I'm home...

But still feeling very very shaky and weak. Don't have the time or energy to go through all your lovely posts, but will when I'm feeling better. For now, I'll post what I dictated to my sis from the hospital for Christmas letters.

~~

December 2006

Dear Family & Friends,

Greetings from Room 620 at Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto in Southaven, MS. I hadn’t planned to spend most of this month in the hospital, and it sure doesn’t seem to fit with anyone’s “Christmas plans.” But God’s plans don’t always match ours, and “here” is where I’ve been for 24 of the past 26 days. The chemo I’ve been on has caused nerve damage to my bladder and colon, both of which have pretty much shut down. Plus, I seem to have picked up overall weakness throughout the body, which has made it difficult to be up and move around. I’m getting slowly stronger and may be able to go home as soon as Christmas Eve (tomorrow) or Christmas Day, which at this point would a Christmas present enough.

One other major Christmas present this year – my sister Carol has dropped all of her plans and come in to help me. It’s truly been a Godsend. She arrived December 12 and will be with me until January 2. She’s been doing everything possible to get my home ready for my return while I’m still on limited physical capabilities – plus handling a lot of legal/paperwork/insurance issues for me. Oftentimes the best Christmas presents don’t come with fancy wrapping and bows.

The doctor is hopeful that I’ll be able to recover from the nerve damage and return back to work and a more normal life, although it may take a while and I’m now on short-term disability.

The doctor is also looking for a new treatment for the cancer since the one I was on obviously cannot be continued.

Both repair of the nerve damage and a “cure” for the cancer are strictly in God’s hands. Those would both be great belated Christmas presents this year.

As for the first part of the year, some memories stand out as being much more pleasant. I managed to reconnect with my son Aaron and his wife Niki. I had a lovely visit with my sister Easter weekend, with my cousin Paul Hendershott not too long after that, and with Aaron and Niki Father’s Day weekend. I was able to spend Thanksgiving week with Carol and my parents in California.

A couple more things to be thankful for are my good neighbors the Smiths who’ve been unbelievably supportive and helpful all year and the fact that I’ve been able to work all year until after Thanksgiving.

I think I’ll concentrate more on the positive things this year.

I hope all your holiday seasons are blessed and joyous with as many positive memories as I have had this year.

God bless you all,

Gary Taylor
(dictated to & transcribed by Carol)

 

It is great to have you back G.T.

I guess you can tell we missed you. I got all emotional reading the letter. I will hope, wish, and pray that you can beat this thing.

I know being home helps some. Take care my friend.

Steve

 

Merry Christmas and my family wishes you well. It's good to hear that you are doing better and that you may be home soon.

God bless you, Gary.

-Jim

 

Gary, you're at home and that is great news in and of itself. Enjoy your Christmas and may you be blessed.

 

It's great to see you posting again. You've got my full support, I hope things get better for you soon.

 

Glad to see you GT. I hope you can feel as good as you made me feel back in the day.
Merry Christmas, bestest wishes
Jaza

 

Merry Christmas Gary, glad your on the recovery road at last, thats the best Christmas Gift you could have given us. Rest, Relax and get better bro

 

That is an awesome Christmas present GT. Sounds like you are on the way back. Will keep the good thoughts adn prayers coming your way!!

Happy Holidays!! May you have a wonderful time, no matter what you celebrate.


~C

 

Thank God!!! Glad to hear you're home for Christmas. Healing will take time so just take it easy and relax. I'm so happy for you.

 

Glad you made it home for Christmas guy. It gets better from there.

 

Great news, G.T. Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The very best Christmas wishes for you and your sister! I hope you have a wonderful time with your sister, and that you pick up strength fast! Very good to know you are not in hospital anymore!

 

It's wonderful that you are finally home. As are so many here, we continue to hope and pray your health improves. And I'm sure I speak for all when I say if you need anything, just ask. Without a doubt, you are one of the most respected members of this board, and nothing would make all of us happier than to see you able to visit on a daily basis again. Get well soon and God Bless.

 

It is so great to hear that you are home Gary Your sister sounds an incredible lady, and I wish you, her and all your family a wonderful Christmas. God bless.

Lisa xxx

 

Awesome news to hear you are home. My prayers are with you and your family. Hope to see more posts from you in the new year. Stay strong in knowing the Lord is with you.

 

Gary, I am so happy to hear you are home and continuing to get stronger each day. You pass through my thoughts many times during the day. Continued prayers and best wishes for you and all your family.

 

We are so glad to see you home for Christmas.
God bless Carol for taking care of you so well.
Our prayers going out to you and yours always.
Merry Chrismas Gary.

 

Mankind just spoke for me too. Welcome Home G.T. That's the ONLY place to spend Christmas.

Jack

 

Home for Christmas.

Glad that you're free.

 

Glad to see you back home Gary. Merry Christmas to you.

 

Great news, G.T., have a great festive season. Bazza

 

WELCOME HOME

 

There's no Place like Home!

Merry Christmas

 

Great to here from you Gary, that's a cool Christmas present.

 

Hey Gary. Hearing that you are at least on the mend and home for Christmas is one of the best 'presents' I've ever had!

