Day Fourteen: Guess Who's Got a new Robot Part?

January 21, 2025

That’s right—this guy! As of today, I’ve officially joined the three-implant club (this reads very, very weird, I may edit it later on). Does that make me a cyborg? Not quite yet, but I’m inching closer to sci-fi territory, and honestly, it’s kind of exciting.

The Latest Addition: My Mediport

This morning, I underwent a procedure to have a mediport implanted. For the uninitiated, let Uncle Christopher explain: a mediport is a small, life-changing device that provides easy access for IV treatments and blood draws. It’s a real game-changer for anyone managing ongoing medical care, sparing veins from the constant pokes and prods of needles, if you have read my past posts, you know that I was pretty well poked and prodded over the last few days. If you’re curious, you can read more about it here.

The procedure itself went smoothly—I was blissfully unaware of it all, thanks to the wonders of modern anesthesia. Now that it’s in place, I can feel it under my skin. It’s a slightly raised bump on my chest, a reminder of both my journey and the incredible advancements in medical technology. It’s not exactly photo-ready right now (think: gnarly wound), but once it heals, I’ll share a picture.

Funny side note: right before I went under, Wham!’s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go was playing in the operating room. Naturally, I made a crack about dancing to it, and then—bam—I was out cold. But I did see a few of you bopping to the beat, don't think you all got away with it! By the way, top notch work! Thanks for making sure I was comfortable and understood everything. That second cranberry juice in recovery hit the spot!

What’s Next: Scans, Appointments, and Recovery

Tomorrow’s another milestone. I’ll be up bright and early for a PET scan to assess how far the cancer has spread and help my medical team determine the next steps. The rest of the week is packed with follow-ups—discussions with my oncologist, updates on my treatment plan, and plenty of strategizing for the road ahead.

Physically, I’m feeling okay—just a bit stir-crazy. Resting is the priority right now, though it’s hard to fight the urge to do something. That said, I’m trying to embrace this downtime as an opportunity to recharge.

MLK Day Reflections: Service, Community, and Action

Yesterday, I tried to put my thoughts into words about what this holiday means to me. Between resting and catching up on small projects (like fixing the sink at Maria's request), I found myself reflecting on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, throughout the day as the Inaugural activities took place on a lonely television, broadcasting the images, to no one in my house. It was just on, not being watched. Not because of political reasons, but the spirit of today, just hung heavy on me.

MLK Day reminds us of the power of service and the importance of giving back to our communities. Sure, it was freezing yesterday, and I know a lot of people stayed indoors instead of volunteering. But service doesn’t have to be confined to one day. Find something you care about—something that fuels your passion—and work on it regularly. Small acts of kindness, repeated over time, can create a ripple effect of positive change.

Now more than ever, we need to lean on and lift up our communities. Let’s step up, connect, and make the world a little better together.

A Mini Rant About “Modern” Technology

Let me wrap up with a quick vent: today, I spent over 90 minutes on the phone trying to schedule an appointment through a so-called “state-of-the-art” scheduling system. Spoiler alert: it’s neither fast nor efficient.

It’s maddening to think how hard this process must be for people juggling long work hours or earning a low wage to waste away hours, just to wait some more. We’re in 2025, folks—how is scheduling a medical appointment still this complicated? If I can organize a meeting with colleagues on the West Coast, at the click of a button, why can’t booking a doctor’s visit be as easy? Healthcare is already stressful enough. The logistics shouldn’t add to that burden.

Staying Real and Positive

Thanks for sticking with me through these updates. This journey has its ups and downs, but I’ll keep sharing the reality—messy moments and all. It’s important to stay positive, but it’s just as important to keep it real.

I continue to believe that I can do this all day, especially with the unwavering support of my friends and family. I am filled with immense gratitude for all of you who have sent emails/texts/random memes, called me, prayed with or for me (I do believe in the power of prayer!) or simply reached out to say hi. Your kindness and encouragement mean more to me than I can express. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your words and actions hold so much meaning, and I am truly grateful for each and every one of you.