Tim Simpkins: Update 2/8/01

By Tim Simpkins 

Hey, Hey, Friends

It is me again! Just another cancer update from "Tijuana Tim" in life's very slow lane south of the border.

Gang, I now weigh over 175 pounds, up from normal 155-160, possible water retention. I guess I am not wasting away just yet. You folks relax about my skinniness. Look out, heavyweight division! I will be tough racing in that class this fall, right, Tim, Greg, Paul!

I slept very well last night. Yesterday I functioned 6:30am-9:30pm,all day, with lots energy, no stomach pain (morphine is powerful!), and no lying down-no dozing. It was best day here yet.

Yesterday I got your 24 e-mails. They motivated me and brought me much humor. My brother and I eagerly read them all day. I save your e-mails. I hope to answer them eventually.

Yesterday it took only 90 min. to get nutrition IV. That is much faster than 7 hours it took before.

Food here is mostly fruits, such as watermelon, cantaloupe, bananas, pears, and papaya. Vegetables include tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and cabbage. Tables hold raisins, prunes, honey, dry cereals, and syrup. Breakfast can be oatmeal, cereal, scrambled eggs (I love these!), and toast with strawberry jam (so delicious!). Lunch and supper offer baked potatoes, soups, chicken strips, pasta dishes, potato salad dishes, and Mexican dishes. Drinks are orange juice, watermelon juice, and other juices. Also, I enjoy tasty protein shakes in vanilla or banana or strawberry flavors. To be totally truthful, I am now finding most of their food to be rather bland and boring. Their meals are becoming less enjoyable than the foods you folks see me eating all the time in Tally. Bummer! However, I am here to get well, not to eat gourmet meals. I will persist, right?

Hey, I did it, I did it! I survived!! Finally, Friends, at 9:30 this morning I passed with flying colors the big test. I survived 50 min. of blood-filtering and blood glucose-lowering treatments. These powerful therapies are very aggressive in treating my type of cancer. Stomach pain started halfway into program. But one teaspoon of morphine knocked out pain in 60 seconds.

I was very relieved and pleased that it all went this well. Relaxing in therapy bed, breathing deeply, and thinking positive thoughts really helped me during treatment. Tomorrow the treatments go to 90 min. I am scheduled to get 15 of these treatments before leaving hospital. Friends, your prayers and e-mails keep me going. I do read them and love them. I only wish I could instantly answer them.

I finished this e-mail at 4:00 PM. My stomach and energy felt very good. I hope everything stays fine rest of day. Swollen ankles and much fluid retention will require medical relief today. Last two days sure are feeling great. Of course, down days or periods will still come. That is reality for me. But I am optimistic and living hour-to-hour and day-by-day. Persist I must, as you runners are doing now!

I wish you an excellent evening and a superb tomorrow. Enjoy running! Rest up for week-end's races. In spirit I will toe the starting lines with you, Friends. You are the super men and super women!!!

"Tijuana Tim"

Send your best to Tim at:
1701 West Pensacola, Apt. 132
Tallahassee, FL. 32304
atck18@nettally.com