Dr. V was here yesterday with a medical student in training, my hospice nurse and my parents waiting in the family room as he met with me first to speak about how I was feeling, how Florida went and the current issues before me, bleeding coming from throwing clots which I caused by doing to much carrying, pushing, lifting PRIOR and after Florida, not because I had to, but the fact remains, I did it and now I bleed.

Monday I will be going to an Acute Resput Facility which is used for many different reasons. Sometimes it is to give the caregivers a break, sometimes it is because family members a re going out of town and there is no one of any degree of trust that can be left with the patient, twenty-four seven.

In my case I am going per the Dr.'s suggestion as well as my own request. I will be watched carefully and be able to learn if I am rising up and laying down to harshly for my system, reaching wrong to grab a cold glass of green tea or simply need rest out of my current environment so my system can calm down, esophagus to anus.

I am not overly concerned and do not feel as though this is the end, if anything I will leave with the tools to remain alive longer, still taking it one day at a time.

It is my desire to take photographs and write so that I can 'blog' my experience and meet others that are coping with terminal illness. Ashley Marie will be accompanying me so we are talking about another week's vacation, nothing more, nothing less.

My environment will change and the frequency to which I see nurses and health aides and the Doctor will increase. The rest is semantics and I will continue to live as independently as possible...

The slightly wounded warrior