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We've all got our difficulties, from the wealthiest to the poorest, from the most devout to the non- believer.
I just got off the phone with my dear friend, Snap Shirt Brother #1, A.K.A. Steve Laffey.
Regular listeners know Steve Laffey:
Wikepaedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Laffey" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Stephen (Steve) Laffey /ˈlæfiː/ is an American politician, businessman, author and filmmaker. He is the former Republican mayor ofCranston, Rhode Island from 2003 to 2007 and lost a bid for the United States Senate in 2006. He is a former executive of Morgan Keegan & Company, a Tennessee-based financial company where he served as President and COO until his departure in 2001. He is the author of the book Primary Mistake and in 2012, he released a documentary entitled Fixing America which is a road documentary asking Americans' about America's financial crisis, the disconnect with the political elite, and ultimately collects their thoughts, their emotions and their solutions to fix America's financial problems. He currently resides in Colorado with his wife and children where he raises Irish Dexter cattle and Irish Gypsy Cob horses.
I first 'met' Steve when I interviewed him re: his book http://www.primarymistake.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Primary Mistake. I physically met Steve when he came to town while filminghttp://www.fixingamericamovie.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> FIXING AMERICA.
I've always admired Steve. He seemed to have made all good decisions in his life . Love, Family,Career,Finances + he's just a REALLY good guy! When I met Steve, I felt as though I knew him all my life. Steve and I talk regularly. He's always wanted to fix America while caring for his family FIRST !
Steve called me last year and said: "Louie, my daughter Sarah has cancer, she has neuroblastoma. " I could tell he was fighting back tears.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroblastoma#Prognosis" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid cancer in childhood and the most common cancer in infancy, with an incidence of about six hundred fifty cases per year in the U.S.,[1] and a hundred cases per year in the UK.[2] Nearly half of neuroblastoma cases occur in children younger than two years.[3] It is a neuroendocrine tumor, arising from any neural crest element of the sympathetic nervous system(SNS). It most frequently originates in one of the adrenal glands, but can also develop in nerve tissues in the neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis.....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroblastoma#Prognosis" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Prognosis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroblastoma#Prognosis" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Between 20% and 50% of high-risk cases do not respond adequately to induction high-dose chemotherapy and are progressive or refractory. Relapse after completion of frontline therapy is also common. Further treatment is available in phase I and phase II clinical trials that test new agents and combinations of agents against neuroblastoma, but the outcome remains very poor for relapsed high-risk disease.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroblastoma#Prognosis" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Most long-term survivors alive today had low or intermediate risk disease and milder courses of treatment compared to high-risk disease. The majority of survivors have long-term effects from the treatment
Needless to say, very, VERY BAD news.
Since that day, Steve's had an education in neuroblastoma that no one outside of the medical profession should EVER need learn.
Steve's holding his family together....he has other little ones....home schooling, activities, etc.
I'm sure he wishes he could stop time, or , at least, slow it down.
I'm certain most say "I'll keep Sarah in my prayers" and " I'm sure everything will be ok" Well meaning people who don't know what else to say...after all, what else do you say?
Steve is a devout Christian, who's faith has not been rocked. I say prayers for Sarah every day.
We've all got our difficulties, from the wealthiest to the poorest, from the most devout to the non- believer.
The Dudette, and her husband, had a different year. Rob Truslow received his liver transplant and is doing wonderfully. They're about to celebrate the one year anniversary of the successful transplant.,,,after being sent home many times,prior, where the donor liver wasn't a 'match'. ....Sweet Vanilla's hepatitis C is cured. Their 2016 began with much light and hope.
http://www.vindy.com/weblogs/brain-food/2014/jul/30/the-courage-of-the-lamb/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tom Lamb's struggles continue. Tom's http://sarcomahelp.org/epithelioid-sarcoma.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">epitheliod sarcoma still plagues him . Im always amazed at Tom's attitude. He's always trying to make others, comfortable.
Darlin' Darlin' called and talked about my impersonation of Joe Teague's "Louie, what is wrong with us" --- Joe died last year.
http://www.vindy.com/weblogs/brain-food/2015/may/03/omg/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">O.M.G, Old Move Guy passed last year. Every time I'm driving East on rt 224, I think of him....every time I watch Turner Classic Movies, I think of O.M.G. I think of O.M.G. so often, when I'm talking politics, knowing he'd be telling me that I'm wrong...AND why!
North By Northwest was on,again, recently. O.M.G. turned me on to this powerful and entertaining film . I was surprised that I teared up watching it...just thinking of how we'd be texting about it and talking about the film during, what would have been, our next visit.
That's what's awful about the turn of the calendar year - now...., it was LAST year that O.M.G. died...
Following Steve Laffey's daughter on FaceBook just amazes me. This 18 year young lady's always trying to keep everyone else UP. Inside, I'm certain, the tears never stop. There's something very different about a child being ill.
http://www.vindy.com/weblogs/brain-food/2015/aug/07/hi-my-name-is-mario-novello/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Last year I had Lynn, Derek and Mario Novello in-studio, on the show. Lynn and Derek are two of the most incredible parents I've ever met. They LOVE Mario beyond any comprehension the rest of us can understand. Mario's struggling....Derek, more of a MAN more of a FATHER than most males, NEVER fails to ask about others:
"Hi Louie. Things are pretty good. We meet w/ the surgeon on Monday hopefully to find out when they will insert the statutory feeding tube. How is Sarah? Morning Louie. We r home now. His seizures are dialed in w/ meds but he now has a new neurological disorder called pseudo seizures. They don't know why. He is dialed in on his nasal tube feeding but it will be several weeks before they can insert his stomach tube. His thyroid is elevated & has to be monitored. He also has an enlarged cyst on one of his kidneys. All in all he has been a real trooper. He got excited when I started to dress him. It was if he knew he was going home. We have numerous appts for him upcoming and as we know more I will keep u posted. Our best as always to u .... We will keep Sarah in our prayers. If there is anything we can do for you,..or Sarah or her family please please let us know. I truly mean that....Things are OK. Mario has been crying the better part of the day but not sure why. Just trying to comfort him. Thank u for asking...Hi Louie. Mario had his surgery today. The surgery itself went well but he now has an elevated heart rate of around 160. Too high and a fever. He is on an I V drip and if his heart rate and temp subside he will begin tube feedings tomorrow.Heart rate back down and fever gone. Yeah!!!!! Started tube feeding today. If all goes well Mario may come home either tomorrow or Thursday..... Sooo nice to see him without tubes up his nose and without tape over half of his face...."
So, back to Steve Laffey....I try to get Steve to talk politics and the state of the United States and inject some humour in an attempt to get his mind off of Sarah's illness, while knowing it's ever present:
"Thanks for making me laugh and getting my mind off things, even for a bit...", is what Steve said ending the call.
This was a really hard blog to finish, as I began it towards the end of last year, but, after all, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcyKMbjNqWo" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">it WAS a REALLY LONG December., So LONG, that it's February...
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