"bRAND NEW DAY" quote from kelly of blue sky clothing

Just want to share a comment I got that was sent to my thunderbyd@aol.com e-mail...... from kelly who has been with us from the start of the journey and great friend of blog fav susan k... AND DYLAN'S MOM ( DYLAN WON IN THE BEST SMILE CONTEST SENT IN BY PHIL..HIS DAD)..... ( sorry to embarass you kelly but it is comments like these and so many more that held my hand in my "WALK IN THE PARK".....oH BY THE WAY i HAVE SAVED EVERY QUOTE....COMMENT...AND PRAYER IN A FOLDER I CALL "gOOD VIBES).....if i need your permission to reprint them all it will take a long time I will be reprinting stuff all week........
KELLY WROTE..............Hey Tom,

I've been really enjoying all your blog posts lately. I think it's so cool that you've been exploring your own backyard in huntington station, which by the way, appears to be a most beautiful place.

You look absolutley FABULOUS! I can't even begin to tell you how happy I was to see your glowing face on the blog! Your happiness just comes right off the computer!! I thought your smile week thing was so inspiring, too. You can't help but be happy when you see all those smiling faces. That was so cute that you put Dylan's photo up there!

You are a profoundly inspirational person, man -- and I think that it becomes even more apparently so as you share more and more -- the darkness & the light.

Well, it's been a while and I just wanted to say hey........

Peace,

Kelly
Thanks Kelly and everyone who takes the time to read my blog daily....you all are my inspiration................I do not know how i could have made it without you and my family leading the way....................

RE-CAP

· Phase One…being diagnosed with bladder cancer…Oct 14th and finding a doctor to help begin the journey to the cure after finding Dr Russo the Blog was started….”walk in the park” title comes from the second doctor I saw ( 2nd opinion out of three) that a man with my attitude and general health it should be “a walk in the park”….a long walk none the less
· Phase Two……. determining the treatment plan. This is to include surgery to remove tumor and treat aggressive cancer with chemo-therapy…..Nov-Feb
· Phase Three……. 6 weeks after my last treatment surgery was scheduled to remove bladder and replace it with part of my intestine…..April 12Th was d-day to have my new neo-bladder become my urinary holding tank ( technical term) hehe …surgery was completed in 7 hours
· Phase four….Recovery from said surgery…after a bumpy road that required me to be readmitted into the hospital due to my intestines not processing food properly….the 6 things I could do for several weeks were …..Reading, watching tv, writing, eating, walking, and sleeping.....................................Phase Five ….this is the phase I am in now…..trying to get back to work…getting my weight back to where i don't look like someone who is starving ……keeping my energy level up so I can start to resume a normal life…being cautious and not moving ahead to quickly will be the hardest part of Phase 5…..( so keep reminding me).....THANKS FOR TAKING THE RIDE WITH ME.. IT IS WHAT HAS KEEP ME MOVING FOWARD.....GETTING STRONGER EVERYDAY............................. TOM "BABY STEPS "CHEFFO .........CANNOT WAIT TO HOWL AT THE MOON AGAIN

The first Memorial Day

In 1865, Henry C. Welles, a druggist in the village of Waterloo, NY, mentioned at a social gathering that honor should be shown to the patriotic dead of the Civil War by decorating their graves.In the Spring of 1866, he again mentioned this subject to General John B. Murray, Seneca County Clerk. General Murray embraced the idea and a committee was formulated to plan a day devoted to honoring the dead.Townspeople adopted the idea wholeheartedly. Wreaths, crosses and bouquets were made for each veteran's grave. ....................
...........................It is no secret that i am a man of peace...however i do respect and morn the loss of the brave men and women who fought and lost their lives in such a tragic way....I owe them this respect and I try to remember today is not just the first day of the summer season......man i wish we did not have to have a holiday like this one....so many people lost their lives .....so many summers... gone..........tom

'come on people now smile on your brother....everybody get together try to love one another right now"

FINAL INSTALLMENT OF SMILE WEEK....HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT AS MUCH AS I ENJOYED PUTTING IT TOGETHER....EXCELLENt DOCTORS REPORT TODAY......ALL SYSTEMS GO ( AND I MEAN THAT LITERAlly) ...RESUME LITE WORK END OF NEXT WEEK AND OK TO DRIVE...NOW IF I COULD ONLY FIND MY CAR KEYS......... todays winners.....kent and felicia "doobie"....candy and cheetos.....sue amd maggie mae........bottlecap man........casey at disney.....my beauiful aunts...mel,josie & marie...........joe cool........p.s do you believe it that my ordeal is almost over......looking foward to being some what "normal again" although i somehow do not think that could ever be ...next weeks blogs should be emotional..stay tuned....tom"still leaking' (but getting dryer everyday) cheffo

SMILE WEEK CONTINUES

smile......Function: noun1 : a facial expression in which the eyes brighten and the corners of the mouth curve slightly upward and which expresses especially amusement, pleasure, approval, or sometimes scorn 2 : a pleasant or encouraging appearance......TOP TO BOTTOM...ALL I COULD FIT MORE ON FRIDAY...bill from work......jason f and sharon rockman....cousin barb and mike...noah and sara krypel w/bode miller....jerry garcia....karen m and susan kaminsky........have 10 move but could not post.......there's always tomorrow...doctors visit for me in the morning...should get all clear to start lite driving and stuff..i hope going stir crazy...

ALL YOU NEED ARE SMILES

KEEP SENDING SMILE PHOTOS TO thunderbyd@aol.com here are some that were sent today and some i had ...top of page.craig ...jason......lisa/john/and felicia....people i love and work with...my brothers...& me.......michele " my partner in crime"...susan(footloose and loose lucy stores) and nelson "nelson is the dog".......... dylan son of kelly & phil of blue sky fame......missy & britt.....loose lucy gal & brittt is an awesome dude.................more tomorrow

smile ..2

see blog below......had to keep it on for one more day......that was genuine.......and i was thinking of all of you..i have a request...send me any photo of a smile and i will post it for all to see......look through your photos ......tom

Smile

i was gonna give the blog a rest but i got to tell all of you it amazes me how thoughtful,caring,kind,amazing,sweet,loving,trustworthy,loyal,helpful,friendly,courteous,kind obedient,brave clean and reverent all of you are ( oh yeah from the trustworthy part on it is from my boyscout days) imagine me a boy scout.....we had a blast and someday i need to go to confession for the stuff we pulled...oh well another time...anyway what i am trying to say is not a day goes by that a neighbor does not stop in....a friend does not call.....a gift does not arrive...i guess you like me...you really like me......man o man i am forever humbled and forever grateful to have you all in my world......thank you my dear sweet family and friends.....i plan on celebrating life with each and everyone of you all......soon.........now if i could only stay awake long enough so you can hold me to that promise......t......c.........................photo taken yesterday by my neighbor chris...around 10 years old......thank god it's a little fuzzzy

