Tim Simpkins: Update 2/9/01

By Tim Simpkins 

Howdy, Super-Friends

I hope you have super-races this week-end! Enjoy them as all-out efforts or simply as training runs. I know you will battle for those Grand Prix points (sure wish I could be there duking it out with you).

Today my second blood-therapy treatment went fine. It lasted 60 minutes, no pain during it. Tomorrow at 9:30 AM I do it again. These powerful treatments become 90 min. sessions soon for everyday except on Sundays.

I take all these other therapies still: shark cartilage, supplements, IV's, enemas, laetrile, etc.

Yesterday it took 7 hours to get medical relief for badly swollen ankles. Persistence to the rescue once again! Today I feel fairly good, having some ups-and-downs in energy.

Friends, I had a bummer of an experience yesterday for about two hours. My intense stomach pain returned for one hour and 30 minutes. My mistake, I think. It cost me dearly. I messed up on my morphine-taking.

From 5:30PM until 7:00 PM I wrestled with severe stomach pain as morphine fought to gain the upper hand. I pounded the pillows. I paced the floor furiously. I moaned and groaned constantly, but no crying (I felt like it!) Pressing pillows against my stomach bought me maybe 5 seconds of relief. Finally, after 90 minutes of agony, the stomach pain gradually faded away. The episode left me drained of energy for a while. It reminded me that my liver cancer is still very powerful.

Friends, during this disappointing session, I kept forcing myself to be optimistic. I thought about my family's and my friend's daily encouraging words. I envisioned myself running in Tally again soon. Thinking about the Relay Race cheered me.

I remind myself that bad times are part of cancer therapy. Accept them. But constantly strive for and and enjoy the good days. I am hanging in. I have no choice but to believe I will win the toughest and most painful race of my life. Hey, you folks will not let me give up, right?

I hope I do not bore you with my updates. They can be too detailed and too grim. I hope not.

Friends, I wish you many good times this week-end. Run happily! Smile lots!! Live, Live!!!

"Fighting Tim"

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