jan howard finder – RIP

Jan Howard Finder died at 12:54am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, in Albany Medical Center Hospital CCU, from renal failure, liver failure, and basically all systems shutting down. Medically, we don’t know if it was the cancer finally going rogue, or the new drug jan was on when the old one stopped working, or a combination, or something else entirely.

I was with him when he died, and I had a friend with me. We probably had the hospital staff wondering about us, because we sat there and told stupid jan stories and laughed a lot.

jan will be cremated. And he wanted me to sit shiva for him, which I will. I’m planning on a memorial service in a couple of months, to allow as many people who can make it to do so. His ashes will be available for those who wish to scatter his ashes in those places he visited and among the friends he enjoyed.

~Lin Daniel, partner and friend

Correction: I originally typed Tuesday, February 25, when Tuesday was the 26th. ~Lin

Status update

jan was hospitalized last night with complications from a new chemo regime. You know that cartoon that says “a miracle occurs here”? We could use one. ~ Lin Daniel

Snow!!!!!

Albany paralyzed by Blizzard & Global Colding!  The temp dropped to -1C/31F.  A trace of snow brought the city to a halt.  Experts expect the city to be up and running within 72 hours!

Turkey Day!

Ah yes, Turkey day!  Instead of Denny’s I’ll be enjoying turkey breast at home.  To celebrate the occurrence I’ll be baking  up a pecan pie.  Lin not to be outdone is baking up a pumpkin pie.  Oh yes, potatoes, french cut string beans with almonds & mushrooms.  Yum!

Subject: Chemo # 16 & 17 &18 – Update!

Hullo,

September was busy month.  On 10 September I met with the urologist’s PA to set up my stent replacement, which will occur on 27 September.  On the 12^th I met with the oncologist followed by Chemo #16 [only 284 to go].  Neulasta on the 13^th.

Enervation set in over the weekend coupled with loss of taste.  Sheesh!  On the 18^th  I met with the GP for a Pre-op physical.  I’m alive.  I also got my flu shot.  On the 19^th in for my biannual dental cleaning.  On the 20^th I went over to AMC for the Pre-op there.  They surprised me by completing it in 2.5 hours.  The last two times it was about 5 hours each time.  AMC claims it only takes 2 hours.

On the 27^th I went in for the stent replacement.  The 2PM surgery took place about 6 PM or so.  AMC strikes again.  It took 4 attempts to get in the IV.  I was a little bit dehydrated by then.  I won’t be next time.  The one downside was being catheterized for 4 days.  To say this was uncomfortable is to understate it.  Nevertheless I found a way to disguise it so Lin & I could drive out to the Higgins Armor Museum in Worcester, MA, for their Middle-earth Day.  Very nice.

I’ve had some minor [?] problems with my plumbing, but livable.

On the 1 October I had a meeting with the oncologist’s PA.  Appointments set up.  Afterwards I went over to see the urologist’s PA for catheter removal.  Sigh of relief.

On the 2^nd I had both Chemo #17 [only 283 to go] & Zometa infusions with Neulasta on the 3^rd.

On the 11^th I had my hormone shot.  Doctors, doctors, doctors!  I was feeling well enough to attend ALBACON on the 19^th & 20^th.  It was good.

On 30 I had Chemo #18 [only 282 to go] & Zometa infusions with Neulasta on the 31^st.

PSA seems to be holding steady.

I’ve managed to avoid ERs.
Using Tea Tree Oil on the fingernails that haven’t come loose.  I’m using Lavenderon the loose ones.  However, the rot has spread to a couple of fingers on my left hand.  L  I’ve now lost 3 fingernails.

Need a description for a horror film or novel, let me know.  Can send photos.

Still somewhat fatigued, but feeling better.  A cold doesn’t help.  I can’t take aspirin.

Nevertheless I did get out on the 3^rd to catch a couple authors reading, vote on the 6^th followed by more book signings, & bought my ticket fior The Hobbit premier on 0001, 14 DEC!

My new computer arrived a week early.  Lin will be setting it on the 10^th.

More anon!

The Tolkien Conference is gaining members.  How about you!  www.3rdcome.org .