PEACE ON THE SIDEWALKS OF HUNTINTON STATION

I was on one of my journeys..... talking to a great friend on the cell and i looked down at the sidewalk and there was this peace sign that was cracked into the cement from a tree root.....i mean it was like finding the virgin mary in a potatoe chip...or another religious artifact on the paint on your wall where people travel for miles to see....i will take all who wish to find peace to my new special place just a few blocks from my home......set up a pilgrimage .....sell loose lucy incense and blue sky clothing with a pair of naots......howl at the moon ....chant and dance....... you get the picture.....it has a special meaning to me that 4ft x 4ft piece of concrete i hope the neighbors whose house it is front of does not mind me staring at his sidewalk.....still finding my way through this illness...well through this recovery...good days are better than bad days and that is all i could ask for......weight is maintained at 144........two weeks is my target date to get back to work...they are swamped there and i miss everyone......safe travels to my pals on the road.........go #29..................TOM ...color is back on my blog...yeah...go mets

iN MY DARKEST HOURS.. part 2

still thurs night/friday morm.... after the dream and visual bizarreness....i was awakened at 4 am for my vital signs....still reeling from the drugs was not able to sleep again and just wished i were somewhere else...and for the first time i questioned why i went through with all of this ....imagine that self doubt the day after..a lot of good that kind of thinking does ya....anyhow my aide named Helmet (yep just like what you put on your head)... at 5am said it's time for your bath.....well i was kind of ripe ya know and i figured what the heck..you only live once and he proceeded to wash me down for over 1/2 hour and it was really a very calming experience and for that short period of time i was relaxed and not in the freakin out mode.......well sunrise came quickly....visitors were streaming in but i was on the outside looking in .....knowing there were friends and family there but just trying to get through each minute as best as i could......i did manage to stand up and walk a little but again only remember vaguely doing it both days......sometime durin the day i found a chair in the room that folded out into a small bed and i figured out a way to push my feet against the wooden part to get comfortable....however i pushed to hard and broke the darn thing... i did tell a nurse about it but they have enough on their mind(on my second stay in the hospital my broken chair was in the hall with a big broken sign on it ) i laughed each time i walked past it..and told all who would listen that it was me who broke it with my massive leg strength.....any how my doctor came in and i begged him to pull me off the morhine and the morphine drip that it was driving me out of this world....he agreed to change my pain medicine and i felt that it helped immediately to improve my state of mind.....because on friday night even though it was as uncomfortable as thurday i did not have those weird dreams and spider webs all over me.....i did notice that an office building across the street that of the 56 windows i counted during the day only one light was on...i was trying to figure out what was going on in that office......that took up at least 10 minutes of my time....10 minutes closer to daylight and my sponge bath with Helmet....( ok with 5 tubes coming out of you you take what you can get ya know,...........the rest is history....two days of hell for another 30 years on the planet......priceless

welcome back vansman...i hope your wife is feeling better...thanks for the call the other day
mets beat yanks...yeahhhhhh baby.......
went to visit my co-workers today...it was good to see everyone...wore me out i still am not ready to go back......although i am chomping at the bit.......

tom......heading around third .....cheffo

You don't miss your waters...until your well runs dry

i don't mean because will & grace and that's 70 show are now off the air..... i mean simple things you have always done and now have to really concentrate to accomplish them again.......i can only say these last 6 weeks..or should i say these last 7 months have been some of the greatest highs and lowest lows i have ever felt...i always maintained i would share with all of you those two days following my surgery...i now feel i need to write about it and if i already told you this stuff in person sorry about repeating myself......i awoke in a recovery room with sue and my full time nurse at my side.. when i looked about the room i had perfect vision...( i wasn't wearing my glasses or contacts ....perfect vision for about ten seconds....i even thought for a moment i went in for lazer eye surgery my mistake......funny thought at that time.....anyhow when i awoke again in my room which thanks to the families fund was a private room...( which i was so thankful for) then the fun started.....i never was a morphine kind of guy and that drug was playing tricks on my mind...i was not in a lot of pain...but having 30 staples..5 tubes..and a partridge in a pear tree coming out of me i guess i needed something for the pain...but it was a very dark time.....but again thanks to the families fund we were able to keep a 24 hr vigil on me and my aides and nurses were there when i needed them......there were these boots that were placed on my legs that inflated every three minutes to keep the blood flowing in my legs....they were so uncomfortable i wanted to rip them off ...but my aide calmly said..in his accent ...mr cheefo they are there for a reason and we must keep them on....well i woke form a strange morphine induced dream and the entire room was filled with spider webs....my aide passed me a drink and i asked him what was going on with the spider webs...and he kindly said...me cheefo there is nothing going on as i wiped the spider webs from my arms and drifted back to a place i have never been before and will never want to go again.........part 2 tomorrow of my DARKEST HOURS........

THANKS FOR LETTING ME GET THIS DOWN ON PAPER.......TOM...."DRUG FREE"...CHEFFO.....ps. weight went down to 142..... eat like a pig but i quess not enough...ice cream malts here i come.....hey hey hey fat albert help me out

RIGHT IN MY OWN BACK YARD

I HAVE TAKEN TO BEING LIKE AN EXPLORER ON MY MANY WALKS AND FOUND THIS GNOME TYPE HOME NOT THREE BLOCKS FROM MY HOME...IT IS ON THE SIDE OF SOME PROPERTY THAT I DRIVE BY QUITE OFTEN AND NEVER SAW IT...IMAGINE THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE AND I WOULD HAVE MISSED IT IF I DID NOT JUST WALK ON BY IT.....PRETTY COOL EH....ANYWAY IT GOES TO SHOW YA OPEN YOUR EYES TO SEE THE WORLD.....

MA & PA GEESE ARE DOING FINE AND HEWEY,DEWY AND LOUIE (THAT'S WHAT I CALL THE BABIES ) ARE GETTING BIGGER AND FATTER FASTER THAN ME

I SPOKE TO ANDY....Benjamin (ANDY'S SON) CAME THROUGH THE SURGERY FINE..A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED BUT IT TURNED OUT OK IN THE END

TODAY WEIGHT....144...THIS WILL BE A DAILY FEATURE UNTIL I HIT 160......WHO WANTS TO BET ON THE EXACT DATE?

OH YEAH I LOVE WHEN THE COMMENTERS COMMENT TO EACH OTHER.....ALWAYS MAKES ME LAUGH.......

