"MAY THE ROAD RISE TO MEET YOU"

I was going to say things that we already know ..that this is a time to take hold of what we have ..who we are.... and be thankful for all the good in our lives.....it really seems that this journey of life has amazing highs and crazy lows for so many people i have been fortunate enough to cross paths with.....i do know this and i speak from my heart....there is a connection that has happened that allows me to continue understand the true meaning of what love and friendship means...we sometimes take for granted even the breath that we are allowed to breath...we sometimes take for granted the food that we are being fed...we sometimes take for granted the love that is given our way....but i do know this ...i have tasted your love and friendship to the max and each and every time you have risen to join me in my battle to remain on this planet..you have lifted my spirits by your continued love ,cards, phone calls and e-mails..i did not know if i would ever feel like myself again...but there is a new bounce in my step these days....there is a new light at the end of my tunnel and all of you have been holding the flame........thank-you from the bottom of my heart and neo- bladder.....

tom......146 lbs and gaining.....turkey here i come........

ANATOMY OF AN ILLNESS

sounded like a good title to me...well i did get home on saturday and i tell you 5.5 days in a hospital is just about the perfect time...i mean any more and well let's just say we would have to go there this time.....surgery went well ..my intestine was twisting around inside me due to some scar tissue that formed on the outside of the intestinal wall and attached itself to some other part of my body ....freaky stuff.....the area behind the twist was severly swollen 6" had to be cut out and that will take some time to calm down so i should feel "normal" in about three months.......in the meantime....... i am real sore..how sore you ask..well like i just finished telling one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world...it only hurts when i sneeze,cough,smile,walk,sit,run,ride a horse, a minibike, or regular size bike, swing a bat,catch a football, play my guitar (no that hurts other peoples ears),yodel,canoodle,skinny dip,mountain climb, change tire, and lastly high five just about anybody with a little gusto......

what gets me when all this started...my intestine was perfecly fine....and then i kinda asked it if it would not mind if we ripped some of it out to build me a pouch ....i mean come on can you imagine how humilated it felt ...this was one way to get back at me i guess.....will hopefully i learned my lesson and will leave it alone for a while...untill next time
Tom

GREETINGS FROM SLOANE..PART 3

this will be short and sweet....surgert went very well....intesines were VERY dialated (stretched open) causing my food to hang around to long in the tube...this was caused by scar tissue that twisted my intestine from th eoriginal surgery ( happens quite often).....all looks good from here..a little weak and getting stronger daily....thanks for the visits call and e-mails...means so much to me.....i am just so glad i have all of you in my world......
tom...should be home soon

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

my favorite flower..birds of paradise

hELLO ALL,

well it looks like the rumour is true ..i need some more surgery...scar tissue is building up in my small intestine and if nothing else they will try to clear that up so i can get back to living normally...it has been quite uncomfortable some days in the digestive area...it appears that my intestine behind the blockage has fallen asleep and causing me all sorts of problems...well it is time to wake it up ..or take part of it out....let's get on with it......

surgery is monday the 29th...at Sloane kettering....will try to update from there.....

looking foward to all expenses paid vacation in nyc......round the clock nurses....room service.....i don't even have to take out the garbage....they not gonna know what hit them.....i am returning to the scene of the crime...........( man i bet the insurance companies hate the cheffo name....

see ya ..tom

516-946-1134...cell

e-mail thunderbyd@aol.com

...

ANNIVERSARY..........

2007 leukemia fund raiser "walking tall for the cure" over $4,500 raised

oct 13 2005.....the day i was told i had cancer......

i still remember those words like it was yesterday....."mr. cheffo, we have even a bigger problem you are going to have to have your bladder removed......but the good news is we are going to be able to replace it with a piece of you intestine"..you can only imagine my reaction " are your freakin kidding me" was what i think i said.....well two years have gone by and i would be amiss if i didn't mention it here in the very format that got me through most of the dark days...you see when i was able to write about my day it took a huge load off what my body was going through....i still remain humbled in the reaction and support of family and friends...

well i am here to say that my NEO_BLADDER is working fine although i am still not gaining weight (due to the fact that scar tissue has built up in my intestines) that is a conversation for my next blog....(looks like they need to go back in to fix it)...stay tuned for PART ll OF "MY WALK IN THE PARK"...............part one was such and adventure part ll is gonna be a piece of cake........

all my love

tom.........

