my heart happy!I call him precious because this is the name my mother gave him.Little story.He was the only one who could get her to do anything or listen to.No matter what he did she called him precious His nickname for her was old bat so there you go Yes he would want you to carry on with this site.I think just the personal contact is what's missing.But just my opinion I have nothing to do with the site ..Greg made it what it was !So some big shoes to fill!He loved what he did on this site and the cancer cause! So yes carry on and much love to y'all yes that how we say it in Tennessee

legaljen1969

Donna. Thank you so much for popping in to say hello. As I said in my post to your wall, we think of you often and wish you well. If you ever want to share Greg stories or memories, please pop in and do so.

Carool

faithfully58, Donna, your “old bat” made me laugh (I just saw it today)!

I agree with legaljen that if you feel like talking more about Greg, we’ll love to hear more.

Sending you hugs.