TOM..mOTHER GOOSE...CHEFFO

WITNESS LOVE

i WENT BACK TO THE SMALL POND LIKE AREA WHERE THE DUCKS AND GEESE HANG OUT ..IT IS MORE LIKE A RAIN RUNOFF BUT ITS THE CLOSEST TO A POND I CAN WALK TO AND SNAPPED THIS PHOTO....I WATCHED AS THE PARENTS CARED FOR THEIR YOUNG AND ONLY LET THEIR GUARD DOWN WHEN THEY KNEW THEY WERE SAFE...EVEN THE SLOWEST OF THE GROUP GOT THE SAME CARING LOVE AS DID THE OTHERS.....SHE WAS NOT A RUNT IN HER MOTHERS EYES.......I HAD TO SMILE AT THE SIGHT OF THEM WADDLING THROUGH THE FENCE AND DOWN THE ROAD..WHERE THEY WERE HEADED I HAVE NO IDEA....MOM OR DAD KINDA GAVE ME A LOOK LIKE SEE YA TOMORROW AND WE WENT OUR SEPARATE WAYS...I WILL CHECK UP ON THEM .......I MEAN I REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH ELSE TO DO YA KNOW.........CAN'T QUITE GET THE HANG OF NEEDLE POINT .........BUT WHO KNOWS.......

P.S....ANDY" SON (FELLOW BLOGETTE IS HAVING THAT EYE SURGERY TUES........HOPE ALL GOES WELL.....KEEP US POSTED ANDY......TELL HIM THE NURSES ARE CUTE AND THE ANGELS OF THE HOSPITALS.....IF HE NEEDS A VETERENS ADVISE TELL HIM TO CALL ME

TOM

WEEKEND UPDATE

first and foremost i would like to wish all mothers and mothers to be a happy mothers day...for you see without mothers none of us would be here and that is just a fact.....speaking of mothers my aunt gloria whom my brothers and i home we moved into after our parents passed on (kinda like my second mom)(along with my aunt mary) came to see me saturday along with my cousins roe and arnello and my best bud Johnny nor ( a member of my band black horse) and just happened to marry my cousin roe 25 years ago it was a fun visit that topped off 4 days of friends and family coming by......it was fun to go over old times with my cuz arnelo whom i have not seen in over 15 years......he was and is a fine person and one that i intend to keep in touch with...i could never understand why some people just drift apart sometimes....but i guess as long as they drift back together it is cool......

my progress is slow at best and life being homebound is not all i thought it would be...the weather stinks and having visitors really helped.....books/movies/walks/naps/small meals is about what my life has become....strength coming back but the roller coaster ride i am on takes getting used to NEO continues toamaze me and that part is working fine ....my digestive system is still working slowly ...but i am eating a little more and gained a pound......that was a major event in my life.....sorry it is not as exciting as past blogs......but being anchored has limited adventures....i will start to bring a camera on my walks and share those adventure with you ( today i saw a family of geese complete with mommy daddy and babies....i wished her a happy mothers day and she made a hissing sound at me)also we had another family of birds born in our bird house on our front porch....(the wire broke and the birdhouse fell 10 feet but babies and mother are fine)......see there are exciting things happening.....right outside your door...ya just have to look.....tom

SUNSHINE....SHOW YOUR FACE

well it has been a pretty exciting week and i an flattered that people think i look so good and believe me they are being kind or it is amazing what a baseball cap can hide.....still 25 lbs below my regular weight and food although tastes great i can only eat small portions and at this rate i will never gain it back....and now on to today's subject...SUNSHINE..I MEAN ENOUGHS ENOUGH..I FEEL LIKE I AM STUCK IN FOLSON PRISON AND I HAVE NOT SEEN THE SUNSHINE IN I DON'T KNOW WHEN..(j.cash)... how ever a picture arrived yesterday from kent and felicia's beautiful daughter CARLY AND IT WAS ALL SUNSHINE TO ME (see insert)...THANKS CARLY...YOU ROCK...AS DO YOUR PARENTS....Yesterdays visitors....my dear friends from Israel nitsan and giora....and felicia and michele two people i could never do without in my life...made my day.......more surprise visitors today....guess i gotta wear that baseball cap again....they don't realize how much this all means to me.....enjoy the day......after all..it is what it is

tom

FRIENDSHIP

had some great visitors yesterday...it is always fun to see friends and share my war stories with them.....fellow blogettes paul and susan k came by for a visit along with my pal jeff....(susan came during evening visiting hours) and got to hang with her new "soul sister" casey.....i don't know.... they are so much a like it's scary.....i think i over did it and had some lo-mien at my buddy leo's chinese restaurant ...where i am treated like a king...and it was my first field trip other that doctors and hospital in the last month....felt good to be with buds....they are in for a product meeting and i will miss being there.....i know they will carry on without me.....the rest of my friends are coming over friday after the meeting to visit these skin and bones...( name of my new band)hehhehe.......

oh well thanks for the friendships we have formed...i will never thake them for granted

phil from blue sky...thanks for helping my crew out at the show....always comforting to know that "road family" will always shine......(we could use some blue sky in new york.....cloudy every day now)
it was beautiful when i was in the hospital....go figure

tom "still waiting for that cheeseburger" cheffo

LIFE

this phase of my journey has been a slow "walk in the park" i always enjoyed the down time when i could get it but down time when your body is 10 steps behind your mind is not exactly the greatest combination....i do what i need to do to get through the day...one step closer to good health...one step close to feeling like my old self.....it is quite an amazing adventure and i have posted almost 200 times hoping to share at least some of it with you....it is by far one of the biggest reasons i have maintained some sanity sharing and writing about it and letting my feelings known to all......i have rarely left this keyboard without a sense of relief that i am not alone on this journey that very few get to take....let alone share with all his friends and loved ones......i leave you with this and it is been said before....take nothing for granted....for every sneeze that comes out of you ....every time you speak....go to the bathroom...throw a football....have a catch....read a book....ship a rock on a pond....drive a car...kiss your loved ones.... tie your shoe...listen to music...digesting food..smiling...walking...somewhere someone is having a hard time even doing some of these things.....i know ...i have been one of those people for the last month....and proud to be able to write about it....

see ya all soon i am sure......my journey is coming to an end.......or is it just the beginning...tom

TOP 10 REASONS FOR BEING IN THE HOSPITAL

10. YOU GET TO STAY IN YOUR PAJAMAS 24/7
9. YOU GET TO SAY HELLO TO THE SAME PERSON 50 TIMES IN THE SAME DAY
8. THE "NON SICK" PEOPLE ALWAYS LOOK AT YOUR FEET WHEN YOU PASS THEM BY
7. YOU HAVE A LIVE PERSON AT THE END OF YOUR INTERCOM TO ANNOY
6. YOUR BED MAGICALLY MOVES TO ADJUST TO YOUR BODY
5. YOU GET EXCITED ABOUT THE 0NE HOUR WATERCOLORS CLASS
4. WHEN THEY PULL ALL THE TUBES AND NEEDLES OUT OF YOU YOU HAVE A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE
3. YOU SIT ON THE EDGE OF YOUR BED WAITING FOR THE GUY WHO SELLS NEWSPAPERS
2. YOU TRY TO ORGANIZE IV POLE RACING AROUND THE HALLS ONLY TO BE SHOT DOWN FOR INSURANCE REASONS
1. AND THE #1 REASON FOR BEING IN THE HOSPITAL...YOU GET TO HEAR "MR CHEFFO YOUR GOING HOME"

