First thing is Art's Radiation treatments did not go as well as we hoped so Art will have to begin chemo treatments . The first will be on January 8, 2010. One treatment every 2 weeks.
The reason for the delay in starting the chemo ...........
ART & I will be having a major change in our lives come next week. Due to circumstances we were unaware of and we could not prevent, the house Art and I live in is being sold. A lot of the decision by the owner to sell has to do with some bad behavior on the part of Art's son who we shared the house with. It seems he has a very bad drug problem and was not paying his share of the rent.
We were given an eviction notice back in September to be out by September 30th (past). With Art's medical situation I have been able to delay that eviction notice until we can pack and get our RV (our former home) back in order and our car ready so we can move. We have decided to go back to Key West where we lived for 20 years and Art will have a very large support system and friends around him. Another disappointment from Art's son, he has never lifted a finger to help me at all.
With the decision to move came what to do about Art's doctors. After serious consideration we have decided to keep his doctors and make a day trip up here every 2 weeks for his chemo. My best GF's mother lives in the area and we can stay with her when we come up for the treatments.
God has been very good to Art and I throughout this journey and I do not believe for a second he is giving us more than we can handle. So I take this next segment as being God's will and know everything will work out.
We plan on pulling out this Sunday, our first stop will be 4 hours from here, Homestaed, FL, where our grandson, Joey, is. We'll be there for Xmas and then head down to Key West. We have another friend with a large yard where we can pull our RV into and start the application for assisted housing and then move to whatever apartment we are placed in.
During the transition I'll be off the blog but where ever we are if there is access to a computer I will hop on and say hello to my dear O Family. If you all can find it in your hearts to continue your prayers I would be very appreciative and more than that, Art/Mr Gosal will be forever grateful!
Marilyn & Art
The "GOSALS"
DRUG LIMITS LETTER TO SENATORS
Dear Senator ___________,
While I do not live in your state I feel my request will benefit all Americans.
First of all I want to thank you for all you are doing in the fight to get Health Care Reform passed this year. I commend you for being one of the US Senators fighting for health care reform and to bring to reality the late Senator Ted Kennedy's lifetime work that health care be a right for all Americans and not a privilege for a few.
I am writing you with the hopes that after you hear my story there may be someone on the Democrat side that will ask for an amendment to the Health Care Bill now being debated on the Senate floor. I feel an amendment to control the increases in drug costs that a pharmaceutical companies are allowed should be part of the bill. If not an amendment than some wording interjected to address the issue of rising drug costs that are obscene and boarder lining on criminal.
This past August my husband, Art, was diagnosed with cancer. Rather than getting chemo treatments my husband is going through Radiation and takes a cancer fighting drug called Nexavar. The first 2 months my husbands monthly statement listed Nexavar at $3200 for a one month supply. In October the cost went up to $4300 for a month supply and the most recent statement shows it now costs $6722 for a month supply without insurance.
While my husbands Medicare & Medicaid cover this pill 100%, I worry about the millions of people who this pill may may work for that are not insured, under insured or worse yet, have fallen into the dreaded donut hole. This pill works, in 2 months it totally removed the cancer mass my husband had on his right lung. I would hate to think there is a pill that cures lung cancer yet many will be deprived of taking it due to the cost. While my husband is special to me he is not that special that only he should have quality health care. I want all Americans to have what my husband has, the peace of mind in knowing if they get sick they are covered.
I hope after reading this, you or someone will ask for an amendment to control the increases a pharmaceutical company can be allowed. If not an amendment, at least an insert to the bill being debated addressing the issue. The increases I have seen over the last 3 months on my husbands monthly statement are obscene and are near close to criminal. I would even be so bold as to call it usury.
Thank you for your time and I remain .......
Respectfully yours,
Marilyn Rosberg
Just thought I give everyone a little uplift here today. While some may look at yesterday in Virginia & Jersey as a loss, I look at it as a challenge. It's a reminder that we still have work to do and we will do it. As we face these challenges in the days ahead we must never lose sight of our "HOPE".
For all of us here "HOPE" has been our main mantra. And if there's anyone here who wants another taste of what "HOPE" and hard work can do here it is.
