Follow up Doctor Appt.

Well, I had a follow up with the swallow specialist last Friday, April 6, 2018. He wants to do surgery to remove part of the epiglottis to help me swallow easier, scheduled for June 14, 2018, Flag Day. A week after the surgery I will have another swallow study. Won't know the time till I call the Monday before the surgery. With the type of surgery I had (jaw replacement) it's common to have to resection the epiglottis to get it out of the way of the esophagus.

Currently, I'm at extended Stay America, in a reduced rate room, provided by American Cancer Society and Extended Stay America, I have a doctor appt. tomorrow to check on lower leg skin graft. It's all healed up so just a formality.

I have been having lots of feelings of isolation and depression lately. No one can really understand all the consequences of never being able to eat solid food again. I know I've been isolating my self also, I just don't want to be around people in general. We just don't realize how much our culture is focused on food, the preparation, smells, talking about it and of course eating it. I want to get involved in volunteering some but then I also want my freedom to go and travel more once I do recover. Also, very difficult to even try to talk to people.

Difficult times but I'll get through it. Helps just to put it down in writing.

Grand Canyon Update

Visiting the Canyon is a must! Don't stay too long, you may take it for granted. The colors are spectacular at beginning and end of day. To get more perceptive take a day hike on the South Kiabab Trail. We were there two full days, and of course we could have stayed longer. We experienced hiking the rim (south), sunrise, sunset and a hike down into the canyon. There are museums to see and if you want to camp take a mule ride to the bottom and camp over night. We stayed just outside the Nat'l Park with many amenities at the Best Western. If you choose to stay in the park you can camp or stay in rustic accommodations that have been there for many years. It is hard to believe that the combination of geology, geography, water and time have shaped such a wonder. The present day amount of water going through the canyon is just a trickle compared to days of old. Now the water is put to use generating power and supplying water to millions. A lot of hard work and a great deal of politics created the present day system.