HOME NOW....FOOD IS STAYING DOWN....I HAVE A GREAT NURSE (SUE) WHO TAKES NO CRAP FROM ME AND IS PUTTING UP WITH MY WORLD .......THANKS AGAIN TO ALL WHO CARE ...AND FOR ALL THE PRAYERS, POEMS AND LOVE.....I CAN SEE THE LIGHT FINALLY ....NEO CONTINUES TO AMAZE ME AND IS WORKING HARD.........SEE SOME OF YOU ALL THIS WEEK AND I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT....STILL 20 POUNDS LIGHTER..BUT GETTING STRONGER EVERY DAY........TOM "TOOTHPICK" CHEFFO

HAPPY .......CINCO DE MAYO

TIME TO CELEBRATE....I'M COMING HOME SO LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON......another semi sleepless night i found out it was not even the patient snoring but his son who slept in the room .....and he was the only one who slept...the SOB slept through everything..i have no idea why he was even there if something happened to his father he would have slept through it.....oh well plenty of time to sleep...this unexpected week in the hospital was a real eye opener as to how much the human body can endure...how many pokes and prodes...x-rays and ct scans...IV'S AND NO ZZZZZ....watercolors and woodwork...scaning the halls late at night..trying to make sense of it all..always and i mean always passing someone who is so much worse off then you could ever be.....people in street clothes invading our space..sometimes i wonder who the lucky ones are them or us...we are in control of our illness..they walk the halls not knowing if the should come or go ....not knowing what to say to their loved ones..holding back the tears until the walls of the halls offer them the santurary they need...so here's to the people in street clothes today ( just put mine on for the first time in a week).....enjoy the sidewalk your loved ones are getting the best care anywhere...you did the right thing bringing them here..may they walk out on their own two feet soon and feel the wind at their backs again.....

see you in Huntington my friends....visiting hours are 9-9 monday thru sunday

thanks to the families fund for all your help.......TOM>>>homeward bound>>>Cheffo

SLEEPLESS IN NY

HI ALL...hope the world is treating you well.....fiaNlly got a roomate yesterday....someone to share old war stories with...someone to compare wounds with...someone to talk to after the late night wakeups......WRONG...he does not speak english and that means his entire family does not speak english ( why does everyone yell at them thinking they would understand them better)....they also do not understand the concept of turning off the lights at night ..i even showed them the switches...they just smiled and said hank-you ......oh well i did find out something interesting.....EVERYONE SNORES IN ENGLLISH....i wrapped a pillow case around his head..eerrr around my head and made the best of it.....ok now about me....looks like food and drinks stayed down ( not witout it's moments ) and should be tubeless today...all needles are out of my body now and i am slowly becoming me again....NEO IS WORK FANTASTIC....AND OTHER GREAT NEWS,,,,,,NO CANCER IN MY LYMPH NODES ...KEY MAN.. THAT IS KEY......we made the right choice in removing bladder signs that there was still some cancer in the old bladder made that choice correct...it would have roared back if i just would have done the CHEMO.......OH WELL CLOSER TO HOME THAN NOT......KEEP ON KEEPING ON..
thanks for listening to me on the other side of my cell...it is my link to the real world.......TOM....YAWN...CHEFFO

REMEMBER KENT STATE....MAY 4 1970......SEEMS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.......
SEE YA ON THE FLIP SIDE.....HAPPY SALES TO YOU.......

HOTEL MEMORIAL

offical name of my hospital is ...memorial sloan-kettering ...now to be nick-named hotel memorial...still here and still standing and still have belly tube gonna wait till i digest solid food before they remove it ( starting on solids today) (wed)
looks like my check-out date is friday...spent some of my days working with arts and crafts and watercoloring don't laugh we have all the perks here...we get to paint on pieces of copper and bake them in an oven for a beautiful piece of jewelery or refrigerator magnet..hehhe....it is -my friends.. time to reflect again...enjoy your freedom...smell the flowers coming up....smile one for me today..i can feel your love...516-946-1134 cell is still working...unless i am in woodwork and building a model car..you cannot interupt an artist while working...heeee.....kiss a frog today...may turn out to be your prince or princess

tom....the monkey man....cheffo
happy birtday britt...( missy loves ya)
hope your nose is healing ben
happy tent sale footloose.....go to footloosecomfort.com for beautiful shoes.......

WATER WATER EVERY WHERE

<AND FINALLY A DROP TO DRINK........they let me drink one inch of water an hour last night and my friends when it has not touched your lips in 4 days it tastes so good...i felt like i was on a desert and i had to make that last.so i sipped it slowly and realy enjoyed it......today (tues) i am able to drink broth and juice...yahoooo......i am still being "fed" my a tube and i feel like an astro-nut....because i remember they had to eat from tubes...except my tube goes right to my blood stream....i pretend that eggs and bacon are being pumped through my veins for breakfast.....final tube ....that is my safety valve out of NEO is being removed today....i will be tubeless except for the IV IN MY ARMS....freedom is a wonderful thing..........i will have a complete medicial review on tomorrows blog....some good news was passed my way today but i will wait till i get all the facts......
tom
happy b- day britt....missy what is the answer to the joke?
andy ....good luck with ben...that really stinks....hope he does not get gun shy ....it happens to the best....
kev m..may pams airways open up soon and a new ..clear day is upon you all
loose lucy/ footloose crew....way to kick butt selling naots at the festival.....cannot wait to see you'all>
marrisa have fun at the jr prom...and to the boys ....luc and ..enjoy baseball i know your grandpa would be so proud...remember hit the round side of the ball...lol

WATER WATER EVERY WHERE

<AND FINALLY A DROP TO DRINK........they let me drink one inch of water an hour last night and my friends when it has not touched your lips in 4 days it tastes so good...i felt like i was on a desert and i had to make that last.so i sipped it slowly and realy enjoyed it......today (tues) i am able to drink broth and juice...yahoooo......i am still being "fed" my a tube and i feel like an astro-nut....because i remember they had to eat from tubes...except my tube goes right to my blood stream....i pretend that eggs and bacon are being pumped through my veins for breakfast.....final tube ....that is my safety valve out of NEO is being removed today....i will be tubeless except for the IV IN MY ARMS....freedom is a wonderful thing..........i will have a complete medicial review on tomorrows blog....some good news was passed my way today but i will wait till i get all the facts......
tom
happy b- day britt....missy what is the answer to the joke?
andy ....good luck with ben...that really stinks....hope he does not get gun shy ....it happens to the best....
kev m..may pams airways open up soon and a new ..clear day is upon you all
loose lucy/ footloose crew....way to kick butt selling naots at the festival.....cannot wait to see you'all>
marrisa have fun at the jr prom...and to the boys ....luc and ..enjoy baseball i know your grandpa would be so proud...remember hit the round side of the ball...lol