We do all, indeed, have a lot of blessings to be grateful for, despite life's obvious downturns. One cannot have a greater blessing or gift than being surrounded by a loving family and friends. I too, look forward to a much more positive year ahead, and reunification with separated family members.

Gary, I have thought and prayed about you and your predicament many times in recent weeks. So good to see a light at the end of the long passageway, although it will not be an easy journey.

Thinking good thoughts of you, and God's blessings always.


Kind Regards, Barry.

 

I'm glad to hear you're home G.T. I hope you continue to improve.
Having family around is all important.

All the best for the New Year, mate. Keep getting better...

 

Gary I knew you would make it home my friend. Reading your post brought a tear of excitement to my eye. Not much else I can say that hasn't already been said. You have been on my mind quite a bit lately and im very glad to see you are home.

Merry Christmas Gary!

Randy

 

Nice to have ye back!

 

Glad to hear you're making it home for Christmas, Gary. I was away for a few days, so it's a nice surprise to come back and read this thread. I don't know if you've "read up" on what's been going on here, but don't miss Kodo's thread about babies. Good luck and Merry Christmas to you.

 

Thanks all. Strength is down to the point where I need a walker to get around th house, getting OUT of the house hasn't happened yet. If I lose any more we're looking at a full-time nursing center, as I won't even be able to get up & down by myself.

Pain level is up, so stronger meds, to the point where dizzy and focus are issues.

Combination of strength and endurance currently require somebody here all the time just for simple things like cooking, laundry, walking down the driveway, etc.

My sis has to go home tuesday, and current plans are for my Dad to come out Monday and stay for a while.

Unless there's a truly miraculous upturn, the best option for me may be to fly out and stay with them for a while, IF I can get strong enough to travel. Currently I'm not.

And none of that addresses dealing with nerve damage to colon and bladder that have totally shut down the bladder, requiring self-cathererization 3 or 4 times a day (NOT FUN!), or the constant struggle with massive constipation due to the nerve damage on that side, or the next round of cancer treatment, likely radiation (infusion of a radioactive isotope attracted to the cancer cells, that should drastically reduce pain levels, but can cause further weakening of the body for a few weeks. Can't handle any weaker right now.

Definitely continue with the thoughts and prayers. I really need 'em.

 

Hi Gary,

We made an offer a while back of Abby coming up to help; the offer still stands. Just let us know.

 

Hi Gary. Was so good to see you were online. Don't bother answering my private Message. I got my answers here.
My thoughts and prayers have definetely been with you and will continue to. Get the rest you need...
You've come a long way, and still have much to go, but we all know how strong of a person you are.
Take care

 

I cant say I know the pain, but , by all these posts, you have much happiness surrounding you here...
In case you missed and you read this again very soon....
Here!
from all of us
http://www.moosegal.com/gary_t.html
Subtract the hospital part....
No talk about bad things! Just get Better!!
I'm totally serious!
Merry holidays, And a wonderfull Better year
many salutes
Jaza

 

I am so sorry to hear of your misery. Not being able to do for yourself is frustrating for sure. Your pain and weakness, we all feel. All most of us can do is keep on with the prayers, what a kind and wonderful gesture from Abby and Star17. Be strong, God Bless. Anything anyone could do to make your recovery easier I'm sure they would. As for me, it would be - drag Gary, cough, cough.

 

Hang in, as you can see we are all thinking and praying for you.

 

Gary, I am of course, continuing to pray for you improving strength and recovery. I think of you often, and I have a heavy heart in your struggle with health issues. I am, however, heartened by your positive outlook and mental and spiritual strengths in life.

It will be a long and difficult road to recovery, but surrounded by your loved ones and the strength from above and within will make all the difference.

You know we go back a few years now, and shared a lot of ups and downs in life. I am hoping and praying that this will be another 'down time' in life that we can work through.

I'll be in touch soon, my friend, and I'll take this opportunity of thanking you for you friendship, support, and often, inspiration throughout the past four years or so.


Kind regards and prayers always, Barry.

 

GT, I am glad to hear you are home, but am saddened to hear that you aren’t feeling very well.

Keep faith and keep fighting. There are a lot of people out there pulling for you!

 

So sorry to hear you have it so rough! Sending all positive thoughts your way!

 

All the words we say here, can not cure you Gary, as you well know. However hopefully it will give you the mental strength and the reassurance that there are ALL of us simply wishing for that miracle that will bring our Gary back and ease his pain. It is the season of miracles and peace and may just one of them touch you now. Love you Bro

 

I'm sorry to have missed this thread, I seemed to have missed a lot of others recently too.

However, a belated Happy Christmas, Peaceful New Year, and I hope things continue to improve for you. To have come so far is excellent news and I'm pleased that you're home and can take it easy for the New Year

 

Gary, we all hope you have a happier and healthier New Year.

 

I do remember, and we need to talk. Will try to call you soon.

 

I'd missed that. Thanks Jaza.

 

Gary, be expecting a P.M. from me in the very near future. Everything is still pretty crazy this end at this time of year, and things are still a bit of a struggle, t.b.h., but can't compare with yours, of course. When I send it, I want to do it properly.

Talk to you soon. Take care, and stay strong, as I know you will.