So, first blog entry!  This is a weird thing for me – I’m an open book, probably embarrassingly so.  Most folks start blogs about their kids, or their trips, or something fun.  I wish my blog were about something more joyful, but it is what it is.   If you’re here, I guess you want to know….so I’ll plunge in. 

You might know, but this helps me wrap my head around all that has happened.  Here is my 2016 medical journey this year, chronologically:

• 2/22/2016 – have laparoscopic hysterectomy; during the procedure, unbeknownst to anyone, my small intestine is cut open. 
• 2/24/2016 – spent 2 nights in hospital in great pain.  Providence Milwaukie discharges me in the morning.
• 2/24/2016 – go to Providence Portland ER, get admitted and spend night in ER.  In extreme pain, semi-delirious.  In sepsis.  Have CT abdominal scan and chest X-ray.  Shows cloudy fluid in abdominal cavity and enlarged mysentery lymph nodes. 
• 2/25/2016 – have an emergency exploratory laparoscopy that turns into a laparotomy in which my abdomen is opened with a 5” vertical incision, the intestines are pulled out and repaired, the abdominal cavity is washed out, intestines are put back in, and incision is stapled closed. 
• 3/4/2016 – discharged from hospital after 8 nights in hospital – many complications (on oxygen, no food/liquid for 7 days, ileus, IV antibiotics the entire time, morphine/oxycodone).
• 3/12/2016 – back to Providence Portland ER – incision site was infected.  Opened staples, and cleaned out incision.  IV and oral antibiotics.  CT abdominal scan done, showing no abdominal fluid, but same enlarged lymph nodes.
• 6/6/2016 – had to put my almost 17 year-old cat, Sable to sleep (not medical, but significant) 

• 6/29/2016 repeat CT abdominal scan.  Showed internal abdominal wall completely blown out, and massive surgical hernia.  Also showed mysentery lymph nodes have grown larger.
•  7/1/2016 – at appointment with surgeon, lymph node biopsy and meeting with oncologist is set up.
• 7/7/2016 – lymph node biopsy with CT scan.  Had to enter lymph node through the back near spine with 5” needle.
• 7/14/2016 – meet with oncologist for the first time.  Diagnosis:  Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Type B Follicular.
• 7/19/2016 – have total body PET/CT scan to find extent of lymphoma domain.
• 7/22/2016 – my birthday!  And meeting with oncologist to go over treatment plan
•  8/30/2016 – surgery for installation of chemotherapy port in upper right torso.
•   9/8/2016 – begin 6 months of chemotherapy; infusion every 28 days. 

 That's it for now.  More interesting stuff to come, I promise.  This just helps set the stage.