Medicine Talk

by Ken Graydon, January, 2011

While reading through the warnings
Of these pills I take each morning,
The feeling comes aborning
That something is awry.
For that which happens to you
As each slowly courses through you
Can cause a sort of voo-doo
When they join and multiply.

For each new medication
Seems to add more information
That further ingestation
Could bring consequences dire.
And as though this weren’t enough
When the going’s really tough
They’ll make it rather rough
‘Cause then they’ll get together and conspire.

Levetiracetam can run antic
It can sometimes leave you manic.
It can cause attacks of panic,
Make you hear things that aren’t there.
It’s designed to ward off seizures
Which can sneak up in your leisure
But it’s dangerous for geezers
For their complications flare.

It can cause hallucinations
And other aggravations
Such as hyperventilation.
Insomnia comes in rollers tidal.
Fevers, chills and rashes may come visit
And you start to wonder “Is it
Time to bite the biscuit?”
It can make you suicidal.

Famotidine’s for fighting reflux
Which is similar to upchucks
And I can tell you, it sucks
When a belch disturbs your sleep.
Use caution if you’re older
For it tells you in the folder
That consequences then grow bolder.
They’re enough to make you weep.

And then there’s Dexamethasone.
This one goes right for the bone.
If you’re osteoporosis prone
It helps you on your way
Along with fever, seizures, chills
A myriad of mental ills
Like weakness, sadness, losing wills,
All for a moderate co-pay.

It says there that your bones might break.
Perhaps your back and head could ache.
It might at night keep you awake
Or give you indigestion.
Do not despair. It’s no upsetter
For the statement’s made in big bold letters.
It’s all designed to make you better.
Now, have you any questions?

Ken's Progress Report 2/08/11

News about Ken's appointment today:

Ken starts a chemo treatment next Monday. He'll take a pill to control nausea 30 minutes before taking the pill that is the chemo agent. He'll do this every evening before bed for six weeks. The doctor says this treatment is usually well tolerated but to call him if things get difficult. "It's not my intention to spoil your quality of life," he said.

And there's good news. The new MRI shows Ken's brain to be clear of the spots that were radiated in December, and a new chest X-ray shows the spots in his lungs have not grown or increased since Nov. 11. The doctor gave Ken the choice of waiting to use chemo until there were changes but he didn't recommend that. He said it's better to work to shrink the lung spots and discourage whatever else is going on right now rather than wait until they've activated and then start treatment. Ken agrees.

We leave tomorrow for a cowboy event in Sierra Vista. Ken is an invited performer. He'll be in various workshops during the day, all of them with up to three other artists in a round-robin situation. We'll see our cowboy friends. It will be great. We'll be home Monday night and he'll take his first pill.

I asked Ken on the drive home from the doctor how he felt about the visit. He was matter-of-fact Ken, "I got the information I wanted and we're starting the treatment. That's all good."

Meanwhile, Ken is drinking green tea and stoking fresh veggie juice. It can't hurt.

Thanks to all of you for your interest and good thoughts.

Phee

ETI Corral 14 Western Wagons Roundup News

DEATH VALLEY WAGON TRAIN ~ NOVEMBER 2010

Every time we have a wagon drive I promise myself, on the long drive home, I will sit down and recount all the wondrous adventures before they are clouded by more current happenings. Well I still have not succeeded in my goal as you can tell. I am writing this story of our adventure with snow on the ground outside my window and its a few days into the New Year. So Happy New Year! If I don’t mention all the happenings please be forgiving.

Every 5 years Corral 14 starts the wagon train from Wades Monument. This is to remind us all of the history of the route we take and to salute those brave souls who were the first to travel these dry dusty miles. Our train this year gathered with excitement in the air as each rig, big and small, pulled into Wades Monument, the occupants in the truck cabs eager to see and greet everyone and the livestock eager to just get out of the darned trailer. Most of the folks drive a far distance. However, if one were to highlight mileage we would have to say that Dave Fly from NM and Howie Fly from Montana probably win the contest.