I'M BACK

well it has been a longgggggggg road trip 6 trade shows...two footwear clinics all in 7 weeks... and i still have the energy to type this out......i have come a long way...but enough about me....just kidding.....ct scans this week are on the plate.....gotta keep getting checked out ........so i am getting on the soap box again ..please get a check-up yearly it is still the best way to beat this thing.....if you are feeling a little off take the time to figure out what is wrong......if you don't like your doctor ..find a new one......if you need advice just ask....i am living breathing proof that early detection saves lives.......don't ignore a lump and think it will go away......wear sun screen...give up cigs.....drink less and love more.....or is it drink more and love less...ahhh i forget.......october is the month i was diagoneed almost two years ago.......what a long strange trip it has been.........live......love.....long.....

tom

HOW YOU DOING?

This question has been asked to me asked to me a lot lately ......i used to answer it with one simple statement when i was recovering from surgery "i will be ok ....someday" well that someday has arrived...

most days i feel Like .....confident...defiant....rambunctious.....worldly....anchored..... rebellious....hippieish.....and down right ornery (even hitting that softball like the old days)


The story is now lengendary...... enduring what no single family should ever have to .....surviving the thunderous events that would crumple most to their knees...... doing so with dignity and pride.....
this would not have been possible without the love and support of so many people.....I have said this before.....I will spend the rest of my life re-defining what friendship should be...the people in my life have shown me one simple truth.....one that was passed on from my parents to my children.....if you are sincere in your way.....if you can endure the hardships and allow them to feed your soul to spread good will throughout the world.....it will come back to you in the form of love and support and in a sureal sense that you will live inside all those you have touched......
this has been the most difficult blog i have written ...being ever so careful as to be sure to translate the fact that "this walk in the park" we are all on cannot be walked alone.....doctors....family...friends...complete starngers....have held hands each and every day in a way that has made a difficult situation bearable.. the waiting rooms of our hospitals are filled with people looking for the answer.... if they only knew when looking at me that all of my world was sitting along side me....step by step.......they would see what i have seen......they would feel what i have felt....they would know what i have known...... that i am truly honored to have taken my "walk in the park " with you.........

the battle we are in now will be fought with the same passion we have been preaching............seek out the internal terriorist and destroy it's will to live inside the body......it really does not have a chance with the network we have built.....

my dear friends and family....."LONG MAY YOU RUN"...TOM

I WILL NOW ATTEMPT TO PUT THESE JOURNALS TO GOOD USE.....LOOK FOR THEM IN A BOOK STORE NEAR YOU...IMAGINE?

WOW

casy and dad...man i remember when i had hair......

has it been a month since i last blogged ...wonder if there are any of the 100's of friends and family out there still checking.....i do hear comments here and there that it really made an impact on some of your lives...i know it did on mine......and for that i will be forever thankful for having you in my life at such a crossroads......we are at another crosroads again and dealing with it as best we could...i do send bi-weekly updates on sues condition and if you are interested in getting it just e-mail me at thunderbyd@aol.com

as far as i am going ...well i am still adjusting to my new "body and bladder"....it does thae time i am told....i seem to have more energy and am thankful for that as i will be traveling soon and will need all the strength i can muster to keep up with the youngins........

man i missed my dose of bloggin......might just have to get back into it.....

happy trails....to all

tom

FATHERS DAY

Hello everyone sorry i have not posted ...... i have been a little busy these days....needed to post just to wish everyone happy fathers day........if you could see my kids and how they pampered me tonight....great food and fun talks...... well it makes the new trail we are on a heck of an easier one............

just letting everyone know we are attacking the problem head on......and i swear it does not have a chance against this family........

i will leave you with this.......

the tears we have cried were cried by all

the love that we felt was felt by all

the hope that we share has been shared by all

the fight we will fight will be fought by all

we are not alone

love ya

tom

MEMORIAL DAY

JUST A REMINDER ....HONOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND LEFT THEIR LIVES BEHIND FOR ALL OF US.........................

just left the scene of the crime..... SLOAN KETTERING NYC ...where i had my surgery over 1 year ago....seems it was years ago.......left some blood and some other fluids...got a clean bill and made another appointment for next year......what a difference from the last time i was in there......i look around the waiting room and can always spot a rookie....uneazyness in their chair...concerned look on family members.....the look in their eyes..."whats next"....ahhhhh rookies gotta love em......i feel like walking over and putting my hand on their shoulders and saying...........look at me ..i made it ...so will you ..............well as most of you know the cheffo family will be in for another fight for the next few months and i will be sending e-mails to family and friends about the situation.....every few days or so,,,,,,,in the mean time "if you can't be with the one you love...love the one your with" (s stills).......hug your kids and pets extra hard tonight..........blog you later.....tom

GOING STRONG

you be the judge......on how i am feeling these days......