THESE DAYS

m-orning world...hope all is as well as can be.....my progress is still improving...still on a IV ONLY and food seems so distant to me know i have to re-train myself to chew.....had a restful night and would love to hear your voice anytime...you can call my cell 516-946-1134..or call room ( i will post # later ) i am in room 535b....still no room-mate and i have the suite to myself...i am thinking wed-thursday discharge they want to make sure i can keep food down...i am looking at this as part of my 6 weeks recovery only i am doing part of it in the hospital...NEO_bladder is working fine and i am happy about that...now just have to get intestines to not be still mad at me for cutting them to use as part of my bladder ( you know how intestines are fickle kind of organ).....oh well .....all for now...keep the faith,,,,tom

THESE WALLS

one should only expierence the feeling and power that goes on behind the walls of Slone Kettering.....it is a place of compassion and care .....where every life is as important as the next....my progress has been good and things are waking up inside me again.....the funny thing is i really don't mind to much being back in the hospital even thogh the taste of freedom is still on my lips (that's the only thing on my lips i've tasted in days).....been getting my walking in 1-1 1/2 hours a day round and round the halls with my ipod...singing along to songs sometimes..even getting smiles from the amazing nurses that walk the halls with such a good vibe coming out of them it should be bottled and sold on the open market....they mentioned solane on tv during the yankee game yesterday i think one of torontos coaches was here and derek jeter sent a bat over..i pumped up my fist proud to be a memember of this exclusive club....to my family -friends-and total strangers- i am alive and well living behind these walls......and living is the opertive word....tom

MINOR SET BACK

I guess you could say if i do not blOg for a few days thars a trouble a brewing.....yesterday (thurs) woke up feeling pretty crappy...dehydrated.....lightheaded...rushed to local hospital for fluids and a boast.....well a blockage was discovered in my intestine and the wheels started turning to get me out of huntington hospital and back to my home base ....sloane kettering...after hours of which i spent most of the time in a freaking hallway i was finaal taken to NYC in my first ambelance ride as a patient..one hour in the back on a gurney.....got into my room at the stroke of midnight..they tried to put a tube down my nose nto my stomach but it would not go...that was unpleasant at best....it is around 10 am and i and on fluids and being monitored..who knows how long i will be stayng in room 535b but i will tell you all this i am in good spirts...good hands...and about as hungry as a human canm be ...but as my chart says..NO LIQUIDS....NO SOLIDS..STORY OF MY LIFE THESE DAYS
TOMMY " TUBES ARE BACK IN " CHEFFO

ONE FOR THE BOOKS

i almost did not tell you all this but is to bizzare not to...ok here i was lead into a room to have them look inside my new state of the art system....while i was told to remove everything below the waist i was assured it was ok to leave my shirts on...well as he poured the contrast dye into my bladder it was leaking out of the tubes and i was getting pretty wet...not saying much and hoping the picture had good news i kinda blew it off.....well like i said all went well and he removed tube from where no tube should ever be and said it's ok to get dressed (after lying in wet for 15 minutes....well the problem was i had no other shirts and only a fleece type jacket..to compound the problem my you know what was leaking and i had to put a pad on ...sort of like a diaper...oh not sort of exactly like a diaper...well they left the room and i grabb

ed the first thing i could to wrap around me..a bedsheet..ok get the picture.....me 15 pounds lighter....diaper...bedsheet...i swear i looked like GHANDI..i did get a laugh out of it....and under my sweat pants and fleece type jacket was how i was driven home.....(i think sue knew i was just a lttle pissed...but still i had to laugh......do the math
one hour drive to the city tolls and gas....$326.75 ( price of gas is high)
contrast dye into NEO $2,500
getting tube pulled early....far-out-
GETTING TO DRESS UP AS GHANDI AND IT'S NOT EVEN HOLLOWEEN......PRICELESS
all's well that ends well...tom"feed me"cheffo
candy..have a blast
susan k ,missy and crew.....stay dry
cartwright..lauries braclet is on the way

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE

hey all. thanks for the great comments yesterday they lifted my spirits...eating adult food again yeah....and had the tude removed from the place i was praying for ahead of time..what a relief...all i have left in me is a safety valve into NEO (MY NEW BLADDER) that is in my belly.....all systems are working and i am training NEO to do the right thing....injected a dye into me and stitches are holding well inside...man o man...i am free at last ..thank god almighty i am free at last....well don't want to get ahead of myself and i still have to set my alarm every 2-3 hours to empty bladder but hey what else am i doing

cartwright i have bracelets..i will send ya a special oneto all my friends that went to the festival....enjoy the music...have a beer or three on me.....put it on my tab
tommy"speedo-neo-chemosabi- almost tubeless" cheffo

TUESDAY WITH TOMMY

HI MY FRIENDS......HAD A GOOD DAY TUESDAY...STOMACH FEELING BETTER AND ALL SYSTEMS ARE WORKING NOW (GET IT?)....STILL PRETTY WEAK AND EXPECT THAT TO GET BETTER AS THE DAYS MOVE FOWARD....HAVE AN IMPORTANT FOLLOWUP MEETING WITH DR RUSSO TUES AT 3:30 TO REVOVE THE TUBE INTO MY BELLY (yeah) THAT FEEDS INTO THE BLADDER AND THEY INJECT A DYE INTO neo TO SEE IF HE HAS ANY LEAKS...WATCHING TV AND LISTENING TO MUSIC AND READING TO PASS THE TIME BUT GOING STIR CRAZY...SO PLEASE CALL ME AFTER WEDNESDAY ANT TIME AFTER 10 TO CHAT 631-673-6406...HOME 3 CAN'T PROMISE A RIVETING CONVERSATION BUT I COULD TELL YOU WHATS HAPPENING ON THE YOUNG AND RESTLESS (lol)......THE E-MAILS AND COMMENT ARE PRICELESS AND ADNY I DID SEE SOPRANOS..ALL ABOUT FOOD EPISODE.....JUST MY LUCK I CAN'T EAT ANY OF IT YET...TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED....EVEN GOING TO THE BATHROOM IS A GIFT ...TRUST ME ON THAT ONE..LOVE YA

