I signed off on the blog at the end of March just after we were told that Rick has cancer and would need chemotherapy.  We started making plans to return to Compass Cay only long enough to prepare the boat to cruise back to Florida as quickly as possible.  The day after we returned home to Compass Cay, our lives took a little bit different turn and now we plan to stay here as long as we can.  We believe that this change is thanks to the many prayers in which our family and friends have included us.  Please keep up the good work!

In March, our doctor said:

You have a partially collapsed lung.  I’m putting you in the hospital with the suspicion of pneumonia. 

In March, the hospital doctors said: 

• You have a fluid build-up around your lung which must be drained.
• Your lung has not fully re-inflated after draining the fluid, so we must operate using Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery to re-inflate the lung.
• We took a biopsy during the operation and you have a rare cancer called Mesothelioma caused by your exposure to asbestos when you were in the Navy working in the boiler room; when you did residential construction work; and when you supervised the garage for the cable tv company you worked for.
• We recommend that you see a specialist at the Moffitt Cancer Center on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa.

On April 15th the Moffitt doctor said:
Now because there is a greater absorption of blood within these spongy purchased this levitra generika tissue makes all of them engorged whilst contraction from the muscles helps prevent the bloodstream from becoming drained therefore maintaining the actual erection.

• This is an incurable cancer
• Surgery is not recommended
• Chemotherapy works pretty well for this cancer
• Moffitt is involved in an Immunotherapy Clinical Trial for which Rick might qualify
• Life expectancy could be several years

On April 28^th the Moffitt doctor said,

“I would like to let you know that we have contacted the pharmaceutical company who produces the vaccine. They have reviewed your CT scan.  At this time your cancer is too small for this treatment program (clinical trial).  I personally have seen that some mesothelioma stays very small for a long time. This is indeed to your advantage. I recommend that we repeat a CT scan in about 2 months.  I have asked the scheduler to set you up for return visit in June.  If the cancer were to get bigger to the point that it requires treatment, then we could sign up for the trial again providing that they are still accepting more patients.”

This month we extended best wishes to our daughter-in-law, Kellie, and our friend, Janine, on their birthdays. 

Sunday, March 1, 2015 (BD2-0149) – Allison’s mother, Suzanne, arrived at Compass Cay just in time to get the last of Dave’s Sunday waffles.

Monday, March 2, 2015 (BD2-0150) – We wished our daughter-in-law, Kellie, a very happy birthday today.  Rick and I have not had much luck ordering things on-line, but I took a chance and ordered a birthday present for her.  Our son told us that when it arrived, it had broken into many pieces.  I guess it will be a while before I do any more ordering on-line!  Yesterday afternoon a barge came into the marina carrying some construction equipment.  Tucker has hired the Complete Marine Services Company out of Eleuthera again.  This time they are supposed to spend a couple of days dredging the area between the new dock A and Dock B, which used to be the northernmost dock in the marina. 

They started the dredging this morning.  Whenever sand gets stirred up in the marina, most of the boats need to shut down their air conditioning units because they circulate sea water.  We opened all the doors on the boat and enjoyed the comfortable temperature and nice breeze.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015 (BD2-0151) – Tuesday was sunny and breezy.  The dredging continued, so we turned off our air conditioning and opened all the doors.  Barry suggested that we go to the Staniel Cay Yacht Club for supper.  Eleven of us loaded up in Sea Clef’s tender.  We got down to Over Yonder Cay when suddenly, the power steering quit working.  We turned around and came back to Compass where we boarded Loan’s Albury and got down to the Staniel Cay less than 5 minutes prior to our reservation.  We were seated promptly at 6:30 and had a nice dinner of mushroom soup, salad, our chosen entrée and a slice of apple pie.  Then we returned to Compass Cay about 8:30 p.m. and said our goodbyes.  The people who went to dinner were:  Rick and I, Tokkie and Gail, Barry, Allison and Suzanne (her mother), Germal and the three guys from the construction crew.

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We have decided that Rick’s cough has persisted longer than it should, so we scheduled him an appointment to see our family doctor in Florida on Thursday.  We will fly to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow and then drive a rental car to Palmetto where we will stay with our son and his family for a couple of nights and then go to see Rick’s mother and brother.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015 – We have decided to bring the boat back to the States.  If/when we cruise to the islands again, I will chronicle those adventures. 

Thanks to those of you who have followed our story on the blog. 

For the next little while, we’ll be “livin on the hook” in Manatee County, Florida.