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   Binnacle List

Last updated:  02/02/12

Bud Keim (10th Co) (2/2/12)

Vic Fredda  received the following from Nita Keim: 

Bud has a pretty serious situation. All his blood levels are low. His white blood count is 2.2 (dangerously low) his platelets are 72, half of what they should be and his red blood count is 11. He will have a bone marrow biopsy a week from today. He feels pretty rotten at time. Please pray for him and me that we can wait in peace for the results of tests.

Terry Cooper (24th Co)

Update  11/20/11

Classmates-

I am happy to report that Terry Cooper was permitted to return home on Friday and is continuing to heal. He is still uncomfortable from coughing so please, no phone calls yet.

He gets stronger every day and is well on his way to full recovery. He is doubtful for the December Holiday Luncheon but hopes to be back with us soon thereafter.

Gordo

Update 11/10/11

Dear Classmates,

Terry is coming along. He is still at Bethesda but has become much more mobile. Stuff that we take for granted (get yourself to the bathroom) is now an achievement. He is also working on navigating stairs.

Unfortunately he is still not up to receiving visitors but you might send him a "Happy Birthday Marine Corps" note. Today is #236 for them.

Gordo

Update 11/4/11

Our newest Distinguished Graduate has undergone heart surgery at Bethesda. He is still in the ICU but showing progress. At this point he is "No Visitors", "No Calls". If you would like to send him your good wishes please e-mail him via Bettie at bgbcooper@verizon.net. Or send him a card at his home address:

Kathleen Willingham (Wife of Dave Willingham (19th Co)) (10/16/11)

From Kathleen's and Dave's Daughter, Peg 

Dear Family and Friends,  

Apologies for sending a group email, and many many thanks for all your good wishes and prayers for my mother Kathleen. She has greatly appreciated all of the messages and kind thoughts that have been coming her way.  I just wanted to give you all a quick update about her excellent progress since heart surgery on Monday.  My apologies to those of you who are just hearing about this for the first time - I have been a poor correspondent over the past few months! 

As many of you know, my mother began to experience severe anemia in mid-July and has spent most of the ensuing weeks in the hospital receiving transfusions and undergoing numerous tests to determine its cause.  Her doctors finally concluded that the anemia was caused by blood cells being broken open by being forced through a small hole inside her heart, created when one of her artificial heart valves had shifted position over time.  They recommended that she have surgery to repair this leak. 

Fortunately, the surgeon was able to perform a fairly new and much less invasive/traumatic form of surgery and seems to have fixed the leak, for which we are very grateful.  He did not have to replace the valve, which would been a much more intense and risky procedure, so we are also very grateful about that.  My mother has made outstanding progress since the surgery on Monday.   In fact, she did so well from a medical point of view that the doctors said she could be released from the hospital three days later (this past Thursday), but her blood-thinner levels are still being adjusted (routine medication for people with metal heart valves), so she has not yet been released, but should be soon.  She will then spend some time at a rehabilitation facility to recover completely but is doing very well. 

My mother really appreciates all the phone calls and offers to visit that have been coming her way.  Her cell phone does not get good reception in the cardiac unit (lots of equipment there that interferes) and her voice was scratchy for a few days after having the breathing tube removed after surgery, so she has not been able to talk on the phone, and she has not been receiving visitors other than family this week, but she looks forward to being in touch soon, and I am happy to convey any messages you have for her. 

Thank you again and warm regards, 

Peg

Carl Giese (15th Co)

From Marty Kuhneman:

Carl Giese suffered a severe concussion as a result of a fall at his home in Wisconsin.  He's on the long road of recovery and has a lot of time on his hands.  Now Carl has always been an active...and impatient fellow.  Undergoing therapy is not his idea of spending one's time productively.  He would probably be a better patient if he got a few calls and letters from us here in Tidewater, and from our classmates elsewhere.  His phone at the hospital is 715-389-5535.  (He's in room 535).  For mail, it would be better to send it to Martie at their home:

          807 Division St.
          Merrill, WI 54452.  

            His home phone is: 715-536-4943.
      mk 

Chuck Smith (20th Co) (9/27/11)

From Tom Fleming:

Talked with Chuck yesterday p.m.    Unfortunately, he had to return to the hospital Saturday due to more swelling problems.   He is now being treated for congestive heart failure.   Although he was able to talk to me, he has pain and takes pain medication throughout the day as needed.   And so far, he has needed it.  He is at Scripps-Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest.   He can be reached at 619-849-4355 and I think he would appreciate a call.   He also has a cell phone (619) 952-1810,  but to save on minutes, suggest using the 849 number.     