GOOD LUCK MICHELE,AYELET AND STEVE IN ISRAEL.....KNOCK EM DEAD

TOM

WEEKEND UPDATE

HI ALL...minor set back saturday and sunday,,,,,food still does not agree up my system and thank god for gerbers ( yep resorted to baby food).....wild ..it turns out i will be going through this for a little while until my system comes back being in shock......other than that....glad to start recovery... 75 degrees thurs and friday...cold and rainy weekend..like it when i could walk outside....need to walk one hour a day....goes quite fast..thanks to ipod and all my music.....families hold me up now........the two darkest days after surgery you were with me.....man that was hairy...will tell ya more as soon as i can relive it......sorry kaminsky you washed out in tourney......


i will blog again
cant sit for to long

tom

CHRISTMAS IN APRIL

not only did some of my greatest friends come to visit..... my show brothers you always hear about .... stewart (joe blow tees),adam and jeremy ( be as you are)drove from maryland/dc area with unbelievable food......and laughs ...lonnie (marcia we went for a walk) came buy and is always a great friend to hang with.....and alan and donna .....two of the nicest people on the planet....gave me so many fun gifts to keep me busy.....one of which is a minature water cooler that hold eight glases and is in my room right now...saving sue some steps in bringing me gifts ..... hey ...i am still getting gifts....and i am cancer free...only in america....tom

feeling twice as good as yesterday..and only half as good as tomorrow

good luck loose lucy's fishing team....susan your blog address is www.looselucyfishingteam.blogspot.com....( not .net) check out the site it's cool updated tommorow

HOME ON THE RANGE

..
WHERE THE DEER AND THE BLADDERS WILL PLAY...WHERE SELDOM IS HEARD.....AH YOU KNOW THE REST..IMAGE IS JUST IN CASE YOU WANTED TO SEE WHERE I SPENT THE LAST WEEK....WHEW..WE FREAKIN DID IT...ALL OF YOU WERE WITH ME EVERY STEP OF THE 7 DAYS......TOUGHEST TWO DAYS (PHYSICALLY) OF MY LIFE THURS AND FRIDAY WERE.......BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL I AM ON THE ROAD BACK.......THANK-YOU ----THANK-YOU...LOTS OF HOSPITAL STORIES TO TELL.....DUE TIME ..IN DUE TIME.....TONIGHT .....I SLEEP......

TOM

TURN THE PAGE

<< I AM GOING HOME....TWO DAYS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE I HAVE BEEN GETTING FREASH AIR ON THIS BEAUTIFUL PATIO ON THE ......they have a beautiful outdoor patio on the FLOOR patients and it was good to go ouT Side........
phase 2 is in full swing and i will be sent home with a tube in my belly that feeds into the bladder and one out the only exit they could think of...( should i draw you a map)?.....my unrine will flow out two side of the NEO- bladder NOT A BLADDER ANYMORE IT WILL BE REFERRED TO BY ITS NEW NAME NEO FROM NOW ON for 4 weeks......with me claning and flushing it out.......part of the recovery ...part of phase 3 i guess.....HEALING AND TURNING THE PAGE............
REMEMBER TO TOUCH A TREE TODAY IT HAS TO FEEL SO WONDERFUIL....THE CONCRETE PATIO AGAINST MY HAND TODAY WAS THE MOST WONDERFUL FEELING I HAVE SENSED ALL DAY....EACH TOUCH OF EACH OBJECT WILL TAKE ON A NEW MEANING ON THIS ROAD TO THE CURE.......TOM....STIR CRAZY...CHEFFO
OOOOOOXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOO

TOMATO SOUP FOR THE SOUL

<
HEY FROm TOM AGAIN....A LITTLE WOOZY FROM THIS SHITTY SOUP I HAD......BUT IT TASTED GOING DOWN...I GUESS YOU KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THIS................ANY WAY THE CLOCK IS TICKING AND I CANNoT WAIT TO BLOG FROM HOME,,,,,,THE CARDS ....CALLS.....LOVE.....FLOWERS.....ALL OF YOU ARE WITH ME EVERY SECOND ...EVERY MINUTE,,,,EVERY IV....DRESSING CHANGE.....EVERY EVERY THING.......am now and sleep came in bits and pieces......more in bits than in pieces...almost impossible to get a good nights sleep in here...always waking up to give vitals and stuff....seems like the clock starts here at 6 am and you fog through the day......healing well cannt wait the share war stories....lOVE TO ALL AT NAOT/YALEET FOR THEiR KIND WORDS AND TESTOMONIES... i hope you all know i miss you as much as u miss me.......CHRIS CHEFFO'S BIRTHDAY TODAY.....MY BOY IS 22.......AWESOME SON.....AWESOME HUMAN......AWESOME BROTHER.....AWESOME BOYFRIEND... AWESOME DRUMMER ( ONLY PLAYING 4 MONTHS AND READY TO ROCK)...............WHAT MORE CAN I ASK FOR TOM "STRONG ARM " CHEFFO

Message from Tom today!

HI....FROM TOM....... CUTTING INTO BLOG...LIVE FROM NY SLOANE KETTERING ........SITTING HERE WITH TEARS IN MY EYES READING ALL THIS...................I LOVE YOU ALL. AND AM DOING GREAT.........KEEP THE LOVE FLOWING.................TOM

PS- Tom will be going home on Wednesday!!! YEAH!!!!

GET WELL SOON, WE MISS YOU!

HI....FROM TOM....... CUTTING INTO BLOG...LIVE FROM NY SLOANE KETTERING ........SITTING HERE WITH TEARS IN MY EYES READING ALL THIS...................I LOVE YOU ALL. AND AM DOING GREAT.........KEEP THE LOVE FLOWING.................TOM


GET WELL SOON, WE MISS YOU!

Casey just called and was right next to Tom and Tom wanted me to TELL EVERYONE OUT THERE THAT HE SAYS HELLO!
The photo is everyone at Yaleet sending their warm wishes to Tom. Not sure what happen to my smile, I think I was more concerned with the young girl taking the photo. She was walking by selling Easter Candy so I stopped her and said to her if you take a photo I will buy candy from you (very Fair trade), such a Tom move right! So we showed her how to use the camera and then Steve and I bought candy from her. LOL
We were talking this morning in the Sales Department about how we are missing a piece of the puzzle "Tom". Just not the same without ya buddy! We were quoting some of Tom's lines this morning like "land your planes people", "One Ring Only People"! WE MISS THEM! Or his random dancing in the office! We have so much fun with ya Tom. Can't wait until that morning you walk back thru the front door and say "I am Back people", that will be a GREAT day and we are looking forward to it! Listed below are two more quotes from Kent Doobrow (The Doobrow's are great people) and Bruce Grosser (who we love talking to everyday).


