OLYMPICS - OLYMPICS - OLYMPICS

The one thing that seemed confirmed to me. No one stands on that middle riser and has that gold medal hung around their neck without a great deal of hurt and hard work. As their national anthems salute their courage and their blessings, few stand without a sense of the miracle of the Olympics and their unworthiness to be so recognized. My dear friends I have run the race and despite the fact I will die sometime in the future, today I stand before you with my cancer having been beaten into submission. My cancer can never be cured but it is presently in total remission. God has allowed me three years that no one would have ever thought to be in my future. - I'm alive and no longer being eaten up and having my bones destroyed. Multiple myeloma Phase II will not kill me today. The pain and side-effects will still be there to keep me focused on the more important things of life. I thank my doctors and nurses, Our God and you for beseeching Him on my behalf. If God has blessed me with a continuation of my life here, please continue your prayers that I might live up to that awesome responsibility of appreciating life. The Olympian is being recognized for their potential. Thanks so much. Write me and keep the prayers coming.

Mike Utley and Frank visit ACAP Center!

Detroit Lions NFL Player Mike Utley dropped by the Fort Lewis ACAP Center after an all day tour on post. Mr. Utley was paralyzed in an NFL game in 1991. Since his injury he has slowed down his activities to scuba diving, sky diving, biking, skiing, and many more. For those of you not familiar with Mike, just Google his name, do a YouTube search, or go to his site at http://www.mikeutley.org. Mike gave generously of his time to speak one-on-one with Soldiers at the ACAP Center. He also conversed with Frank, giving pointers on nutrition, proper wheelchair posture, and supplements.

I have a new descriptive for my medication cycles, boxing with all of its rules, regulations, rounds, etc. Each round takes its toll. It makes so much sense to me. I don’t know how many fights I have had since this cancer started over three years ago, but I think it has begun to take its toll and has had inflicted some side effects on both Kris and me. As I said recently, this last round got to Kris even more than it got to me. It also lands some pretty heavy blows on each of the kids and spouses. Although being loved is great, it also comes with a price tag. Each one of my kids has been at our sides from the very beginning. A week has not gone by that they have not been by our sides measuring each step of the way, what are our needs, how much do we need? What do we need? What can they do? What do I need – sleep? – laughter? A smile?

I’m hoping the weather will be changing, and I’ll rid myself of excuses and get back to writing my book. I picked it up last week and really felt good about it. All those who have read it so far have been very positive about it. I need some encouragement. I’m like a little kid. Ok, this is a computer and it has a key board, start typing – good – yes those are words – you are doing well – keep going. Encouragement was receiving a note from my grandson Kellan last week, it was just great and almost brought me to tears – I loved it. If he could do that, why can’t I do this?

Kris and I really miss the kids so much. However, I don’t think it’s possible to match her love – it’s just so deep and so reciprocal. There are so many trips coming up and visitors coming (we are looking forward to each and every one of them, but it’s impossible to discern how we can do them) these next few months. One possibility is Denver, Colorado, but it looks like almost impossible to pull off no matter how we lay it out. But it’s still on the cork board with a pin through the top of it. The doctor says I’m the decision maker, and he’s merely the professional truth teller. Even I’m (the thick headed) scared of the trip to New England - well over 10 hours and many changes. One of the measurements of sanity is bi-location – guess I don’t have any of that – it must have been on the longer line when I took the shorter one – oh well!

I had my stockings changed the other day after the doctors showed such amazement and the physical fitness specialist felt the same. She merely made a few adjustments and things look like they will come together even better than they already have – I’m an awfully lucky guy.


Meet Mrs. Jessie Forsyth Kabisch - wife of Michael Francis James Kabisch – daughter-in-law of Francis Henry James Kabisch. Jessie is presently the highest graded student of all students in the Seattle University Law School. She is absolutely loved by each and every member of the Munholland and Kabisch families - without exception – and most especially by the father-in-law and all grandkids.

I am presently on my steroids so I have to monitor myself with a little more self discipline than usual. This is the time when Kris says I want to move Mount Rainier and return to work. Next week things will be different. I’ll read a little more of my book – Legacy of Ashes by Tim Weiner – I recommend it highly.

Love you all!!!!!

Blog 2008

Another period of delay in getting back to you. The time has been absolutely full with visitors, medical visits and treatments along with some pretty serious transitions from one medical treatment into another.

We (Kris) has my transitions down to the hour – at any given period of morning or night she can tell you exactly where I am coming from – where I am now and where I will be heading for - all things being equal. It’s that all things being equal is the monkey wrench of most transition periods. This time it was a terrible case of the flu. I just didn’t feel I had enough energy to throw into the fight. The news from the doctor my last visit was again excellent. I continue to be in remission. All readings remain positive except for one which he believes he can control with a little TLC. Major organs remain in good shape. However, each new cycle seems a little tougher to get through. With your continued prayers and remembrances, we’ll bring this through another year. One of the guys who died from church last month had a great request. He asked anyone who would like to spend that last week with him might want to come by and visit him at hospice. Just come and spend an hour of silence with him and then go home. He thought it might be mutually beneficial for both of them. Great idea. Up to the end I used to watch him come to church and lift his own wheel chair out of his car. I would never dare try to join the list of rejected - no thank you guy’s and gal’s.