Keep him and Tamara in your prayers.  

Tom 

Pete Westphal (1st Co)

Message from Pete To Gordo:

Hi Gordo:

I have a staph infection that went to my previously replaced right knee.  After two surgeries to cure me, they have taken the whole knee apart, put a temporary spacer in while treating me with 24/7 antibiotics, and will replace when the infection is gone.  Hopefully I will get a new knee in mid Sep.

Everyone has really been great to me.  John Nagel 8th Co has really helped me.  He lives in Mt Pleasant near Charleston.  I talk to Mike Salmon quite often.

I don't want for anything, except to get well.  Our annual 58 golf gaggles down here have been a lot of fun and I look forward to the one in Apr.  What a grabass!!!

Thanks again Gordo.  Give all of our classmates my best.  I miss our monthly luncheons.

Pete Westphal

Bob and Becky Caldwell (18th Co) (7/24/11)

From Bob and Becky's daughter,  Susan

Daddy asked that I send you a message letting you know that he would be out of commission for a bit..(but I figured I'd just go ahead and tell you the real story..:) He will return emails as soon as we get him home - hopefully Tue or Wed:)

First off- Momma is doing great - she still has the "turtle shell" but is really responding to physical therapy and has no pain. She continues to get stronger every day.

Daddy, on the other hand has been better....he went in for a regular check up and just happened to tell the doctor that he had chest pains when Momma fell - well that lead to a first class visit for a nuclear stress test, which he proceeded to "fail", and a subsequent heart cath procedure yesterday. Turns out he had more than a "heart break" event when she fell. We were under the impression that it was probably going to result in a stent or two but it didn't turn out that way. The procedure was aborted because the stent would not stay in place due to the route it had to take to get to the scene of the crime. SO...he was promptly admitted to Anne Arundel Medical Ctr and was just transported this afternoon to the Washington Hospital Center to have the procedure on Monday (7/25).

It still sounds like it will be a heart cath procedure but they need to go in through the radial nerve instead of the traditional route. Two of his original bypasses are blocked (one 99% and one 80%). We are very thankful that he actually told the doctor he had pains - it may very well have saved him.

Both Momma and Daddy are hanging tight but the collective "we" could certainly use your prayers for both of them.

I will keep you posted and please fell free share the news are you deem appropriate. 

Myron Kandra  (22nd Co ) (7/24/11)

Update:  10/16/11

From Myron:

I just want to update you on my situation. I am still undergoing chemo therapy for my bladder cancer.  I had two courses of chemo treatment, after which I was supposed to get a biopsy, but that got cancelled because of a urinary tract infection for which I was on antibiotics. Now, I am on another two courses of chemo and then a biopsy sometime in Nov.   

On a more sad note,  about  three weeks ago we were up in Maine to spend some remaining time with our son, Tom, who passed away as a result of colon cancer. He was only 49 and left his wife and a daughter, almost 13.  He had been battling his cancer for about 2 1/2 years. It was discovered too late, and he was a physician.  The likely cause is something called Lynch Syndrome, a genetic factor  which exists in my family.  

Myron

From Gordo :

 Both Myron  and his son are stricken with cancer. Myron's is his bladder. He has been treated for that over the years and will probably have the bladder removed soon. Sounds like at least there is a fighting chance there. Unfortunately his son, a 46 year old pulmonologist, appears to be in worse shape with colon cancer that is ahead of the radiation, chemo, and surgery that has been done. The ironic thing there is that he is not yet at the age where colonoscopies are recommended (50).

Al Roach ( 9th Co) (6/29/11)

From Jim Adkins

Al has liver cancer which has gone into the spine.  He is on some new drugs that may help extend life some.  His wife Barbi died a few days ago. .  The family has not yet scheduled the Memorial Service for Barbi but expects it to be in the next two weeks.  They have 5 children, 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild.  

Bob Shearer (14th Co) (4/6/11)

Update 11/28/11

Tomorrow, I will have the third Happy Hour of the three visit cycle in my new clinical trial.  So far, the effects have not been that difficult to cope with.  We then repeat the 3 week cycle and will do an assessment in late December, probably the 27th, which will provide the first inkling of how well the new stuff is working in terms of the cancer.  I expect good news.

14 April 2011

Update From Bob:

Good morning all:

We had a long and productive visit with our oncologist before treatment.  Got a better understanding of the strength of, and difficulties posed by, my enemy.

This battle is going to be longer and harder than I first thought/understood.