The 10 wagons pulled out on Thursday morning after pausing for a photo behind Wades Monument. We were all looking forward to a pretty short day of about 6 miles. Since we only drive this section of road every 5 years the condition can be questionable and this year it proved to be quite a challenge. The road was graded but had exceptionally deep sand. New members David Pinkham and Beatrice Phair from Fort Bidwell Ca. wanted to do the trip in true pioneer style. They were driving an original 1800’s style chuck wagon with narrow wheels. They had set a goal to carry their own supplies and a lot of cast iron cookware to top off the wagon train experience. Their team of mules were stepping out at a good pace at first then started to sweat, then breath hard and show signs that maybe the true pioneer way was a little too much for them. Shadows of days gone by were what were brought to mind as they unloaded everything possible to lighten the load. The difference between this picture and the ones in the past was that instead of leaving their treasures at the side of the trail all was transferred to our support trucks and the plot thickens. About the middle of this “short day” the wagons sighted what looked like our support trucks stopped where they were not scheduled to stop. As we pulled up beside them one could see only parts of tires as the rest of the tire was buried in deep sand. In true pioneer spirit many ran to help as water was hauled to put under tires and sand was shoveled. Amid cheers of encouragement the hero of the day was Ron Remy’s Dodge Truck. It was able to pull out the trapped trucks and get everyone safely on the road again. Pulling into our camp at Saratoga Springs a little later than planned did not seem to dampen spirits. A pick up truck was loaded with excited folks going to see the spring the camp is named after. If only the original wagon train had known there was water that close I ponder how history could have been changed!

The next day was sunny and cool, perfect driving weather for man and beast and we arrived at River Crossing in good time. The following morning as we were pulling out, our wagon master decided to go left onto the road instead of right. As was later explained this was actually to test the driving skills of one new teamster Ken Gallinger in Al Chinn’s wagon. Norm wanted to make sure he could circle his wagon and thought this would be a good test. At least that is what was recounted around the fire that night as Norm was being renamed “wrong way Norm“. Then it was on to Ashford Junction and a well deserved lay over for all of us. We were joined there by a few more wagons. Chet and Pat St.Clair and George Liblan III with a beautiful stage coach and 4 up of white horses. As is usually the pattern Ashford is not Ashford without a rain storm. God and Mother Nature displayed a humbling show of nature in its raw form as thunder boomed and shook the ground followed by 5 and 6 fingered lighting strikes in the mountains all around. The camp is in a bowl with peaks on all sides and the storm sat above us for a couple of hours. The strobe lightning lit up the camp like a black and white dream outlining wagons and animals then again going into darkness, only to repeat the cycle a few seconds later. . To say it was electrifying is an understatement as everyone weathered the storm and many appreciated its beauty well into the night. Monday morning Norm gave a Wagons Ho as we pulled out for our next camp. Swamping for Norm was Mike Ditsch who was excited about learning how to drive a team. Outrider Madison Halasey never quit smiling as she rode Norm’s mule Opie on her first wagon train. She was usually accompanied by Katie Christman on Maxine at the front of the train. Bill Burt and Irene Sylvester pulled into line with their well trained team of red mules. Carl and Donna Everett and swamper Cathy Ditsch (Mike’s better half) from Tucson seemed to be ready for the trip ahead as was Carl’s fancy team of Halflinger horses. Phil Weeks and Ken Gallinger just had too much fun driving Al Chinn’s wagon. Teamster George Cabral in an authentic 1800 wagon with a 4 up of black mules maneuvered the trails in top form. George’s swamper was Tim Holveck, although I think Tim’s dog Sally was really the boss of that wagon. Georgia and Larry Wilburn were accompanied by outriders Trish Wilburn and friend Drew Carrigan. Lloyd Stueve once again joined us with his team of black Percheron’s. Ron and Liz Remy shared the wagon seat with Gloria Lemos Leight from Fallon NV. We put the outriders mentioned above in addition to riders Edie Asrow, Wendy Bailey, and Grant Jackson to work this day in orange vests to do a job of traffic control until we turned onto the welcomed dirt of West Side road and headed for the next nights camp at Salt Tanks. Edie has recently retired and was on her first wagon train astride her very willing gray horse. She kept looking for a job and as everyone knows there is always something to do on our drives.

The challenge of fitting 12 wagons with places to tether the stock proved to be a test at the end of each day for the wagon master. At night one could either join in at the campfire or wait for the stage coach lamp to shine through the darkness. This indicated George and friends were ready for a little friendly game of cards. We traveled on to Tule Springs lining out each morning with Norm’s wagon in the lead and Doc Fly and his mini mule renegades bringing up the last of the train. Oops! Then there was the stagecoach that always left sometime after us but was usually stirring up a cloud of dust that could be seen before we reached camp. Everyone was happy to drive into camp at Tule Springs and look forward to a layover day with all its varied entertainment.

