In 1978 I was 10 and impressionable to say the least. Television was, like it is for most pre pubescent males, a wonder and the "characters" we watched and loved we idolized. How many young boys begged their parents for a pet chimpanzee after watching BJ and the bear,or how many would have died for just a chance to ride shot gun to Bo or
Luke Duke in the 'General Lee'( I wont even bring up Daisy Duke) from The Dukes of Hazard.
As an adolescent, even imaging yourself in these roles brought the hope and aspiration to everyone.
On March 19th, I entered the Foothills Hospital here in Calgary, and under the expert care of Dr. Lewkonia I underwent the biggest challenge I have ever faced. I had been diagnosed with what appeared to be a fairly aggressive tumor growing in my L2 vertebrae. To make matters short....it had to come out. which means the vertebrae had to come out. Not an easy task to say the least. After 15+ hours on the surgical table I was moved into ICU, then stepped down to the ward, then after much goal oriented hurdle jumping, I was allowed to come home.
I really haven't made an effort to blog, partially because even the thought of sitting made me nauseous , then I had nothing regarding Fillmore to blog about, but most of all...I was still awaiting news specifically the pathology report from the tumor. This morning the news came, and it was all good. A neonatal tumor called a chordoma, a 1/1,000,000 chance. But benign, and they removed it with "Good Margins". At this point, no chemo or radiation treatment indicated. Good news all around.
The day before I was discharged from the hospital, my surgeon showed me my post op x-rays.
In his dry sense of humor he said with a wry smile, I'm pretty sure you classify as bionic.
Images of Steve Austin poured back through my mind, laying on the floor after school in front of the 3 channel TV with my head in my hands watching the 6 million dollar man and just pining to be that guy. Now I am grateful to be that guy. And grateful that they had the technology, and that they can rebuild me.
