Maybe next year

[darkcloud]

That CVA Mountain rifle given to me by my best friend who died of a stroke from renal failure in August was to be used to get a deer this year. That plan has been placed on a shelf quite high for now. Diagnosed with esophageal cancer all the test are in and it is in stage 3 at the verge of stage 4. I get both chemo and radiation treatments for 5 to 8 weeks then rest for several weeks then surgery to remove lower half of the esophagus and top 1/3 of the stomach. 2 weeks in the hospital for that then recovery from surgery for however long that may take. Feeding tube will be placed as the oncologist said the radiation is going to make my esophagus so irritated I won't be able to swallow. Be losing my hair and losing weight which I already am because of the difficulty in eating. All I can say is I am thankful for medicare and medicaid or I'd be a deadman walking. I lost all I had plus my archery business and shop and went bankrupt when I had my 1st 2 heart attacks. This is going to cost way more than a few cardiac stents. If anyone could post pics form BP hunts in the black powder section this year it sure would be nice to read and look at.It has been one hell of a rough ride the last 5-6 years. Got my spurs dug in deep and hope I can hang on for this ride. Going to be a tough one. Good luck to you all on your hunts this year, I'll be there in spirit! Blackcloud

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Prayers for you, brother.

HEY cut your hair off NOW. Go with the polished globe look NOW. Most of what's going to happen is only a bit in your control, a lot isn't at all in your control, take off your hair now, take full and complete control of a small bit of you, so you decide to take it off because YOU choose, not the meds, not the radiation..., you choose to do it. Sounds like something small, but for all my friends who had radiation and did it that way, took it off before any effects, it helped them. Some also got tattoos before any temporary immune system issues..., "Fuçķ Ċąņcer" was popular among them. Another guy lost his belly button in surgery..., had an actuall image of a cothing button tattoo'd in its place. A lady I knew had a partially open zipper tattoo'd over her scar after ovarian cancer surgery. Do something defiant!.

LD

 

[Armored farmer]

I will post pics if my bp adventures, and look forward to sharing them. That will be my gift to you.
My good friend had similar cancer. It was a struggle, but two years later he was skiing behind my boat again!
Best wishes, my prayers are with you.

 

[bannockburn]

darkcloud

Likewise my prayers go out to you and your family during this extremely trying time. Here's hoping (and praying), for a successful completion of all your treatments and a full recovery! Looking forward to hearing about your next hunt when you're finally up and about.

Take care my friend.

 

[paul harm]

Sounds like a rough go of it. Good luck - we're all praying you get better.

 

[denster]

Never give up!!! Almost 5 years ago I was stage 4 lung cancer with two months to live. Now I have no trace of cancer. Pay attention to what Dave said and take control of those things you can and don't worry about the things you can't control. Read Philippians 4:6 that passage got me through. Best of luck and God bless you.

 

[cheygriz]

Prayers for you. Hang in there.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I wish you the best, but know that you are getting ready to go down a very rough road. I hated my feeding tube, I had one for 17 months. Be sure that the put a good cap on the end that won’t leak easy. I’ve been cancer free for 12 years now. Not bad for someone that was looking at six months if now doing treatments.
Remember to find something to laugh about every day. Stay positive even on the days you want to just give up because the good Lord will be there to hold your hand.

 

[Patocazador]

My brother was diagnosed with stage 4 pharyngeal cancer about 8 years ago. He never smoked but was a fireman in Chicago. He went through all of tubes, chemo, radiation, etc. and recovered. He doesn't hunt but he is back golfing and traveling. He just got back from Ireland.
Surprisingly, almost everyone I know about who had throat, pharyngeal, and esophageal cancer survived. Michael Douglas, the actor, George Karl, the pro basketball coach and other less well-known individuals.

Be prepared for a fight but look forward to a good outcome. I am a 6-year survivor of melanoma. Live life, don't dread death.
Start out by changing your moniker from Dark Cloud to something like Bright Sky.

 

[darkcloud]

I will post pics if my bp adventures, and look forward to sharing them. That will be my gift to you.
My good friend had similar cancer. It was a struggle, but two years later he was skiing behind my boat again!
Best wishes, my prayers are with you.

Thanks man. It has been 7 years since I hunted with BP. Gave my rifle I made to my son. I really wanted to honor my friend and get a deer with his rifle this year. As my dad told me multiple times "What you want and what you get are going to be two different things."

 

[ThomasT]

My dad had lung cancer and was given 6 months to live. But he went through radiation and they cured his cancer. His came from smoking. He lived for 7 more years. One day after he was cured I went by his house and there he sat at the kitchen table. Oxygen tube in his nose and smoking a $#@&ing cigarette. I was so mad at him. But he was proof this can be beat.

My wife also had breast cancer. She went through 8 chemo treatments and a double mascectomy. Five + years later she is cancer free and doing just fine. She feels better than I do. I barely have diabetes that is controlled with pills and most of the time I still don't feel too perky. But I'm here.

My hopes are that you beat this. My heart goes out to you more than I can say. Best wishes and if I get out and hunt and get a deer I will post some pictures for you.

 

[arcticap]

darkcloud, Get well soon. Good luck and God Bless.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Good speed on a complete recovery

 

[maint1517]

darkcloud,we will keep you in our prayers. And not only will I post pictures of my successful hunts for you. But know that you will be in my thoughts during every hunt this year.
Stay strong my friend.

 

[Brad_Bradsher]

Good luck, Darkcloud. Stay tough. A lot of THR regulars are thinking about you. I don't hunt anymore, don't even have a rifle, but I might take the Walker out with Olde Eynsford and some of Slim's flat point huge lube groove .44 boolets and try to pop a NC whitetail for you! Keep us posted.