We started early with a waffle contest and a record number of 10 entries. The competition was fierce but the final outcome saw Katie Christman take home the first prize with a Waldorf Waffle. Afternoon saw us pulling chairs around Doc Fly’s wagon and bidding on the treasures in the auction. There was dead silence when the ticket was drawn for the raffle item, a green camp chair. An excited Donna Everitt was the lucky ticket holder. That evening more 49’ers than ever before joined us for Pot Luck dinner. They brought great food, chairs and tables. They marveled at our frontier life style and ended the evening by saying they were looking forward to doing it again next year. Thursday morning we were hitched up and on the trail again headed for lunch on. Devils Golf Course. During the lunch stop we received word that the stagecoach had broken off not one but both rear wheels while doing a video shoot on the trail far behind us. A replay of this shot was definitely the top entertainment at camp that night. Neither humans nor horses were injured. After lunching on the Golf Course we again requested the outriders to outfit in orange vests preparing for our entry onto the main paved road leading to Desolation Canyon Camp. There are no words to describe the raw beauty of the rocks and the panoramic view of the valley from this camp. It is a long slow climb up to our camp but once you are there and turn back the vista takes your breath away.

Friday morning was the time for our meeting to set up dates for the 2011 wagon trains and election of officers. We were treated to a poem written by Jacob McCall. Jacob was swamper for David Pinkham but still found time to put pen to paper each day to describe his first wagon train experience. His magic with pen and paper to describe his experience brought a tear to more than one eye. Concluding the meeting we all prepared for our last leg of the 100 mile journey into Furnace Creek. As we drove down the road away from camp Ken Gallinger had kindly posted a sign at the corner telling the wagon master to be sure and turn right this time. The 49er’s had prepared the setting well and the crowds were generous with their shouts of welcome and applause as we entered the presentation area. One great surprise for us is that we can now park under the palm trees on the grass for our Friday night camp! It is such a contrast from what we have been camping in for the drive and as welcomed a sight as any oasis could ever be.

Much praise and many thanks are extended to our support crew including Sue Alcott, Kevin, Ted Fowler, Adam (and of course his very vocal dog Lola). Their timing for being at lunch stops with well deserved water for the stock and the comfort wagon for humans, their many trips to make sure we had water enough for 45 head of stock every day, their consistent preparation of our camp every night with a shower waiting and a camp fire ready to light just made the trip a delight to all of us. They loaded and unloaded gear every day and kept the generator running for the food and ice freezers. All of this with a cheerful hello and a kind word when passing. Thanks to all of you from all of us for a great trip. You make it happen.

We are looking forward to our Spring Drive at Ridgecrest. Until then I wish you Happy Trails. Mary Jo Steele, Secretary Corral 14 Western Wagons.

Radiation Report

Dec. 23, 2010
It’s 4:56 p.m. on Thursday and Ken and I are barely home from the highly specialized radiation procedure that took place yesterday in Los Angeles. We took the train in the driving rain on Tuesday because it seemed simpler.
We arrived at Union Station about 3:30. One of our friends drove us to Kaiser’s apartments on Kenmore, free to out-of-town patients undergoing major procedures. We dropped off our stuff at the apartment and headed for Little Thailand just a half block north on Hollywood Blvd, a very nice way to dine and we enjoyed our friend’s company. Back at the apartment by about 6:30, both Ken and I were exhausted and fell in bed about 7:30.
We were due at the radiation center at 8:00 a.m. Wed., Dec. 22. An earlier procedure used a metal halo fitted to the head with screws that actually broke skin to keep the head immobile during the procedure. This has changed. Ken was fitted with a warm highly porous plastic material draped over his face following every curve of his eye sockets, nose, forehead, lips, chin, cheek and jawbones. This was pressed to fit tightly before it hardened. A similar “mask” for the back of his head was created. The two halves would be bolted together during the procedure rendering his head immobile. Creating the mask took about 45 minutes and then Ken was dismissed to do as he wished as long as he turned up at 2:00 p.m. We walked to the hospital cafeteria called Rejuv(n)ate, easily one of the best restaurants in town, ate a good lunch, went back to the apartment, took naps and turned up on time. We waited in a lovely room called the Atrium, a three-story basement room done in soothing blues with many paintings and plants. Ken was called in about 2:30 and at 3:15 returned walking steadily and saying he thought sight was better in his left eye. Recently, his vision had deteriorated. Was that further damage by the tumor? Don’t know.
The radiation is called “Shaped Beam,” a highly focused, very powerful beam that kills cancerous cells but doesn’t kill healthy tissue. He was strapped on a table wearing his headdress. The technician aligned Ken with the machine, walked out of the room and switched a button. Ken felt his table move him in various angles while the machine clanked and whirred its way through the process. When it was done, he was unstrapped and the headdress removed and presented to him as a trophy.
Kaiser scheduled us for one more night in the apartment. We picked up dinner at the New York Cafe across the street. All our walking, a block here, two blocks there, had been done in driving rain but the trip across the street was even wetter. We placed our orders to-go and while we waited, the sun came out and a double full rainbow arced from the Hollywood Hills to Sunset’s Kaiser Hospital. Is this an omen? We hope so.
Thursday morning Ken woke feeling fine but tired. A tumor about the size of a walnut had developed on the right behind his forehead and another spot was embedded deeper on the left. Both are gone now. According to the doctors, his body will slough off dead tissue for the next several weeks while repairing minimal bits of injured healthy tissue at the tumor’s edges. Ken can expect fatigue.
But life isn’t as simple as having a machine kill tumor cells in your head. While we were eating, Ed who lives on our property, called to say the biggest pepper tree at the head of the driveway fell over and blocked passage. Ken called his friend Roger and asked him cut it back enough to give room for entry and exit on this Christmas weekend.
And life isn’t even as simple as burning tumors out and having peppertrees fall over. When we got to Union Station, we learned there’d been a landslide blocking the tracks south of Capistrano. The train could only take us that far. Luckily, son Drew. who doesn’t live far from there, was available and willing, so he picked us up and delivered us to our car in Oceanside with a pause for sushi lunch. We arrived home around 4:00, found that, indeed, the tree (huge) had been cut away, and here we are, home, and as usual, tired. But it’s all good news. The tumors are gone. The rain is over. We were saluted by two rainbows. We got past Capistrano and there’s room to enter our driveway. How many good things can we ask for in two and a half days?
We are grateful and hope you will count your blessings on this Christmas Day which is just two days from now. Love, Phee & Ken

