I recently learned that an old friend - my K9 instructor at Lackland AFB and also my roomie in Okinawa - has terminal esophageal cancer. We've been close friends since the late 70's. The retired M/Seargent is being "fed" via a feeding tube. VA doctors gave him 6-8 months to live. He's in VA, I'm in FL I believe he is 72 or possibly 74.... a real standup patriot and was a great mentor during my bomb dog detector training.
Since I've been studying the different forms of cancer caused by exposure to defoliants such as Agent Orange, I figured I'd offer some hopium to my friend and sent him some information about these alternative treatments via email.
His response was less than enthusiastic, and I am hurting for him. This is what he wrote back to me this very afternoon :
12:43 PM (8 hours ago)
"I know your head and heart are in the right place. But, I'm done. I'm doing everything I can to make one last road trip. After that - I'm done. Just let me die in my sleep. If I begin to suffer - that's another story - you do not want to hear the ending of that story. You have been a great friend and I still have one of your Genie lamps. Small but effective. Take care John. Think of me when you are 80."
Mentally, my buddy has just resigned himself to fate. I will remain as supportive as I can be without intruding further into his personal health decisions. You can lead an old NCO to water but you can't make him take Panacur or FenBen.
I would simply ask that my fellow GAW patriots say a prayer for healing. I know I'll be praying like there's no tomorrow, for tomorrow is not guaranteed. God Bless you all.... I'm gonna go purchase some Ivermenctin and FenBen.
I recently learned that an old friend - my K9 instructor at Lackland AFB and also my roomie in Okinawa - has terminal esophageal cancer. We've been close friends since the late 70's. The retired M/Seargent is being "fed" via a feeding tube. VA doctors gave him 6-8 months to live. He's in VA, I'm in FL I believe he is 72 or possibly 74.... a real standup patriot and was a great mentor during my bomb dog detector training.
Since I've been studying the different forms of cancer caused by exposure to defoliants such as Agent Orange, I figured I'd offer some hopium to my friend and sent him some information about these alternative treatments via email.
His response was less than enthusiastic, and I am hurting for him. This is what he wrote back to me this very afternoon :
12:43 PM (8 hours ago) "I know your head and heart are in the right place. But, I'm done. I'm doing everything I can to make one last road trip. After that - I'm done. Just let me die in my sleep. If I begin to suffer - that's another story - you do not want to hear the ending of that story. You have been a great friend and I still have one of your Genie lamps. Small but effective. Take care John. Think of me when you are 80."
Mentally, my buddy has just resigned himself to fate. I will remain as supportive as I can be without intruding further into his personal health decisions. You can lead an old NCO to water but you can't make him take Panacur or FenBen.
I would simply ask that my fellow GAW patriots say a prayer for healing. I know I'll be praying like there's no tomorrow, for tomorrow is not guaranteed. God Bless you all.... I'm gonna go purchase some Ivermenctin and FenBen.