Update from Tom - Sunday, March 29, 2009 2:10 PM, CDT

[Guest guest]

I finished another lap around the sun today.  I made it to 49.

That age used to seem so old to me.  Not anymore!

It IS nice to have made it this far, and overall, I'm doing fine.  I wonder if I would be celebrating at all if I had not had the transplant.

Kathy and I had dinner with Larry and Debbie last night.  Every time we see them, we could easily talk all night.  It is so much fun to have close friends like that.  Now that everyone is feeling better, we were able to share war stories, laugh a lot, and enjoy a great meal together. 

Larry is just about fully recovered and is finally off that nasty blood thinner.  I'm still fighting anemia (which is improving), and my stamina has made a remarkable recovery.  Even my belly is feeling better.  On the other hand, my throat started flaring up again, and it's now very painful.  I am hoping that it's an allergy thing or maybe a cold, but my fear is that I may be back to the old symptoms that I fought for two years.  (See some earlier posts for a discussion.)  The pain is just like before...so bad that it's tough to swallow.

I'll worry about that later, though.    For now, I'm optimistic and committed to spreading good cheer.  I have a wonderful, loving family, the best business partner and friend in the world, a network of great clients, and more friends than I ever realized.

Not bad for an old guy.

For anyone who wishes, raise a glass for me today.  I can't drink anything alcoholic, but I'll find my own way to celebrate.  The mountain of unfinished tax returns will still be there tomorrow.  I'm going to take the rest of the day off.

Tom 

To send a message to Tom, Kathy and family goto;

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasbutler

-- Ian Cribb  P.Eng.cell: Enefen - Reviewer/Designerwww.enefen.com