Thanks guys.. sorry, it's been another long few months. It's nice to read when people survive this. There are people on a cancer board I go to that have been clean for 5 years; so I'm hopeful. Carla, it would be less stressful if some people would get my hint that they need to repay their loans. We lent 2 family members money; and no matter what update I give; neither has offered to start paying their loans back. That's on our to do list this next week; figuring out who still owes us what. If I'm right, it's about $3,000. Deb, how are you doing? From what I remember of your dad; I think he had it worst due to when he was treated. Radiation is not as harsh as it used to be. My teen has been having mouth issues; she had 4 impacted wisdom teeth. 2 were removed in October before we started his treatment, another was done in late February; that one was the pits. It was top right wisdom tooth; her jaw was so painful she could barely open it for a long time. I ended up finding another oral surgeon who managed to get her jaw to open enough so that she could have tooth 4 pulled on 4/1. Poor kid then had issues again due to tooth 3; and finally in the last 2 weeks she's healing. He went back to work 4/13 - light duty, driving a yard van at the port. He drives the truckers around to pick up their new cars (Mazdas) so they can load them on their car carriers. He's been getting up at 2am; going to sleep about 8pm - 5 days a week. He had to take his truck to the shop; once it was done he drove it to the port to get the trailer worked on. They couldn't keep his truck running so he had to bring it to someone else to get fixed. He picked everything up last week; finished out the week in the yard van & today is back to the life of a trucker. I don't know if he'll be able to handle it & I'm going to worry all day. As most of you know; truckers that deliver cars have to drive the cars up on the trailer; then walk back down. Delivering, he has to walk up & drive down. I hope he is able to do this. He fell a few years ago from the top deck (as did another guy) so I worry. He's looking pretty good. He's had pain issues from sitting around so long and now using his body. He still suffers with lack of saliva; and his throat. I think the things that saved him with swallowing was him being stubborn during treatment. Most people put water through the feeding tube because it's painful to swallow; he hated doing that because he'd have to pee too much. You wouldn't believe the amount of people that have swallowing issues; have to have their throat opened.. he is very fortunate. He's also fortunate that he doesn't have pain where his neck dissection was; but it's still early to tell. The Dr said that how ever he is at the 1 year mark is a good indication of how he will be; that's 4 more months. He has a CT scan of the neck within the next few weeks. I don't know why they are doing a CT instead of a PET scan. I also don't know why they are only doing the neck; because IMO, they should do lungs too. From what I've read, the lungs are where it most likely goes next. I'm nervous because I've read a lot of posts from others with his cancer; around this time is when stuff would pop up. A few weeks ago we started getting large bills.. apparently at some point his insurance got maxed out. I've been pretty calm about it; he, not so much. For some reason they are not covering about $500 of the original ENT's bill from August; which should have been paid 1st. Then there are multiple things at Jefferson; from the hospital, oncologist, ENT & radiation. I'm in the process of sifting through insurance papers verses bills coming in. If I need to apply for charity care, I need to do it asap. He also found out that we will need to be a trailer by September; of course I worry who will give us a loan for that kind of money when he hasn't worked in 7 months. All in all, I would not change my decision to treat there. His life & outcome are worth more then what ever debt we will have. So far he's doing well; and hopefully will continue to do so. I hope by this time next year it's just a bad memory. Happy mothers day. Hope everyone is enjoying their roses! My garden is starting to bloom & I'm trying to enjoy it. I'm not sure how long we will be able to keep this house; it all depends on what shape he will be left in. IF he can't drive the truck we'll have to consider selling. Pics of the garden.. taken with my blackberry. I haven't had time to upload from the new (bought last year) Nikon D 5000. I miss having a digital, not sure I like this camera. Garden2010

AHHH We'll still keep ya Karyn...LOL.. I pickes 14 cats about that size early in the season in 2 days.. Haven't had a single tomato either.. I did relocate them and haven't seen them since..I've a few little green worms eating their way the the Brugs tho.. Gosh they are so hard to find.. Speaking of finding I found a 2 1/2' snake skin at the bottom of my front stairs today ..It was a copper head...Won't be so worried about weeding the crowded beds for a while..LOL Kylie

John said thank you all and yes I can't keep a secret so I end up giving him gifts for a month, lol. I went to pick up his cake today and saw a freshwater puffer fish and got him that so I would have something to give him today, lol. I thought about that earlier and said boy you racked up since I kept giving him each thing as I bought it, lol. It was a good day. His boys helped finish up the cement board on the greenhouse and just have a couple of small pieces left to do thank goodness. That stuff is incredibly heavy.

Oh Caroline, my heart goes out to you both. Cancer is such a scary word. Hopefully you will get some good news in the upcoming days. I will keeep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Lynn in MN