Kent- I always go back to the first time I met Tom. It was Surf Expo Sept 1993 and we immediately connected. It was obvious he had been given an opportunity that afforded him the ability to share his magic and continue to expand his horizons. His previous life experiences, dedication, love of family and friends, sincerity, selflessness, and work ethic rarely seen these days offered those in his path (as well as anyone in 10 square miles of him) the ability to meet that one special person that can positively impact you for life! Nothing has changed since then. The life lessons I have and continue to learn from my association with Tom make me a better person. Over the years, I have seen ONLY positive comments and actions from Tom. He leads by example. We are all better because of him!!! The music never stops..........Peace

Bruce- I went to the theater to see a movie with Tom in NYC during a FFANY show. Bruce sat next to Tom. Tom said " don't you know the every - other - seat rule ?" Guys don't sit next to each other in a movie theater !" Now I know better.

Tom should be back on the BLOG this weekend! YEAH

New Update as 1:30 Thursday- see at the end

Let the Healing Begin!
Surgery went very well and as planned! Got the call last night around 10:00. WHAT A GREAT PHONE CALL THAT WAS!!!!!!! The doctors told Susan that everything looked good and no visable signs of cancer. As soon as I hear more this morning, I will update you all again! Listed below are more kind words about Tom from Susan,Candy & Jess Macdowell!

Susan wrote- the one person in the world that showed me what customer service could be, and should be, I thought I knew it all, the way he interacts with people, from friends to strangers, is genuine, honest, and personal-it captures all who is in his path, if only for a moment, or for a lifetime-he changes the way people feel about the moment they are in, about who they are, and how he made them feel like a better person!

Candy Wrote- You can't help but think of Tom and smile. He has the most amazing outlook on life. He can always find the humor during the rough times which seems to help put people at ease. Reading the blogs helps to keep me grounded, it reminds me of what is important in life. It is easy to lose focus, but the blogs keep it real, not only with Tom as the leader, but with the comments of the wonderful people he surrounds himself with. You can't help but to love Tom and his family. He touches peoples lives so effortlessly, as does the whole Cheffo family. I feel blessed that he is in my life.

Jess Wrote- He walks into a room cooler then the Fonz no matter what the situation, and he's not faking it.

New Update as of 1:30 today- TOM JUST CALLED!!!! YEAH!!! He was a little out of it, which is to be expected of course. We were so happy to hear his voice here at Yaleet. He said, he was doing ok and just wanted to say HI! He is so amazing! We love him! More updates later!

New Update as of 10 pm Wednesday night! See Bottom!

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

This is Tom's motto! What a great motto! This is why we love him! Hello everyone, it's "Michele". Today is Tom's surgery at 12:45, which is about a 6 hour surgery. As soon as I hear something either this evening or earlier today, I will post it ASAP on the blog!
Tom- when you read this we are all thinking about you today and we love ya guy!
For the next few days a few people have sent me quotes and paragraphs about Tom and I would love to post one or two a day. Tom will love to read them!!! The first one I would like to post is from Rachel at Yaleet. I love this one!

Tom is the type of man that people aspire to be like and parents teach their children to be like. He is a kind and generous man with a heart of gold. He will happily give the shirt off his back or the shoes on his feet to someone who is in need. He is an inspiration to all that come in contact with him. After a conversation with Tom Cheffo you may feel a bit confused, due to the fact that you have just discussed the current political happenings, which Dead song sounds the best live as well as which tradeshow setup works best for WSA, all in one conversation, but you will always be inspired to be a better person. Tom will always make you feel as though every second counts, every word spoken matters and that life is what you make of it. Everyone who meets him is changed for the better in some small way. You will walk away from him with an attitude of "it can be done" no matter what the situation.....he is a motivator. Tom is the person that you would want in the elevator with you if it gets stuck….hopefully he will have his guitar.


2:35 Update Just spoke with Tom, there has been a delay in his Surgery and it is now scheduled for 3:00. He will call if there are any further delays. He will not be getting out until around 9 or 10 tonight. I will post as soon as I hear.

4:45 Update- Just spoke with Susan Cheffo and Tom is in surgery as of 4:00. Should be out around 10:00 or 11:00. As soon as I hear more news I will update again ASAP!

GREAT NEWS!
Tom is out of surgery, surgery went excellent and as planned, so far so good!
He will be in recovery tonight and tomorrow, Susan will see him in an hour, but reports are positive!
More info in the A.M. and will post as it arrives!
Everyone get some rest and we will re-group Thursday!
Thanks and good night!

TILL THE MORNING COMES

ok this is officially my last blog for a few days.....so heres what i have to say.........nothing.......that's right i am saying nothing...you guys have said it all....your phone calls...e-mails...gifts.....poems...prayers and promises (sorry.... john denver song snuck in)...your amazing strength to support my family in such a way that could never be equaled ........as i continue to say nothing about how today i was talking about my surgery as if it were happening to someone else .....but i figured it had to be me in this situation.....there had to be a reason why i have been surrounded by the likes of you.......my network of family and friends ........ co-workers....business associates is second to none.......it has to be me tomorrow because i would not want this to happen to any of you whom i love so dear......so raise your glass tonight.......take a look at the moon tonight ...it would be an honor if everyone looked up at 1 :00 pm tommorow and thank the earth for keeping us alive and bringing all of us together...you all have spent so much energy on my journey...relax tomorrow...i am in good hands..............WE ARE LOCKED AND LOADED TO BEAT THIS THING....ALL FOR ONE ....ONE FOR ALL...... to sue, casey, chris, maggie, cocoa mo, stormy and reese ( can't forget frida fish)...it has be a heck of a ride....thanks for steering the ship........
Dad & TC....
SURGERY 12:45 WEDNESDAY..........MAY BE OUT LATE IN DAY MICHELE WILL UPDATE BLOG...HER WORK pHONE # 516-465-6268

T MINUS 36 HOURS...TILL BLAST-OFF

well my friends the time has come...i will be in the hands of a gifted surgeon
( if he screws up do i still have to pay him ?).....one small set back today....i spiked a fever (SUNDAY NIGHT FEVER) up to 101.5.......plus i am fasting and craving a cheese-burger like you would not believe..MED RARE...NO PICKLE....SWISS CHEESS...SIDE OF FRIES...CLOW SLAW..........dr said take two tylenols and call me in the morning...really thats what he said......funny guy.......i love him....i love you guys....i love the crack in the sidewalk these days......what can i say you have made it up until this point a journey to remember........one i will tell my grandkids about.......i plan on one more blog before wedesday and michele will take over.....be kind to her.....she tells me everything.........thanks for the phone calls..... gifts....love....hope...peace.....cards.....music....prayers....yeah yeah all that is good but not one of you snuck me in a chese burger today........and to think i get to fast all over again tomorrow......call me at home around three tomorrow and you will see exactly how ornery i can be...............THESE ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS..( on one of chris from nomatic state of mind shirts).....I LOVE YA.........TOM

