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Real Name: Steve E. Swenson Address: PO Bin 440 Bakersfield, Ca 93302 Cell: (395)736-7 Gender: male Date of Birth: January 03, 1949 Member Since: March 17, 2006 Last Signed In: September 30, 2009 Profile Views: 10866 Blog Views: 14986 Didn't catch any fish and Lopez Lake, but lots of fun anyway I feel oppressed, and out $33 Eating a burger in the shadow of Michelle Obama A must watch and pass on Lovey dovey on my patio Mexico trip rerouted to California -- oh yippee, skippy Met up today with an old cancer buddy The governator wants to tax golf???????? Took my love to Red Rock Canyon Ending fish plants in the Kern River???? June 06 July 06 August 06 September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 
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Mary, Nurse Barbie and the Biopsy
Brief recap: On Sept. 1, my physician's assistant said a lump on my neck was cancer. I decided to blog about it as a humor relief. There's no indication it's anything to overly worry about, but it is kind of an elephant in the room. This is the second blog about the journey. Today (Wednesday) I had a biopsy at the Millennium Center on Stockdale Highway to find out exactly what I have. I'll find out on Monday. My physician's assistant believes I have a tonsil cancer, and that it spread to the nearest lymph node in my neck where it became a lump. Thus, one of my golfing buddies gave me the new nickname of Lumpy. This might be a totally funny experience, except that my wife, Mary, is a worrier. She works for an insurance company and is paid to think about worst case scenarios. In a quiet moment, she tends to cry about this lump. I cry with her. The deal is that any form of cancer makes you think about your life, whether you've accomplished what you want and whether your ready to go. I have thought about it and I am ready. Except for Mary. I'm not ready to leave her. In the last two years since I met her, my happiness shot way up on the wonderful chart. I want spend a lot more years with Mary. She is the delight of my life. Though she's a worrier. She wants to come to all my doctor's appointments. I've discouraged that. My sister, Mary Jo, told me I was an idiot and to let Mary do that caring thing she does about better than anyone. So I have officially caved in on that. I was going to get drugged up today and I had to have someone to be there with me today. I was thinking of hiring out a woman for $20, but Mary came for free.It was a much better deal. Two days ago, I had some pre-op work done. They gave me an EKG. Some squiggly lines prove I have a heart. That's always good to know. After I got into one of those gowns, paper booties and a surgical hat that makes all men look goofy, I sat down and chatted with Nurse Barbie. Her job was to put a sugar water IV in my left arm right about where my watch has left an obvious tanning line. I leave the watch on when I play golf. Barbie is a golfer too. I wanted to know if I could play my regular Thursday afternoon golf game. She said the drugs the anesthesiologist would give me would wear off by then. Nurse Barbie suggested my buddies give me one or two strokes. Not sure if my buddies will buy into that, but Nurse Barbie seemed an authoritative source to me. Dr. Satya Arya went though my mouth (it's okay, he's an ear, nose and throat guy so he's familiar with the territory) and carved out a couple pieces of the lump. Then I woke up an hour later and they brought in Mary. She rubbed my feet, which was cute and nice, but I'm not sure how that was attacking the cancer problem. It made me laugh. And when I was wheeled to the back door as Mary drove to the front door to pick me up, that made me laugh too. And now at 10 p.m. Wednesday, as a still too liquidy Jello sits in our fridge -- some seven hours after it was supposed to be hard enough for me to eat -- I am laughing again. On the wonderful chart, laughing is just way up there. Mary takes wonderful care of me.
18 comments from 16 users
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posted by
steveeswenson
on Sep 12, 2007 at 10:25 PM
I must add that Mary made me a nice lunch and dinner and she cuddled with me during a Showtime movie. But I couldn't let that get in the way about the Jello story.
posted by
sbranco
on Sep 12, 2007 at 10:44 PM
You sure know how to break a cynical girl's heart. posted by
gsisola
on Sep 12, 2007 at 11:00 PM
I just have to say that you are a lucky man to have such a caring and loving wife as Mary. I am as well, my wife Tami is the same exact way, we always go to each others Dr. appointments, not just go to, but go in with each other. We have been together since 1983. She is the only person that I can "truly" trust in this life. I love her to death and would give my life for hers in a 10th of a heartbeat. All will be well, my prayers are with you guys. posted by
Janigirl
on Sep 12, 2007 at 11:32 PM
Mary sounds perfect to me. Laughter is the best medicine.