Art started his radiation treatments last week. Of the 25 he will have to have he has had 5 leaving 20 more to go. Yesterday the doctor showed us the most recent CT Scan and there are signs the tumor on his liver are shrinking. After all 25 he will have another complete body scan and we'll have the complete picture. But for now, the fact that the tumor is shrinking is great news. Together Art & I work very hard to keep him healthy and get him to these treatments everyday. Not once have we given up "HOPE' nor do we intend to.
So my message to everyone, if my Art/Mr Gosal can hold on to his "HOPE' and beat something as dreadful as Cancer than we all can hold on to our "HOPE" and beat anyone who dares get in our way!
So as you all help me with your support and prayers to mop the cancer out of Art's body I promise to stay right here with you all and help mop the slop the opposition dishes out!
And Oldie Rock n Roll song put to "Grab a Mop" theme ........
So let's all "Garb a Mop" at the Mop for Jersey and Virginia!
Hi O Family!
I wasn't going to do this until tomorrow or Tuesday, but I see so many regulars on the blog now it seemed like a good time.
Art is about to enter the final stage of his cancer treatment. In my last post/update I told you all that his head, where the tumor was, is clean. Cancer gone. The right lung, where there was a mass is now a crater (the doctor's own words). The cancer is gone from the lung.
Art is about to enter the final stage of his treatment.
Last week Art had a complete body MRI. We got the results this past Friday and it turns out Art is an excellent candidate for radiation treatments. On Tuesday, coming up, he will begin his treatments. He'll have 25 of them and they each take about 2 minutes. The radiologist uses a more direct method than most. Last week he made a special patient table formed to Art's body so the radiation only goes to the area of his liver where the cancer is. I did some research and 25 treatment seems to be the normal. Art has responded to everything his doctor's have recommended so I have to trust the radiation will be successful.
I can't help but feel certain that between the wonderful team of doctors Art has and your prayers is the reason Art will have nothing but a complete and total recovery.
Thanks again for all the support, candles and prayers.
Love The GOSALS
Art & Marilyn
It's been awhile since I posted a Mr. Gosal update. Mainly because there was nothing new to report, but today there is. And guess what? It's fantastic news, better than Art & I ever thought possible.
Today we got the results back from last Monday's tests. The area in his head where the tumor was is clean, no cancer. Even though the bone will not grow back, calcium will build up to some extent, so he will not have quite a big a soft spot he now has. It will fill in to some degree. That's what's happening right now, the is calcium is forming. The mass on his right lung is now, and I'll quote the doctor..... "Art, Marilyn.... the mass that was there is now a crater." Meaning the cancer that was on his right lung is gone. The 3rd area, the mass on his liver, has only grown a tiny bit and the doctor feels very strongly that radiation will knock it out as opposed to chemo. We found out the liver mass has been there a lot longer than we originally thought. So it will take additional treatment along with the cancer fighting pills he has been taking. These pills knocked the lung cancer out in only 2 months. So the doctor feels the combination of continuing the pills and the radiation should clear up his liver.
While someone else in Art's situation may be upset that all the cancer is not gone, we feel just the opposite. In a short time his body has healed faster than predicted and instead of three masses he is now down to one. That to us is something to celebrate, not get depressed about.
I know all the support, candles and prayers from our O Family on this blog has contributed to Art's recovery and will take him through this final stage. We could not have gotten where we are today without every one of you and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Thank You All and God Bless You!
With much love & hugs,
HEALTH CARE REFORM CAN NOT WAIT!
There has been a debate going on in Congress over Health Care Reform for the last 50 years. Those on the left say 50 years is too long and the time for discussion is over and now it is time to act. To all the elected officials fighting for Health Care for all Americans, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I will show my thanks come 2010. Do I agree? You bet your life I do! And if we do not get Health Care Reform with a strong Public Option it could very well be your life or my life and thousands of lives.Those on the right, and some in the center, say we can't rush something as important as Health Care Reform. Do I agree? No! We can't afford not to get Health Care Reform passed this year. It's not a matter of rushing into getting a bill on President Obama's desk by the end of the year. To me, 50 years of discussion is not rushing into anything. By most people's opinion, that's long enough. So to any elected official who feels they can not be rushed when it comes to Health Care Reform, I say to you ...... find yourself another job or I will help towards that other job come the elections of 2010.Marilyn from CRYSTAL BEACH, FL
Hi O Sisters & O Family,
9/24/2009 Mr Gosal update .......
