So Much Has Happened, But I am HOME from Iraq!!

Hello all, how is everything going? I apologize that it has taken me so long to update my blog but so much has happened since the last blog. I guess I should fill you all in. On December 8, 2007 I woke up in Iraq and discovered I could not speak. My voice was very sore. I went to the doctor while in Camp Fallujah, Iraq to see what was going on, and the doc told me I just had a sore throat. Well I knew it was more than a sore throat because everytime I tried to talk I had a VERY sharp pain in my neck that radiated to my ear. I was told to rest my voice and return in a few days to see if it got any better. Well I waited until the following Monday and nothing had changed. So I returned to the doctor and she told me that I had to leave Fallujah and go to Balad to see ENT to see if they could put a scope in to see if they saw anything abnormal. Well when I got to Balad they found a POLYP (http://www.entusa.com/vocal_cord_polyp_2.htm) in my vocal cord. So I got all excited because they told me they were going to remove it. So I went back to my tent and returned the following day. When I arrived I was told they could not perform the surgery because they did not have a Pathologist to test the polyp once they remove it. So I was sad all over again. They said we are going to send you to Germany to have the surgery and then you will recover there for a few days and then go back to work. Yes in a perfect world. So that night I got myself all ready to go to Germany. When I arrived there it was 20 degrees it was freezing. Anyway, since it was the weekend they gave us very NICE barracks room to live in while there. Internet service (wireless), Cable, telephone, kitchenette, full bath, man I was loving it. Anyway Monday came and I finally got a chance to see a doc, Dr. Ayala is his name, very fine man and knows his stuff and will not allow anyone to punk him out, yes I tried to pull his punk card a FEW times :-). Anyway he had me run through all these test and things, I felt like I was in bootcamp processing all over again. Anyway finally after all the test he did the surgery, removed the polyp but did not send me back to Iraq. Instead he sent me home to Camp Lejeune. Why? Hold on I will tell you in a minute. So I said hey doc you removed the polyp and I can talk again so why can't I return to Iraq. Well Gy, he says, your thyroids are PRETTY SWOLLEN and I do not feel right by sending you back to Iraq. I feel safer sending you to Lejeune to get them looked at. So I said doc no worries my thyroids have been like this for almost 3-4 years I am not having any problems with them. So he says Gy, you Marines are so Gung Ho and hard headed, I resented that remark and then he pulled rank on me :-). Anyway after trying to fight it and calling back to Fallujah to talk to my Col and LtCol to see what they could do about it, I was told to take care of my health and they would see me when they returned home in Jan. The only good thing I could think about at the time was that I would be home for Christmas and have my children in my arms if anything were to happen. Family would also be close by. Ok now I arrived to Lejeune Dec 21, 2007 and reported to the Naval Hospital. Everyone was out on the Christmas holiday so I went home and relaxed so I could continue to recover from my surgery in Germany. After the holiday was over I reported back to the hospital and was told nothing would happen until after the New Year holiday. So again I went home and waited. Finally Jan 7, 2008 I was able to see ENT at the hospital. He comfirmed, as if I did not already know it, my thyroids were ENLARGED and something needed to be done about it. So he sent me to a few doctors because I want more than 2 opinions on this one, they were talking about cutting me, I hate to be cut. I saw a few doctors but the one that brought it home for me was Dr. Azizi in Wilmington. He did a biopsy and saw lots of fluid in my thyroid and a cyst or two. After seeing the lemon sized growth on the ultrasound I bowed down and asked what would he do. He advised if it were him or his wife he would have surgery to get it removed. So I took his advice and scheduled a surgery date for Jan 29, 2008. Ok that day comes and I have surgery and they give me a Total Thyroidectomy (http://www.thyroid-cancer.net/topics/what+is+a+total+thyroidectomy). It was very painful and it still is some days. Ok I am almost finish, bare with me, on Feb 6 2008 I go get my stitches removed and the results. On that day my life changed, I was informed I have THYROID CANCER, yes I said CANCER. My mouth dropped to the floor. The doc was still talking but I did not hear anything else. I just said can you please take out these stitches so I can go. He did and told me I need to contact my doc in Wilmington to set up treatment. As of today I am still waiting to start treatment (but taking meds daily) because they have to make sure the cancer has not spread to my lymph nodes or anywhere else in my body. I will get the scan on Wednesday March 19, 2008. I will keep you all informed. Please feel free to leave comments or ask any questions that you may have. Yes I am going to survive through prayer and love from family and friends. I love you all and thanks for the support.