posted by
bnfl
on Sep 13, 2007 at 07:42 AM
If you use half ice water with the jello, it might make it ready faster if you have to do that next time. My kids never could wait the oh, forever that it used to take to set up. :)
Your Mary sounds like a sweetheart of a lady- definitely a keeper! (She obviously thinks the same of you-except the lady part! LOL :) posted by
woofwoof
on Sep 13, 2007 at 07:59 AM
...and I bet Monday seems a Millenium away too. I had my foot surgeries done at Millenium surgery center too, since my doc is just across the hall....nice people over there. But you have a nicer person to take care of you at home. You guys seem like a very happy couple. Wishing you well. posted by
BakersfieldDoc
on Sep 13, 2007 at 08:03 AM
Steve,
Dr. Allan Cartmell, with the CBCC is the best. If this is cancer, I suggest you see him ASAP. He is a caring Christian man who has helped many of my friends, including one who was told to go home and die......ohhh BTW that was 7 years ago! What you have is serious and I am sure the road is going to be a long one to walk for you, Mary and your children. Take care, pray non ceasing and continue to share with us here the good and bad. posted by
sagefever
on Sep 13, 2007 at 08:54 AM
You have all it takes to get through this episode~ a great life, wife, sense of humor,family, friends and faith. Enjoy it all Steve. I am holding you and yours in my thoughts.
posted by
randomfactor
on Sep 13, 2007 at 09:27 AM
By all means let Scary Mary come to all your doctor's appointments. You have no idea how much it helps prevent those "oh, I forgot to ask him X" moments. . Best of luck for a great result. Keep laughing. posted by
ScaryMary
on Sep 13, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Dear Brifl- I did put 1/2 ice water in it.....I dont know....I dont have much confidence when it comes to cooking but Steve telling his sister that I cant even make jello made for a little comic relief.. Dear Bakodoc- I had cancer years ago and Dr. Cartmell was my doctor. I adored him and was devastated when I found out I couldnt go to him anymore (one of the changes that Gemcare made)....since I have Gemcare Im not sure we can go to CBCC. Im going to check it out. Thank you all for your kind words...the only time I lost it was in church on Sunday. I lost it and bolted out. Our pastor, Pastor Reibe is wonderful. He called our home to see if he could give us guidance. I wrote him a thank you card because Im emotionally raw when it comes to church and didnt think I would hold up well talking to him. As for the appointments, Steve doesnt have a choice. I am there...and will continue to be there. Fortunately or unfortunately however you look at it I have had a lot of experience with cancer and know a little more what to ask than he does. In our family it is apparently a genetic flaw but my two sisters and I are alive and well. We have all had double mastectomies.... Thanks again for all of your kind words it means a lot.
posted by
steveeswenson
on Sep 13, 2007 at 10:18 AM
NEWS ALERT! NEWS ALERT! Had the Jello this morning. It was fine. posted by
CountingCoup
on Sep 13, 2007 at 11:57 AM
Mr. Steve I hope things turn out OK But even if, God forbid, they do not, always remember: "Death is merely a change of worlds" ~Chief Seattle Wil pray for you to Wolf (teacher from the East) and Bear (protector from the West) posted by
TomW
on Sep 13, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Steve, thanks for keeping us posted. I spent a lot of time worrying about you yesterday and I feel better knowing that the Jell-O came out.
posted by
robbwillis
on Sep 13, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Put me in the "take-wifey-to-the-doctor-with-you"&nbs p;camp. I couldn't handle the Q&A interrogation when I get home. I avoid the doctor's office as much as possible, though. Best wishes Steve posted by
OldBlue56
on Sep 13, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Steve, it might be too late for you to get this today before your golf game, but perhaps your buddies will let you hit from the gold markers, as oppossed to giving you strokes.
posted by
mischanne
on Sep 13, 2007 at 01:57 PM
Steve I hope everything is OK. I talk to Mary every day or so about whats going on, at work. I thought it was pretty funny that I found out things before Lori! I dont know if Mary told you that or not. I called last night after work to see how things went and there was no answer so i hung up and called Lori. When I asked her if she knew anything she told me no, and at that point Mary called me back and told me my boyfirend (Seb) was in the garage :(. Mary then told me everything went well and you were on the couch watching TV. I just hope everything goes well. Your in the thoughts Steve. (look at the mountain!!) Kayla posted by
blognroll
on Sep 13, 2007 at 04:21 PM
I wish you the very best. I'd worry too if my wife had cancer. That's what caring people do. We worry. But worry must ultimately be replaced by faith. Laughter never hurt a bit either.
posted by
steveeswenson
on Sep 13, 2007 at 06:37 PM
They laughed when I told them what Nurse Barbie said. So I shot a 36 on the front side; not so well on the back, but enough good holes to win 23 skins, and about $34 from my friends. This will teach them to scoff at Nurse Barbie. Eric, God love you man. But you can keep the stoggies. I will have lots of left over pain pills. I hate that junk. Kayla, I'm looking up...at the mountains. Oldblue, Ain't old enough yet to hit from the gold. Apparently I don't need to.
Gotta get back to my Jello.
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