Niner
02-27-2015, 12:08 PM
Just returned on Tuesday night from MD Anderson in Houston. Went out about 10 days ago for my quarterly checkup and ended up spending a week in the hospital. The MRI shows that the cancer is back in just about the same place as it was last year, and is the reason for the pain in my lower back (actually, sciatica in my butt and legs) which has continued to increase over the last few months. I'm sure Artie, CD, and Cap'n can remember that I was "movin' kinda slow" at Deer Camp back in early November.
I've been fighting this thing since 2011. I’ve had chemotherapy for a year and a half, four intense spine surgeries that included removing most of my L5 vertebra and installing rods and screws all the way up and down my back in an operation that lasted 16+ hours, and then radiation last year. I KNOW deep down in my heart that I wouldn't be here today if it hadn't been for the folks at MD Anderson. I've been fighting hard all this time, and keeping up that "Positive Mental Attitude". Now the docs are telling me they’ve thrown everything at it they have, and they're all out of ammo. They say they've done all that can be done. At this point I have no idea exactly what the future holds, nor how long of a future that may be...........
With that said, I do have a few other things I’d like to say---this GoodHunting forum board has been (and will continue to be) a source of pride for me. When we made the change a couple of years ago, I was glad that I had the time to dedicate to building this site from scratch with the software that Posthole had bought for us. I'm not a software engineer, but I did have a little experience with programming. I read and studied about the vBulletin software and how it interfaces with our web-hosting server provider, and all that jazz. Had I not been "sick" and recovering from those back surgeries I surely would never have had the time to dedicate to the task, but I’m glad I did and have really enjoyed it. There were so few activities that I could do at that time, and this was a new challenge for me that I could work on as I felt up to it.
I am happy to say that you folks are some of the closest friends that I have in this world. With Atlanta being the "hub of the South" I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet and share a handshake, or a meal, or a beer with quite a number of GoodHunters over the years. A lot of us have been together on this board since 1997--that's 18 years!!!
Heck, the first time I went over to Cap'n's farm to hunt he put me into a stand overlooking some pines they'd planted that were about six feet tall. When I was there last November, I climbed into that same stand for a hunt (yes, I was determined to climb into that stand one more time!), and those same trees are now a forest and are probably 25 to 30 feet tall (and have been thinned at least once). Cap’n, you’re the brother I never had (Di says you’re actually family whether you realize it or not). I can’t put into words how much I appreciate your friendship and the time we’ve shared hunting and fishing at your place. I especially enjoyed the hunting trip last November and getting a chance to meet Artie and CD and their boys. Many many thanks Cap’n for everything.
Di and I had dreamed for years and years about going out to Montana and doing a little trout fishing in that magnificent area of the country. I was emailing with my buddy Big Sky about that last year while I was in the hospital. He invited me to "come on out" when I got to feeling up to it and he'd take me fishing with him. So, Di and I went out there over the 4th of July week last year, and had several days of some of the best fishing and fellowship ever. I still marvel at the photos regularly... remembering that raft ride and those trophy trout we caught! Thanks Troy....from the bottom of my heart. You have no idea how much that meant to us.
Kribs, being the world traveler he is, has even stopped by here on his way through Atlanta many times to grab a bite, say hello, and swap some lies. We have really enjoyed visiting with him and Lynn. Seems like it was just last summer when he was sitting on my deck eating a big ol' rack of ribs, but that was prolly more like 12 or 13 summers ago that he first stopped by here. Thanks buddy for taking the time to get together.
But, enough of my ramblings......I just wanted to say a few things that needed saying while I can say ‘em. Y'all take care. I ain't finished yet.....but like I said earlier.....I don't know how much longer I may have.....the docs were pretty elusive on that figure, pretty elusive indeed.
PLEASE keep those prayers and positive vibes coming. Lord knows I need them now more than ever.
