The Edge of this forest

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July 3, 2024

Blog 7/2/24 – We are seeing the edge of this forest, what’s on the horizon?

I get so frustrated during the Oncologist visit days. The patient sees the Oncologist at the beginning of the cycle and that is about it – so, you have to have your ducks in a row when that office call happens (basically once a month). Now Dr Rogers and Cathy are about the same age, and both are chatty…… so from a Type A personality perspective (me) the first half hour is a bunch of non sensical girly stuff and I don’t learn a damn thing. My frustrations aside, here is what I pried out of the doctor during girl time.

Blood marker numbers continue to show promise – a key number that was 1200 is now 395 as of yesterday (411 last month).

Cathy will do this 6^th cycle and likely a 7^th (August) before Rogers thinks we are ready for a biopsy. As I have mentioned in the past, the bone marrow biopsy is the definitive test that will measure the clonal cells percentage. We are looking for < 5%

That is all good news.

When asked – “what do we do if the biopsy shows we have not achieved the < 5% ?”

“We will change up the Chemotherapy regiment. Often a new regiment will get us there.”

MRI Results. Really good news. The latest MRI shows no more visible tumors on the spinal column – yeah !

So why cant she walk doc ?

The MRI also shows severe spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the canal) This narrowing causes constriction on the cord. So, what do you do about it? This is neurosurgery’s arena.

The long and short portion of the office call resulted in Dr Rogers calling on her Neurosurgeon colleague in Nashville to review these new films and render an opinion on operability. That is forth coming.

More Neurology and walking. Thanks to one of you in our listening audience we have made head way in neuro. The referral we were seeking happened and we are working with UT to nail down a Neurology appointment.

Physical Therapy. We have worked through the insurance issues associated modified in home care (still needs RN wound care) and outpatient PT. We have a referral into a reputable clinic and Cathys case has been submitted for review We will go next week to basically interview them and get Cathy going in outpatient PT.

Wound Care – We are very close. A recent tissue culture shows we are fighting no bacteria at - all Healthy wound recovery so far. Amen.

Ok, that’s it for July. Keep Cathy in your prayers. Peace to you and yours. Till next month.

Thank you for your continued support

Kevin and Cathy

Land Basket Farm

www.landbasketfarm@gmail.com

423.202.4924

A Change of Seasons

A Change of Seasons As fall descends upon us with all its glory, leaves of every color fall from the trees and paint the landscape …… the event marks the end of a season well lived and there begins a new season after winter’s rebirth. I recall almost 40 years ago sitting in Botany class learning about how leaves change color and fall from the tree…. The abscission layer – a layer of cells that form in the leaf stem eventually separating the leaf from the life blood of the tree…..& it eventually falls. Losing Cathy almost 2 years ago was my abscission layer - the beginning of an end……… the end of a beautiful season of life. This will be Land Basket Farm’s final season of operation. I will sell this farm this year or next and likely end up in Texas. What will I do ? I will continue to blog & be an advocate for healthier living, I will travel, enjoy the outdoors, run races and be a part of my grandchildren’s lives. Some of you will look upon this event with sadness, but you should not. It is a change in seasons and comes in many forms for all of us. The era of Land Basket Farm will always bring a smile to my face – the work that Cathy and I did together and the people we connected with along the way. I will miss it all. Our Final Season and what to expect We have significant inventory on hand and operations will continue normally through December. Read the newsletters. We will continue attending the Knoxville Market for the rest of this year. Our last market will be December 19. We will not attend the winter market in January, Feb & March. On Farm pick up will be the only fulfillment option in January 2027. I anticipate the website will close ~ Late January depending on sales. We’ll offer more frequent specials this fall. Read the newsletters. The Next Season—and This Blog My most loyal readers know I am passionate about living longer and healthier lives. I am a crusader against sugar and many of the modern aspects of our diet that do not serve us. If you have enjoyed the Land Basket Blog, its journey, and its advocacy, I invite you to join me in the next season: Phase III Life. Finding Health and Happiness Later in Life. Phase III Life is my new blog that will continue what Land Basket started (all content has been transferred). I will continue write about the things that affect our health, and shed light on topics that help us as we age. Thank you for being part of this season. I hope you’ll join me for the next. Ps - The Farms Assets are on the chopping Block - See what's for Sale (first draft)

The Edge of this forest

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