Kevin's Dead Cat

After surgery sliced off an entire tumor and 1/3 of my tongue, plus six weeks of radiation therapy, I've been re-learning how to eat, drink, and talk with my newly re-constructed tongue and coping with side effects. But the cancer came back and I don't know what's going to happen next.

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Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

I don't want life to imitate art. I want life to be art.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Kiddie Food Way-Back Machine

I'm very anxious because yesterday I had a bad time when I practiced drinking water the normal way. Today, my throat... it hasn't been misbehaving, but it's definitely today's squeaky wheel.

I've been distracting myself with fantasy meals and gourmet cooking shows, but that's not unusual. I tried encouraging people to eat total kid food, the stuff I used to eat before I ever knew what the word cancer was. There were wonderful things like Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches, Hostess Cupcakes, Blueberry Pop Tarts, bologna and cheese sandwiches on Wonder Bread, Welch's Grape Juice, Hawaiian Punch- oooooooh, I used to love Hawaiian Punch. Now I'm spending way too much time in the kiddie food way-back machine.

Anyway, there was a post a few months back on PlanetCancer.com where a woman hadn't eaten anything in over a year because of her treatments. It's going to be as long for me when my chemo is over. Hopefully.

Since I've begun massaging my neck the past few days, mostly out of fear because it felt like the swelling was getting closer to my trache. The shape of my neck, jaw, and cheeks have been changing. It's probably just a re-distribution of fluid.

10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

mmmm Hawaiian Punch

July 15, 2005 11:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How are you doing Laura? I miss you.

July 18, 2005 1:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey L -
Me & P are back. We had many foods in your honor while in Philly. To list just a few...
"Steak With" (aka cheesteak with grilled onions)
TastyKake (many different kinds)
4th street famous cookies
cheesecake
pizza slices from GianFranco's on 3rd and Market (mmmm)
Philly soft pretzels
and much much more.
It is no wonder Philly was named the flabiest city in USA a few years back. There is so much good food there.
When we get past all this and you're eating anything you want again, we're all taking a trip to Philly to get some damn-good food. We'll have to skip the scrapple though. That shit is nasty.
We love you. Hope to see you soon.
John L.

July 18, 2005 9:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi laura,

Its elaine, the music therapist. Just wanted to say hi and to see if you would like me to come and see you. Let me know.
Elaine

July 18, 2005 11:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Laura, I'd call Kaiser and complain about that Elaine, if I were you. She's something of a stalker, I'd say.

Hey, John, do I know you?! Or maybe I should! Yes, cheesesteak, Tastykakes, cheesecake, Bennett's Ice Cream, soft pretzels, real pizza... I think it's food as love and art and deserved pleasure, and it's taken for granted there, which is good.

You fibber, though! It's not America's fattest city at all. They always have New York to compete with, so they do watch their weight. It's the fashion where they fall a decade or 2 behind. I have seen it voted/rated as America's cheapest city, however, where they will actually bend over to pick up a penny. (and I STILL DO THAT!) And the most hostile city. (can I change that to fiery and passionate?) Ok, then.

Can't wait, Laura, me and you, hand in hand, racing the streets of Philly like in West Side Story, to get to our favorite...

July 19, 2005 4:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey, Laura,
Just saying hello...it's been busy here with kids in and out; Andrew in CT now.
Haven't eaten in Philly, really, so can't comment on the cuisine. In New England now we are eating a lobster when we can. They taste good at the seashore. Saw a joke notice for "CSI Lobster," about a serial killer (the cook); there aren't too many things we cook live. Pretty scary to admit this, but we go crazy up here in the Northeast in the summer. Maybe it's the long winters...
Really appreciate your news, and am thinking of you.
XXXOOO
Carolyn

July 19, 2005 5:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Laura!
How are you feeling these days?

I miss your blogging and hope you are gaining weight and strength with your feeding tube.

July 22, 2005 4:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey James and Laura -
I hope all is well on your end. Paloma and I have been checking for updates but we're hoping it's the "no news is good news" thing. Just wanted you to know we're thinking about you every day. We love you!

To my fellow "anonymous" from Philly... Do you know me? I'm not sure, do you? ;) I use to be a regular at Cole's on a near-nightly frequency but now that I no longer live in downtown LA, it's much less frequent. I miss my Cole's family. It's about time I popped in again. As for the Philly fatness, it was voted flabbiest city in USA back in 1999 or something. I remember hearing about it. It was in Men's health magazine or something. I found this link. It's kind of a funny read.
http://www.no-smoking.org/dec99/12-08-99-1.html
In fact, my visit to Philly packed a few extra pounds on me. I'm currently going to the gym to loose that and a few other unwanted pounds. I guess those frozen Philly Soft Pretzels in my freezer will have to wait.

Take Care everyone,
John L.

July 26, 2005 7:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gosh, John, I don't know, do you?
Not from Cole's, however, as I've never been there. Is that where you met your beloved?

Exactly what part of Philadelphia are you from? Bec that's the most important thing, isn't it? Now I suspect you're really a Camden kind of guy, quoting fat articles like this.
Yes, I've been known to stick a few soft pretzels in the refrigerator myself, on trips to my grandmother's house in Ocean City. But they don't taste the same that way, do they?

As far as FAT, since that seems to be on your mind lately, I broke my toe last month, so running stopped for a few weeks, but this week I started again, yes, even in this annoying heat. And I will be going to the gym more often. Don't forget your pushups, John!

As for you, Laura, quit fooling around and get back here. Your sister, who apparently has never had good boundaries to begin with, has once again od'd, it appears. Such a silly.

July 27, 2005 4:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey clowny, I couldn't agree with your post (Kiddie Food Way-Back Machine) more. diabetic cooking recipes

February 04, 2006 10:42 PM  

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