I also hope to take a couple of short trips over the next few months.

 

A nice Tuesday.

Stent replacement on the 27^th, chemo today the 2^nd.  Needed reward!

Sitar for Indian food tonight.  Sigh of contentment!

Food for the tummy!

I’m feeling a little bit better today.  I made up my “Jell-O Thing” for a couple nights of desserts and mixed breakfast for Wednesday & Friday: Matzo Meal pancakes.  Yummy.

Hobbit Food!

It is a cool and sunny Sunday.  After a short walk with Lin I baked up a couple seed cakes.  Being hammered by the chemo I relied on Lin as to how they came out.  She said, they were okay.  I’m hoping my taste buds will recover enough to allow me to enjoy some seed cake while watching TLOTR on the 22^nd.

Subject: Chemo # 13 & 14 &15 – Update!

Hullo,

After having Chemo #12 on 19 June I went thru the usual plumbing problems.  I then complained to the oncologist.  Rather than dropping Aloxi altogether, he substituted a less nasty drug.

Other than that and feeling enervated over the weekend, things went fairly well for a change.  My PSA has risen slightly.  I’m curious as to how it will respond to going back to Chemo every 3 weeks.

On 28 June I met with the radiologist.  He felt I was hanging in there as well as can be expected.  I’m to see him again in a year.

The RBC count has remained high enough that another transfusion has not been required.  YEA!

I am still quite tired and run out of energy easily.  Fatigue is an off and on again companion.

I recently realized my hair, which had been growing back a little bit, was now disappearing.  😦  No beard, tho some strange feeling bristles show up.  I’m still managing to hold the nausea at bay.  The meds and ginger seem to be working.  I also  noticed that just about all my body hair has disappeared. J

As usual after Chemo everything tasted horrible for about 10 days.  Thereafter, it was merely poor.

On 3 July I met with the oncologist’s PA.  My numbers seem to be satisfactory.

On 9 July I met with the urologist & his PA.  No problems.  Stent replacement  due at the end of September /early October. Ψ!

On the 10July I had Chemo #13 [Only 287 to go], hormone shot, & Zometa.  I was there for a long time.  This was followed by the Neulasta shot on the 11^th.  I learned my PSA had dropped slightly.  The new antiemetic seems to have worked.  My intestinal problems were greatly reduced.

As I was going away, I met with the oncologist on the 16^th.  Again, my numbers seemed to be okay.

With doctors’ appointments out of the way for a while, Lin & I headed to Chattanooga for an SF con.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself not withstanding the problems with the hotel & being hammered by the heat & humidity.  On the way home we visited with an author friend of ours in SC.  Getting on the road again was a delight.

Off to Chemo #14 [286 to go!] on the 31 July & Neulasta on  the 1^st.  As usual the fatigue set in on the 3^rd & lasted thru the 7^th, tho I did get a few things done besides reading.  Minimal intestinal  & plumbing problems.  Thank G-d.

I met with the oncologist on the 15^th.  I learned my PSA had stayed about the same place.  Higher than in March, but not by much.  I’m in the good feeling period of the week to 10 days before the next chemo.

Chemo #15 [285 to go!] on 21 August.  I didn’t have the usual recovery time before Lin & I headed west to Chicago.  I was fatigued on Sunday, 25 August so I put the car on cruise control & took a nap. Actually Lin drove. 🙂  I was surprisingly up for the trip and con.  I was pushing myself, and it worked.  We both had a great time.

I noticed a new reaction to Chemo.  The nail bed on 3 of my fingers seems to be dying.  I wonder just how many fingernails I’ll lose.  Currently 3 on my right hand are effected.  Of course, I’m right handed.  As to my toenails, they did sort of grow back a little bit.  However, they look as if I was taking foot baths in radioactive toxic waste.  Weird suckers.

The Tolkien Conference is gaining members.  How about you!  www.3rdcome.org .

I also hope to take a couple of short trips over the next few months.

An interesting article.

I highly recommend the article by Michael Grunwald in the 17 September 2012 issue of time: One Nation On Welfare.  Living Your Life on The Dole.

If you don’t subscribe to TIME, copies should be available at your nearest library.  The article may not be what you expect.