Update & Poem from Ken

Today, Monday Dec. 13, was a surprising anticlimax. I had somehow come to believe a radiation procedure would take place today. Instead, today was an interview with a radiation/oncology specialist and a rundown on a highly specialized radiation procedure that will take place Dec. 22. In the interim, another MRI will be performed Dec. 15. Both of these will take place in Los Angeles at Kaiser's facility there, a very impressive place. I feel I'm in good hands. We won't drive up those days. We'll take the train. In a very nice gesture, Kaiser has apartments across the street from the radiation facility for use by out of town patients free of charge. We'll take advantage of their generosity. More when I know it.

Ken

(Last Wednesday at 3:00 a.m. Ken wrote this poem in cowboy jargon. Phee)

Nuff!

by Ken Graydon, December, 2010

Now we’ve all heard the word that the almighty Lord
Doesn’t send you a thing you can’t take.
Just reach down inside and you’ll find he’ll provide
What you need to succeed some bad break.
If you sit there and whine you’ll be sure to resign
And that will be no use at all
And I’ve often heard said that what don’t make you dead
Makes you stronger when your back’s ‘gainst the wall
For each tribulation there’s a grand explanation.
That it’s left up to you to discern
And sooner or later in the depths of each crater
There’s some wonderful secret to learn.
No use in cryin’. You’ve got to keep tryin’.
The answer just lies deeper down.
When He hands you a big’un if you keep on diggin’
There’s some treasure deep down to be found.
I know men of faith say whatever he sayeth
Comes true when you’ve shelled to the cob
And he’s give me this task for which I did not ask
‘Cause he figures I’m up to the job.
Considerin’ this matter I guess I should be flattered.
I s’pose most men more pious would be.
But, sisters and brothers, if I had my druthers
I wish he’d quit braggin’ on me!

Email from Phee Sherline:

As you may know, Ken Graydon has been diagnosed with cancer which isn't good news at all. Treatment starts Monday, December 13th with high beam radiation focused on a brain tumor. That's the first step. We don't know what's next.

editors note: Please feel free to leave well wishes and comments here in these posts. I will make sure that Ken & Phee know about them. Thanks.

Message from Ken Graydon

Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Well, folks, now we know. The Dust Bunny’s got fangs. Turns out it’s not old valley fever scars but something a bit more insistent. Treatment of one or two methods will start soon, which one is yet to be determined. In any case, we go forward. There is a lot of music to be made. It will be. There is much enjoyment to be enjoyed. It will be.

Let’s face a truth. We are all terminal. We just don’t know when. In my case, I’ve already had seventy-seven good years run and I am looking forward to the rest of it.

I am forever overwhelmed and grateful for the outpouring of support from all of you. If I do not acknowledge each of you personally, please forgive me. It will be simply because there are so many of you that I may not be able to keep up.

I particularly want to thank everyone who stepped into my spots in Death Valley ‘49ers Encampment. All reports are that you people absolutely glowed. I am forever in your debt.

All of you in Songmakers and in San Diego Folk Song Society and all the rest of you, your caring means so much more than I can find words for. I am left with a very inadequate “Thank You” which does not begin to discharge my obligations.

I pledge to you, we are not finished. We will be back . As the old song says, “All things shall perish from under the sky. Music alone shall live never to die.”