FASTING...........all systems go

well it looks like phase II is in full swing starting monday i go into a full fast mode until surgery on wednesday.....no solid foods......here's a list of things i could put into my body.....apple juice/gingerale/seltzer/tea/coffee(no milk)/fruit ices/broth/gatorade and gelatin.,.......on top of this i have to drink magnesium citrate and fleet phospho....might as well strap a toilet to my ass because thats where i will be for two days....stocking up the bathroom with magazines, dvd movies, salad bar (oh forgot can't have salad).......monday and tuesday should be a riot around here......sue made the jello already and i think is clearing out during the day......don't blame her.......anyhow been eating like crazy....Hoarding food in me like a camel hordes water..........6 pancakes already today....big meal planned for tonight celebrating my son chris's birthday ( it's next week but i am a little busy then).......passover...easter....i guess i will be eating for those holidays today also.....if i keep this up i will look like fat bastard in austin powers....oh behave............anyway all systems go.....Michele from work will be ghost writing for a while....( don't believe what ever she says about me )........thanks steve and suzy...michele and sandy for working on the families in trauma fund ( more on that later) or see micheles comments from yesterday........SCOTT AND AMY .....YOUR INCREDIBLE ( they sent me a signed jack johnson acoustic guitar) (you know it's hard to eat with a lump in my throat).....STEWART & KENT MY OTHER BROTHERS.....LOVE YOU GUYS ....ALL MY LUCY GALS......SO HAPPY YOU ARE IN MY WORLD......I AM THE LUCKIEST MAN ALIVE...........TO MY FAMILY THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT...SUE ---CASEY AND CHRIS......YOU GUYS ,......HAVE BEEN AMAZING......to all my blogettes .....your comments keep me moving foward.....to my friends, aunts ,uncles,cousins and teammates......cannot wait to see you this summer...........nieces and nephews uncle tom will be as good as new to play with you again.......to mike and dom.....two of the greatest brothers in the world.....rosemary,barbara,laura,felicia and brooklyn barb ...........you are like my sisters...and i love you so much.........ok no more mushy stuff.....gotta go eat some more...i will leave you with this on this beautiful sunny sunday..." you are what you have learned from the past,what you experience today, and what you dream for tomorrow."....( found this saying on a place matte in a resturant in woodstock).....sloane kettering here i come.....( 68th and york ave ) one block fro 1st ave....for all those who asked......in lew of flowers send smiles.........tom "camel-boy" cheffo.....cell ..516-946-1134 will have it on in hospital..i can use it there) starting friday i should be able to talk.......

CANCER FREE ...DAY THREE

thanks for all the calls and well wishes.......i love you all............................................well we had exactly 5 minutes to rejoice in the doctors office before we rolled up our sleeves and figured out a way to handle the next step.....THE NEO-BLADDER...... dr russo will remove my old bladder on wed the 12th and rebuilt my new one in about 4-6 hours....recovery room the rest of the day wednesday and moved into my own room on thursday (sues working with michele and steve on getting me a private room) more on that later......they want me to get up and walk a little the next day........man no rest for the weary.....about 10 days in the hospital...and 2 months recovery.......thats two freaking months..i will go stir crazy....but will be writing about it daily.......celebrated by going to another concert tonight..........bob weirs band rat dog( grateful dead fame) for my older cousins and aunts and uncles,,,heee ...heeeee...i went with casey saw some good friends and we smiled alot..........any way during THE SONG NEW SPEEDWAY BOOGIE the verse ends with.... "ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THIS DARKNESS GOT TO GIVE'" well my friends phase 1 is done..........on to phase 2...................tom

CANCER FREE

well had a good day today ( but then again any day above ground is a good day..........)looks like we killed the bastard....there is no visable sign of cancer in my body........ya....whoooooooooooo..... i will repeat that to all of you in the back....THERE IS NO VISABLE SIGN OF CANCER IN MY BODY............I still need to remove and replace the bladder and that was a trip leaning about my recovery and surgery...( i will give up to the minute reports from the hospital)......using ghost writers and trying to go live myself...i will go into more detail about the surgery soon....... we need to remove the bladder due to the high reocurrence rate and the where the tumor was located......but man it feels good to know it is out of my body...........always used to joke and say "the big c will not get me" well it did get me .......but it can't kill me...........whats that saying ...what doesn't kill you ,,,,makes you stronger........i will be faster...stronger...happier...and dang it if i am not gonna keep on blogging................thanks to my doctors i'm gonna live to play some more....dance some more..pick and grin some more......laugh some more..cry some more ( and those who know me know that is quite often) but most of all see all of you some more............rock on people (rachel at work hates when i say people) but hey i can say what i want i got cancer...opps....can't say that any ....oh well it was good while it lasted ( getting away with saying stuff)....heheheheehhe........heee...haw...........tommy "cancer free" cheffo.............

NEWS ON MY OPERATION

when the monkey smiles ....all is good
turns out a good friend of mine knew someone who had the exact same surgery as i am going to have and is in his 18th week of recovery...well i gave my new pal a call and he was so helpful.......he said it is painless and a little uncomfortable......he has trained his new neo-bladder to work pretty good.....he did have a blood infection but that could happen during any surgery........he sounded strong and optimistic and made me want to get started right away.......one step closer to free.....need to remove this chain called cancer from around my neck....can't wait to say ....i'm a survivor ( and not from the tv show) ..loved that curb episode.......anywho....all is good ..even got to throw the SOFTBALL around sunday with some of the greatest bunch of guys.."THE RAIDERS' ...the softball team i am on ..they are holding my spot for me when i am healthy......."once a raider always a raider"......i pitched batting pratice until denis almost took my head off with a line drive......then i figured that was enough........long may you run...........................tom ...thanks cousin maryann...your a pisser..love to all

BLOG WORLD

ok i lied about the award....but who knows........................................................... right after i was told about the big "C" i had this idea of creating of a web site that friends and family would be able to check on for updates and progress......my good friend and neighbor rob ( and heck of a piano player) told me about the "BLOG" concept...and the rest is history.....never in my wildest dreams did i think it would evolve into what it has.....i honestly do not know where i would have been if not for being able to write it down at the end of the day and share it with all of you......so much has come out of this site.....it has been a light to me in the darkest of hours....a silent friend who takes what i have to say and share it with the world.......it is my intention to continue to blog from the bedside at slone kettering hospital.......5th floor.......i will own that floor in a few days......asked casey to sneak my guitar in .....her reaction ...daddy gotta think of the other patients ( gotta love her)......i said ok ...maybe i will bring my harmonica ...( just learning how to play it) that should keep them awake....hehehehe...most importantly chris is gonna sneak in a few beers....or maybe wine to celebrate easter and passover....( sure hope the big guy passes over me).......so to all that read my words everyday..thank-you....to all that live life to the fullest everyday....keep on keeping on........lots of stories to tell still....i plan on blogging long after this chapter in my life is finished ........... long after the stitches heal in my new bladder ....long after they kick my ass out of the hospital into your arms........the arms of life............................