I'm sure by now many of you have wondered where I've been. Well, all I can say, is NOT having fun. Just once more getting tested as to the endurance of my strength. Honestly, all people have to do is ask any of you guys. You all know my strength so the next time I'm going to direct anyone who wants to know to you all. No more trips to the hospital!!!
I know Vagg, my bestest Big sis, Jackie has filled you in all some of what's gone on. So here's the rest ..........
Here's what happened. When the tumor was removed last month the surgeon put a mesh extension where the tumor had eaten away a part of the bone in Art's skull. The reason for the mesh and not a steel plate is because the doctor feels this bone may grow back and a steel plate would prevent the possibility of that happening. This past Saturday morning we noticed a clear yellowish liquid coming from the area of the incision where there was still a small scab not yet healed. By Monday when it didn't stop we called the doctor who sent us back to the surgeon. His initial reaction was the cranial spinal fluid (fluid around the brain) was dripping out and he immediately put him in the hospital. Initially he was going to take out the original mesh and put a new one in. When he got in there today he discovered there was a slight infection which was way better than the fluid from the brain leaking. He also said the infection was because Art's body was rejecting the mesh insert and the doctor said some people just don't adapt to them. So today he cleaned out the infection, removed the mesh and sewed him back up. He did not put a new mesh extension in. He also said the cancer is getting smaller faster than he ever imagined. So even though we had this emergency rush back into surgery it turned out it was a good thing because his body was saying ..... "get that mesh out of my head so my skull bone can grow back naturally". We realize it's months away but a good sign none the less.
So that's the what happened.
I once again want to say thank you from Art & me for all your love, support and prayers.
The GOSALS
An Open Letter To All US Senators and Congressmen.....
I am submitting this letter in the hopes that after you read the information I am putting out there, those of in opposition will make a decision to support Health Care Reform with a robust & strong public option. Based on what I read in this article, what every member of Congress has is a public option and a government plan.
All I'm asking is for the same quality health care you all have and if you still can't commit to a public option then I will ask that you give up your Health Insurance. If you feel it's not in my best interest to have a public option then it should not be in your best interest. I see no reason that should you continue to have a health care plan that you so strongly disapprove of.
Federal Employees Health Benefits ProgramAs soon as members of Congress are sworn in, they may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). The program offers an assortment of health plans from which to choose, including fee-for-service, point-of-service, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). In addition, Congress members can also insure their spouses and their dependents.Not only does Congress get to choose from a wide range of plans, but there's no waiting period. Unlike many Americans who must struggle against precondition clauses or are even denied coverage because of those preconditions, Senators and Representatives are covered no matter what - effective immediately.
And here's the best part. The government pays up to 75 percent of the premium. That government, of course, is funded by taxpayers, the same taxpayers who often cannot afford health care themselves.
You can go to this link to read the entire artice.
http://public-healthcare-issues.suite101.com/article.cfm/health_care_for_the_us_congress
Respectfully yours,Marilyn J RosbeRG
Crystal Beach, FL
MARILYN FROM CRYSTAL BEACH, FL, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS GOSAL, CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO A PARTY!
Theme ~~ Health Care Reform with a strong & robust Public Option
Location ~~ Every city, every county, every state across the United States of America
Time ~~ Every minute of every day of every week of every month until a HCR bill with a strong & robust PO is placed on PBO's desk. So basically, all the waking hours you can spare.
Party Favors ~~ In addition to yourself, you will be required to bring the following items to the party: Pen, pencils, paper(to take notes), telephones (to call Senators & Reps), a computer or access to one (for sending e mails to Senators & Reps & writing letters to editors), stationary, envelopes & stamps (to hand write letters to editors if you do not have a computer. A good pair of walking shoes (for walking your neighborhood to knock on doors) and last but not least, a car or a ride with someone (to get to town hall meetings and Senator & Reps offices).
Exchange Gift ~~ Bring your great ideas on how we can best use our Grassroots experience we learned during the campaign and offer your ideas to another party attendant in exchange for theirs. Keep your ideas in line with the issue, HCR with a PO.
RSVP ~~ Yes or No! Only one problem, no is not an option!