Niner
(Bill Conine)
4376
4377
4378
4379
4380
4381
4382
This past fall the Good Lord sent two of the largest deer to me that I have ever seen, much less shot.
I have given Thanks many times for these two gifts from above.....
4383
4384
4390
4386
We'll see y'all on down the trail..........
4388
I've been fighting this thing since 2011. I’ve had chemotherapy for a year and a half, four intense spine surgeries that included removing most of my L5 vertebra and installing rods and screws all the way up and down my back in an operation that lasted 16+ hours, and then radiation last year. I KNOW deep down in my heart that I wouldn't be here today if it hadn't been for the folks at MD Anderson. I've been fighting hard all this time, and keeping up that "Positive Mental Attitude". Now the docs are telling me they’ve thrown everything at it they have, and they're all out of ammo. They say they've done all that can be done. At this point I have no idea exactly what the future holds, nor how long of a future that may be...........
With that said, I do have a few other things I’d like to say---this GoodHunting forum board has been (and will continue to be) a source of pride for me. When we made the change a couple of years ago, I was glad that I had the time to dedicate to building this site from scratch with the software that Posthole had bought for us. I'm not a software engineer, but I did have a little experience with programming. I read and studied about the vBulletin software and how it interfaces with our web-hosting server provider, and all that jazz. Had I not been "sick" and recovering from those back surgeries I surely would never have had the time to dedicate to the task, but I’m glad I did and have really enjoyed it. There were so few activities that I could do at that time, and this was a new challenge for me that I could work on as I felt up to it.
I am happy to say that you folks are some of the closest friends that I have in this world. With Atlanta being the "hub of the South" I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet and share a handshake, or a meal, or a beer with quite a number of GoodHunters over the years. A lot of us have been together on this board since 1997--that's 18 years!!!
Heck, the first time I went over to Cap'n's farm to hunt he put me into a stand overlooking some pines they'd planted that were about six feet tall. When I was there last November, I climbed into that same stand for a hunt (yes, I was determined to climb into that stand one more time!), and those same trees are now a forest and are probably 25 to 30 feet tall (and have been thinned at least once). Cap’n, you’re the brother I never had (Di says you’re actually family whether you realize it or not). I can’t put into words how much I appreciate your friendship and the time we’ve shared hunting and fishing at your place. I especially enjoyed the hunting trip last November and getting a chance to meet Artie and CD and their boys. Many many thanks Cap’n for everything.
Di and I had dreamed for years and years about going out to Montana and doing a little trout fishing in that magnificent area of the country. I was emailing with my buddy Big Sky about that last year while I was in the hospital. He invited me to "come on out" when I got to feeling up to it and he'd take me fishing with him. So, Di and I went out there over the 4th of July week last year, and had several days of some of the best fishing and fellowship ever. I still marvel at the photos regularly... remembering that raft ride and those trophy trout we caught! Thanks Troy....from the bottom of my heart. You have no idea how much that meant to us.
Kribs, being the world traveler he is, has even stopped by here on his way through Atlanta many times to grab a bite, say hello, and swap some lies. We have really enjoyed visiting with him and Lynn. Seems like it was just last summer when he was sitting on my deck eating a big ol' rack of ribs, but that was prolly more like 12 or 13 summers ago that he first stopped by here. Thanks buddy for taking the time to get together.
But, enough of my ramblings......I just wanted to say a few things that needed saying while I can say ‘em. Y'all take care. I ain't finished yet.....but like I said earlier.....I don't know how much longer I may have.....the docs were pretty elusive on that figure, pretty elusive indeed.
PLEASE keep those prayers and positive vibes coming. Lord knows I need them now more than ever.
Niner
(Bill Conine)
4376
4377
4378
4379
4380
4381
4382
This past fall the Good Lord sent two of the largest deer to me that I have ever seen, much less shot.
I have given Thanks many times for these two gifts from above.....
4383
4384
4390
4386
We'll see y'all on down the trail..........
4388