Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Update from the past couple weeks...
I hope all is well with everyone. I know it's been a few weeks since I last posted. Things are going along as well as can be expected. I did have a quarterly update with Dr. Leming last week. Everything checked out well. I have had a nagging cough for quite a while so he had me get a chest x-ray which checked out normal.
We went to Julie's mom's for Easter. She was a little tired but seems to be hanging in there. They have their 'bridge night' tonight so they'll all go over to Viv's and play cards after work. I personally don't know how to play bridge so I'll hang out with Abbey tonight and watch American Idol.
Judd was home last week. It was good having him home but we had kind of forgotten what a slob he is. He was able to get in quite a few hours at work so he should have some spending money for the final month of the semester. We did get his midterm grades and he is having a very solid quarter - he finally realized that it wasn't a good thing to fall behind in his work.
Xavier is having a great run in the NCAA tournament - they'll play in the Sweet 16 tomorrow night in Phoenix. I would have liked to go to the game but I couldn't work out the details. Maybe if they make the Final 4, I can swing the trip to San Antonio!
The bike training is going well. I hope the weather improves so I can start riding outside everyday! Thanks to everyone who has supported my Team in Training efforts. If you haven't and would like to, click on the following link....
http://www.active.com/donate/tntsoh/tntsohVHopkin
I guess that covers everything for now. Julie's birthday ids Friday (March 28) so I need to figure out what to do to celebrate. Maybe I'll take the day off and sleep in!!
Hope to see you soon!
Vince
We went to Julie's mom's for Easter. She was a little tired but seems to be hanging in there. They have their 'bridge night' tonight so they'll all go over to Viv's and play cards after work. I personally don't know how to play bridge so I'll hang out with Abbey tonight and watch American Idol.
Judd was home last week. It was good having him home but we had kind of forgotten what a slob he is. He was able to get in quite a few hours at work so he should have some spending money for the final month of the semester. We did get his midterm grades and he is having a very solid quarter - he finally realized that it wasn't a good thing to fall behind in his work.
Xavier is having a great run in the NCAA tournament - they'll play in the Sweet 16 tomorrow night in Phoenix. I would have liked to go to the game but I couldn't work out the details. Maybe if they make the Final 4, I can swing the trip to San Antonio!
The bike training is going well. I hope the weather improves so I can start riding outside everyday! Thanks to everyone who has supported my Team in Training efforts. If you haven't and would like to, click on the following link....
http://www.active.com/donate/tntsoh/tntsohVHopkin
I guess that covers everything for now. Julie's birthday ids Friday (March 28) so I need to figure out what to do to celebrate. Maybe I'll take the day off and sleep in!!
Hope to see you soon!
Vince
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Prayer requests....
Hope all is well with everyone. I think we all know the power of prayer and how uplifting it can be. There are a couple people, one very close and one a complete stranger, who I'd like for you to remember in your thoughts and prayers.
First, as many of you know; my mother-in-law, Viv Riestenberg, has been on a health roller coaster the past couple years. Over the last few days it appears that she's once again hit one of those valleys. She's been remarkable in the way she's continually bounced back but it sure would be nice if she could go through a stretch where she's on a high plateau for a while. The family has rallied around Viv; someone from the family spends time with her everyday and I know Jan and Marian have been awesome about getting her to doctor visits, etc. So if you could lift up a prayer for Viv it would certainly be appreciated.
Yesterday I learned of a young man, Dan Potokar, who is a walk-on football player at Ohio State. Dan was diagnosed with testicular cancer in November and has been undergoing chemo treatments ever since. Recently they learned that the treatments are not going as well as they would have hoped and they're going to have to take a different, more aggressive approach.
Obviously, this has been very difficult for Dan and his family. I know one of the things that helped me through the initial stages of my journey was when I was contacted by a complete stranger who had heard about my situation and simply wanted to offer his support and encouragement. I realize my diagnosis is not the same as Dan's but I did feel compelled to contact a member of his family to offer my support. I received a note back from his mother's cousin and she thanked me for the offer. She said she would pass my note along to Dan's mother and I offered to have her contact me at any time should she have any questions, need advice or just need someone to talk to.
One thing Dan's family is trying to do is put together a nationwide prayer chain; they do recognize the power of prayer. I doubt this blog is read nationwide but if you read this and can lift up a prayer for Dan and his family, I know it would be much appreciated.
I have my next check-up on March 17; hopefully the luck of the Irish will be with me. I certainly wouldn't mind if you'd lift up a prayer or two for me and my family, as well.
Thanks for your continued support and peace and blessings to all!
Vince
First, as many of you know; my mother-in-law, Viv Riestenberg, has been on a health roller coaster the past couple years. Over the last few days it appears that she's once again hit one of those valleys. She's been remarkable in the way she's continually bounced back but it sure would be nice if she could go through a stretch where she's on a high plateau for a while. The family has rallied around Viv; someone from the family spends time with her everyday and I know Jan and Marian have been awesome about getting her to doctor visits, etc. So if you could lift up a prayer for Viv it would certainly be appreciated.
Yesterday I learned of a young man, Dan Potokar, who is a walk-on football player at Ohio State. Dan was diagnosed with testicular cancer in November and has been undergoing chemo treatments ever since. Recently they learned that the treatments are not going as well as they would have hoped and they're going to have to take a different, more aggressive approach.
Obviously, this has been very difficult for Dan and his family. I know one of the things that helped me through the initial stages of my journey was when I was contacted by a complete stranger who had heard about my situation and simply wanted to offer his support and encouragement. I realize my diagnosis is not the same as Dan's but I did feel compelled to contact a member of his family to offer my support. I received a note back from his mother's cousin and she thanked me for the offer. She said she would pass my note along to Dan's mother and I offered to have her contact me at any time should she have any questions, need advice or just need someone to talk to.
One thing Dan's family is trying to do is put together a nationwide prayer chain; they do recognize the power of prayer. I doubt this blog is read nationwide but if you read this and can lift up a prayer for Dan and his family, I know it would be much appreciated.
I have my next check-up on March 17; hopefully the luck of the Irish will be with me. I certainly wouldn't mind if you'd lift up a prayer or two for me and my family, as well.
Thanks for your continued support and peace and blessings to all!
Vince