10 hours of work
1 hour soft ball practice
3 hours coaching basketball
all in one day...............yahooooooooooo

i am getting there,,,,,,,still climbing uphill some days....but i can see the the plateau down the road

oh yeah had a blast at the merlefest..
read vansmans comments from last post ...........tells it all......

sad news to post a good friend of vansman's Neal Van Winkle's young son has been diagonesd with leukemia.....aghhhhhh it hits home when i hear that ...the Van Winkle family has set up a blog to keep family and friends posted.....Neal is a Rep For Vans footwear and the father of little Branbon..please send the great vibes their way ......check out the site....what a batttle Brandon is fighting...what a battle he will win.............. www.caringbridge.org/visit/brandonvanwinkle

MILES AND MILES OF SMILES

mERLEFEST HERE I COME......BIGGEST BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL IN NORTH CAROLINA IS STARTING THURSDAY...I WILL BE THERE SLINGING SHOES AND DANCING WITH MY FAVORITE HUMANS......

THERE IS A SAYING IN THE BLUE GRASS WORLD ..MY GRASS IS BLUE.......AND FOR TWO DAYS IT CERTAINLY WILL BE......

SAM BUSH HERE I COME...........................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY BLADDER

WELL I MADE IT .....ONE YEAR....RELIVING THE "ORDEAL" THE LAST FEW DAYS...AND RE-READING THE BLOG AND WONDERING HOW I MADE IT PRETTY MUCH INTACT.........IT WAS THE DEEP ...DEEP LOVE FROM ALL MY WORLD THAT DID IT.....

WAS GONNA RE-PRINT THE INCREDIBLE THINGS THAT WERE SAID ABOUT ME DURING THAT INFAMOUS DAY.....BUT A LITTLE HUMBLED TO SAY THE LEAST....SO IF YOU WANT GO TO ARCIEVES AND CLICK ON APRIL 12TH.... BE MY GUEST .................. THE REST IS HISTORYTHANKS FOR EVERYTHING..II WILL CONTINUE THIS JOURNEY......WITH ALL OF YOU BY MY SIDE..

RE-PRINT...APRIL 11 2006...ONE DAY BEFOE SURGERY

Tuesday, April 11, 2006
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
# posted by tom cheffo @ 8:02 PM 7 comments

RE PRINT OF BLOG APRIL 10TH 2006

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

To all I love

APRIL.....

back top front,,, brother mike,my dad,brother dom,mom....and me.......check out that turtle neck and beatle hair cut...

well the anniversary of my surgery is coming up real quick...never was one guy who was big on that stuff but hey what the heck gotta celebrate some things April 12th ..one year has passed...i have to say it has been an eventful one.......spent the first few months just getting to know my new body......still some hurdles to jump..but all in all happy with the outcome....all ct scans were clean.....always a in-tar-resting- moment waitng for the outcome

up date on life

Allman shows at the beacon are amazing still
Mets are kicking off the season tonight........
College basketball was fun to watch
Sandal season is coming
Skywalk is open at the grand canyon
Merle fest in Carolina is at the end of the month

Passover starts monday.......

Still have one more night of the allman brothers to go to

hug a piece of the earth today........it feels so good...........

will have a birthday party for my bladder on April 12...one year old....clowns..horses......the whole 9 yards.......

tom

HO HUM-ANOTHER CT/SCAN

KING OF THE WORLD
RED ROCK LAS VEGASFEB 2007

had a ct/scan at sloane kettering this week........

wow going back to the scene of the crime as paul cartwright puts it was ......ummm a little unreal at first ...but i settled in drank some stuff...poked my veins....put me in a machine...just your ordinary run of the mill day on this earth......said hey to some familiar faces....some not so familiar ones and noticed that they added a new area...added some more nurse stations....must be big business this cancer thing.........get my results on monday....expecting the best...excepting nothing less...........

keep dry my fishing buddies........rock on my allman brother peach heads........

tom.....

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

sent by my cousin maryann..

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.

HAPPY ST PADDYS DAY

ALL IS WELL ..FOLLOW UP VISITS NEXT WEEK RETURNING TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.....WILL KEEP YOU POSTED

PEACE

MILE HIGH

melting ice caps

just got back from denver and i have to tell you what a beautiful city denver is..i mean i have been there before but never before seen the mountains a beautiful as they were last weekend..... oh yeah i was there to work and that was biz as usual...people happy to see me.....intrigued by my surgery....almost a surreal existence sometimes.....like they can't believe i made it and just want to touch me....gotta love it...just gotta love it

i happened to rent " the inconvenient truth" the movie al gore made about global warming and i think we owe it to ourselves to see this movie...it is a real opening of the eyes so to speak...not to get on the soap box but it is just an amazing movie and it has to make you think about how we live.........the fact i was watching the movie 35000 ft above land on a plane that was burning fossil fuel..well it just kinda made me think.........

love and peace...tom