A big thank you to Pat Ryan for taking Monty Pope’s other grand father and myself to the flight line along at McChord last week. Pat was kind enough to wait the last two years for this visit with me. He’s answered every blog and has just been there in the background waiting for such a request, and I thank him for his understanding and goodness. It gave Kris the morning off and we had a great time visiting under the wing and bull&%^$& - while the rains came down, and Mr. Wayne Kier and the Sgt. went aboard the plane and played pilot and special visitor without another crew member or visitor aboard. It was the first cargo plane of its kind turned over to the Air Force by Boeing (better days) and was going out for a month with its crew at noon that day.

Easter Season was tough. Easter was spent in the hospital. I was unable to stand any longer on the way back to bed and others were just about able to keep me up. Finally we were instructed that this was a clear emergency because of the cancer, and we were to get to hospital emergency via paramedics asap. It probably was my new medication and things had to be brought into realignment. The paramedics were great as usual, and I could not be any more pleased with my crew. They were marvelous and had me stabilized immediately, and I was calmed by my daughter-in-law who rode with us. She is our nurse practitioner out of Vanderbilt and her growth and maturity is just wonderful. She was with me through the entire journey. What a blessing for both Kris and I.

Doctor met me immediately and promised he would work with me and my blood tests along with oncologist for as long as it required. All my kids came to the party, for there was nothing to do for most of the day. Finally doctor said I was good to go and problems were probably related to new medication. As soon as Doctor left, Debi began to remove all hookups able got me ready to be checked out, NURSE was still tied up by others. It was six o’clock pm.

Off we went once paperwork was signed - only to wake up the next morning by passing blood in my urine – again thought to be an extremely critical condition because of the cancer. IT WAS ALMOST TOO MUCH FOR KRIS TO TAKE WITHOUT ANY PREPARATION. Thank God for family, and again, in a special way for Debi, who cleared the way. Kris, Tim and I made it to the hospital and made sure all understood it was an emergency, which it was, all dully recorded in records.

It was to be a crazy day in ER – cops - and my room was needed for securing prisoner. Cop was sitting at door reading comic book – second cop was requested to help secure first cop - staff person used racial description of prisoner and insulted staff – paramedics were furious – boss of ambulance crews met supervisor to supervisor. Debi prepared me for leaving as soon as doctor said he would clear me – nurse was appreciative - and I was out the door hoping this would be my last visit to the tomb for awhile, because if they were looking for me, they would not find me there. Kris and I were quietly leaving the territory by the back door. We were learning something on every visit, but there sure had to be an easier way to learn.

God certainly has been good to me. Are we all getting ready for that fourth year. Be patient with me as the journey continues. My grand-son Kellan sent me a get well and Easter card that he did himself, and I loved it. Please excuse this long Epistle after this continued journey through the valley into the promised land and his embrace of love, friendship and forgiveness. Hang in there. Luv yu all!!!

How Can I Complain? Look around us and things are tougher for all.

I’m trying to keep updating on a two week update but have repeatedly failed you, my apologies. Thanks for hanging in there with me. Knowing you are still interested in me is that extra medication that often takes me over the top.

Each day I take an inventory of just those I am surrounded by – unbelievable. Where did I find such good people? I used to be a leader in measuring those who just didn’t measure up, until I realized I was focused in the wrong direction and on the wrong people. My reflections, prayers and wishes for the present and future are now more on the stick. I’ll try to get with it and try to spend a future trying to fit a little more snugly into His shoes (have you counted all the trys in that sentence???).!!!!!

Kris will probably need an operation as a result of latest fall and feedback from MRI. My last cataract operation last week finished with a 20-25. Laura brings joy and smiles to our faces every day and every day from new experience. Seems like yesterday when Tara and family were here from Colorado and that yesterday will be repeated tomorrow as they return again for a visit until Sunday morning. We are planning a blast as we also celebrate Zoe Brooklyn’s 2nd birthday. Mike and Jessie have announced their engagement for mid July of ’08. A few of the reasons why God may have postponed my final separation from Him before taking a shot at those last steps of the journey. Last two weeks were transition weeks in my chemo program and were tough ones. My friend Phil Foucauld has returned to further treatment of his multi myeloma, and it looks like a similar or identical program as mine. It’s done wonders for me and I wish no less for him. As my miracle man, Doctor Cox says none of us is really the same. Please include him and his spouse in your prayers. There is no doubt in my mind that if we had added our blog counter from day numero uno, we’d be at over 4,000 hits, and mingled in that many hits, there would have had to have been a special one.

I’m really tired tonight so I think I’ll sign off. I lost one entire night of sleep this week and have not made up for it. Take care. God bless you and yours.