The Moffitt did a DNA map of my cancer and it is identified as a K RAS mutant of the lung cancer.  They have apparently learned to differentiate among cancers via DNA Mapping in order to better understand and combat them.  While they now know better how to control this critter, unfortunately, mine is not one they are having any luck with eradicating.  Which means it will keep coming back in different locations and will require a longer term battle to keep this thing under control.

Control by existing treatments of chemo and the occasional radiation for trouble spots.

The good news.  The Taxotere, my current chemo treatment, is fairly effective at control.  I am weathering the chemo in good shape.  We begin day two today.  Other than not sleeping well and some sugar number problems, due to the medicine for controlling the effects of the chemo, I am in great shape.  (My sugar is already improving as I write this somewhat later in the day.)  I have no nausea nor pain yet and the tiredness is just coming on, not badly.  I will have tiredness as the chemo affects my immune system, but have good reason to expect relatively minor problems there, as before.

More good news.  This area of the cancer wars is getting a lot of attention in research and development, precisely because of their difficulty in dealing with it and their increasing knowledge in the arena.  New treatments are in the pipeline.

We will continue with the current chemo.  Happy Hours on 4/12 and 5/3, then a restaging or re-assessment of my condition on or about 5/24 using PET Scan.  Happy Birthday, Rene!  Options available on 5/24 include:  Some spot-specific Radiation, another round of Taxotere, an experimental treatment to be identified. 

In the meantime, since I will be laying around pretending to be sick and getting all the attention, I will have time to research more about the situation and treatment options for K RAS mutant, non-small cell, metastasized lung cancer.  My dear, red-headed, cancer killing oncologist is so grateful for my help!  The Moffitt is part of the Lung Cancer Mutation Consortium with Sloan – please see the following link for more info.  http://cancergrace.org/lung/2011/03/07/lcmc/ so it seems that I am in the right place with the right people.

Unless some treatment would be available at only one location.  The Moffitt is, in my opinion, a world class operation.  And my docs are crackerjacks.  As much as anything, this research is a small way for me to keep active and participate in the fight.  There is much more knowledge, understanding and wisdom regarding what is going on in this field at Moffitt than I can gather, much less master. 

Keep those prayers coming.  Call anytime. 

While the job is harder and iffier, I remain determined to beat this thing.  I am strong in body. spirit and will power.  I am determined and tolerate the treatment well.  All  big pluses.  New treatments are en route.  I've got my Rene at my side. 

No visitors for at least two weeks, maybe three, after each chemo round while my immune system is low.  Especially if you have had any recent illness or been on a plane.  We have to play the length of isolation by ear based on how I am doing.    Phone calls are great.  If I am tired, I won't answer or I will blow you off quickly.

Be of good cheer.  I have my enemy surrounded.

Love,

Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, Friend

Bob

Email:  rliss58@comcast.net

Tel:  239-596-2460

Bill Marshall  (2nd Co) (2/9/11)

From Bill Byman

I received word from Gaby Marshall that Bill underwent quadruple-bypass surgery today (Tuesday).  He experienced arterial filabration considerable pain a few days ago,  and cardiac catheterization disclosed a severe blockage.  The surgery at Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City, NC,  went well and Bill will soon be transferred to the cardiac care unit for an expected two day stay, with follow up care depending on his pace of recovery.  
 
I know that your prayers would be appreciated.   Cards may be sent to his home address, 
                            102 Jasmine Court
                            Morehead City, NC 28557
 
                            e-mail wwmarshall@ec.rr.com
 
     Warm regards,   Bill

Chuck Haughey (16th Co)

From Ernie Anderson:

Chuck is in a nursing home and getting by.   Chuck and Marge's  current mailing address and phone number are as follows:

Charles H. & Marguerite Ella Haughey

PO Box 471

Enfield, NH  03748

603-632-7678

Dick Owens  (21st Co) (11/5/10)

Dick reported the following:  I  had  robotic heart surgery on Mon. Oct. 4 to replace a bad aortic valve.   Robotic surgery is fairly new and is considered minimally invasive procedure because they do not open your chest or cut the sternum. They can also use it for urologic, abdominal, and some other surgeries. For heart surgery they go between two ribs on the right or left side to enter the chest. The recovery time is 2-4 weeks.

I will keep you informed with how it goes. I think folks our age will want to look into it. Keep me in your prayers. We will see you in 2013!!! BEAT ARMY!!!

                                                 R.T.(Dick) Owens

Note from Fred::  This a late entry that was buried in my web site files - Apologies to Dick.