Thursday, December 21, 2017

2017 - A Bonus Year!

(This is letter I sent with my Christmas cards this year.  Merry Christmas to all)

This is a bonus year.  We take for granted the time we have.  I know I have for most of my life.  And this year has truly been a blessing for me.  More about that later.  For now, you all know last year was a war.  I won most of the battles and ended the year pretty much where I started, recovering. 
So as the curtain closed on 2016 I was just out of the hospital again, this time for an enzyme overload in my liver.  Keytruda immunotherapy drugs had created the imbalance and the doctors chose to put a stint in to drain the excess fluids.  I can’t imagine everyone not wanting to spend the New Year’s celebration with a tube hanging out your side.  Open the valve and I could spray everyone with some “special sauce.” 
Health set back or not, I had tickets for Las Vegas first week of January.  I promised Guanheng I would take him there for his 21st birthday, even if that meant carrying a bucket on the plane to drain into.  I was surprised they have sealed bags for you to hook up to for travel.  Although TSA did give me a stare when they saw my drainage contraption.
Vegas was a blast.  First trip for me with no convention or meetings attached.  We spent time doing just about everything.  Grand Canyon, David Copperfield, Hoover Dam, you name it.   The weather was perfect.  We walked a lot, which I truly needed to do.  And we pretty much saw all the casinos.  Highlights were food, the Golden Nugget Buffet is still great, Gordon Ramsay’s Fish and Chips and In and Out Burger.  Those stops alone made the trip nearly perfect. 
February started the Coaches vs Cancer team kick off.  I was one of 9 local “celebs” charged to raise money for the American Cancer Society.  Thanks to some very generous fraternity brothers, friends and family I was able to raise more than the others and was a “guest of honor” at the new basketball coach’s table for the banquet.  It was so much fun I have enlisted to do it again this spring.  Watch out for my requests for a donation.
The best part of the Coaches vs Cancer campaign was an article written by Deb Pressey on my battle.  She captured it so well, calling me to make sure my quotes were accurate.  Here is the link if you didn’t see it, http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-02-07/diagnosis-or-not-hes-living-all-out.html 
I returned to a battery of tests in March.  About every conceivable scan and blood test.  Bottom line, the good doctor proclaimed me in remission.   Officially, “stage 4 colorectal cancer in remission”.  That’s a lot of letters and words to say I’m doing just fine.  The only issues I have are numbness in my hands and feet from the chemo I took last year. 
I am still taking chemo every three weeks.  The Keytruda clinical study is continuing.  I’m perfectly happy to be taking the drug, but have to keep taking steroids as the drug creates liver issues.  A fine trade.  Enough about health issues.  Just know I’m feeling good, started working out with a trainer, and will be my old self again soon.
April I headed to my father’s birthplace, North East, PA, to spend time with relatives for Easter.  It was wonderful to see aunts, uncles, cousins, etc and reassure them that I was still ornery.  I love northern PA along Lake Erie and try and get there every year if I can.  This was I test of my driving skills with the numbness, but I passed the test. 
My plans were to have June be the “return to normal schedule” month for me.  That means my traditional over commitments and over booking.  I succeeded!  A trip to Pinehurst NC for nephew Drew’s wedding followed by a week in Virginia Beach for our church mission trip.  Brandon Foster, my cousin Dana’s son, accompanied me on this adventure.  We met sister Kristina and her boys in Pinehurst, had a grand time there, and then headed to Virginia.   It was wonderful, a great two weeks of family, fellowship and worship.  Add in the service projects and I felt in my element for the first time in 18 months.
By the time I returned we had started work on the summer musical for the Champaign Urbana Theatre Company, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.   This show was marvelous for sure, director Jeff Dare’s vision was brilliant, and we were able to bring it to life.   I love producing for CUTC and love having shows in the Virginia Theatre.  Spectacular.  I’m on board for another show in 2018.
A quick trip to Columbus in mid-July for some fraternity training.  I’m always learning more about 18-21 year olds and the issues they face.  Then off to Chicago for James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt at Wrigley Field.  Talk about a wonderful evening.  Breezes off the lake and the timeless JT tones filled the air.  I took brother Frank to the show as it was his 50th birthday and he loved the experience. 
In August I headed to Boston for Nathan Kelsey’s wedding.  Nathan is another in my top 5 all-time brothers.  A remarkable young man with visions of idealism and optimism.  In addition he is one of my fraternal golf partners, a small group of dedicated white ball chasers.  Nathan married a beautiful doctor, a very smart woman, who will give him plenty of space to chase his dreams.   I went early to the wedding and used the time to traverse the local towns and villages.  It’s amazing to see the architecture and history of the area.  I love Boston so much and could spend weeks exploring. 
September brought the normal back to school challenges.  Goal setting for the fraternity chapter, retreats, and motivating the young men to succeed.  They are doing very well this year and semester.  I have never been more pleased, and given some of the national headlines related to Greek Life it’s refreshing to have positive results to report.
October was ultra-special.  A week in London with nephew Arlo.  Our hosts, fraternity brother Mark Porst and his beautiful wife Betsy, put together a perfect schedule for this once in a lifetime trip.  The schedule combined history, the monarchy, shopping, theatre and delicious food.  Betsy should be a tour guide!  More info at my blog, http://toddsalen.blogspot.com/2017/11/londonor-magic-kingdom.html
November has been very low key.  A great time for me to get caught up at work and also enjoy the best of Champaign.  I love all the sports, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball.  We have excellent teams here.  And we play football too J
Finally I plan to head to NYC to stay with my sister Kristina and her boys for Christmas.  Her new company, United Masters, launched a few weeks ago.  More excitement for her.  After Christmas Guanheng and  I will be bringing Godson Drew and his brother Brandon to Orlando for a few days of fun at the theme parks. 
Thanks to all for a wonderful year.  A few highlights, best gift, (from Brenda) stationary.  Best Movie – Wonder.  Best TV Show – This is Us, (Ozark is good too).  Best Music – I’m Not My Father’s Son from Kinky Boots.  Best Surprise – The Remission and of course chance to see the next Star Wars.  I’m the luckiest man in the world because…..I have an amazing family, incredible friends, great doctors and dedicated fraternity brothers.  Oh, and I have my girl Kelsey as well…woof!  Have a fabulous holiday and remember,
Every DAY Matters!

Much Love, Todd and Kelsey

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