Great Prostate Cancer Challenge

Even before my surgery, Mandy signed us up for the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge 5k run.  She wanted to do something to contribute to getting the message out about prostate cancer.  I thought it pretty optimistic at the time, coming only a couple weeks after my scheduled surgery date, but things progressed better than expected and we were all able to turn out.   Both boys woke up extremely early for some reason, and Noah came downstairs and said "Happy race day, daddy!".  He had been excited to run it.  We were joined by Mandy's mom, and our friends Jacob and Jenni on a great morning.

We ended up walking 1.7 miles.  I wanted to walk further, but I wasn't feeling it and the kids were getting tired as well.  But I was glad I had been able to get out and participate.  I had several men who had been through the RP procedure ask how on earth I was out there just two and a half weeks after surgery.  Noah and his friend Liam ran off and on the entire way, and when we approached the finish line, they hauled ass towards it.  They were running so fast and hard they ran past the turn off towards the finish, and had to be redirected by the cops.  We hadn't yet turned the corner, and the last we saw was them running full speed together.  While we couldn't see them finish, we could hear the crowd erupt in cheers as they made it towards the finish line.  Fortunately, the event photographer captured some great pictures of their finale.

We stuck around and played a few games, had some pancakes and donuts, and I even got my picture taken with a Jayhawk mascot.  It goes against my Mizzou blood, but what they hell - they did save my life, I suppose, so I'll give them a pass this time.  Elliot also won a $50 gift card to the Capital Grille.  Sorry, little guy, but you're going to have to miss out on this one - mommy and daddy will be taking care of spending it on our next date night. Mom says you owe her.  

All the way up to this morning, I wasn't sure I would participate.  My recovery hasn't been linear, but more up and down.  I'll feel (relatively) great for a couple of days, then really struggle for a while.  I was walking several miles a day, but I was sidelined almost all of yesterday, and except for this morning's walk, I've been cooped up inside resting.  It seems like as some part of me gets better, some other part of me starts having more issues.

When I had absolutely no choice but to be patient, I was pretty good about it, but yesterday I let the pain and frustration and limitations get to me, and I turned into a bad patient.  I undeservedly made Mandy's life miserable the last day and a half - the one person that is bearing more of the brunt of this than me, and doing her best to keep me, the kids and the house all going.  I apologize sincerely.

This up and down is all part of the healing process.  It can be a little concerning at times, but it's all normal (repeated calls to the doctor keep assuring me), and there are some indications about long term effects that are very promising very early on.  I have been much more physically active than many who've gone through this surgery can expect to be at this point, and I have to remember that relatively, I'm doing extremely well.  I'm an impatient patient, but I have to remember that's not anyone else's problem.  This is a 4-6 week recovery, not a two-week one and in the grand scheme of things, this will be just a blip on the timeline of my life.  I'm down about 15 lbs since the surgery, mostly due to diet, but partially due to loss of muscle mass I'm sure.  It won't be that long until I'm at full speed again.

  

The crowd cheered as he and Liam ran the final few feet.

Bringing up the rear