For years my husband and I tried to begin this Gypsyish way of life. I was dealing with health issues but was at a point where I though I was in the clear. The cancer was in remission several years and the nasty lupus flare (several years worth of flare) was abated. Then we took our first work camper job in California, I had check-ups and got clearance and would you not know that it (the lupus) hit again. We were yet to officially begin our job at North Shore Campground in Northern CA when I got so sick we had to turn around and leave. We were there already and the park owner was wonderful to us, but I had to get back to TX. I found that being up there in CA, things were done differently and it was difficult to get immediate medical care unless one used the ER.
A few years go by and we were set to try again. I was in a roll over accident. Ugh.
We purchased a larger travel trailer and set out to work camp again. I had dizzy spells and eye problems. An MRI later (no brain mets, thank God) and I was told I simply need new contact lenses/glasses. Eyes changing.
Had my scans (regular for the earlier melanoma diagnosis) and all clear. Took a job in mid-July in Colorado. Our first work camping job. We loved it. The last month there I developed a swollen left leg. I was finally convinced to go to the ER in Boulder. They took a CT of chest and did doppler on the leg (feared blood clots) and found lymph nodes in my chest and under right arm were very alarming. I was told to contact Onc in TX. I did and he was very insistant I get this checked out. Hubby had already decided to work for Amazon.com in NV so I waited, much to my Onc in Texas's dismay. I finally saw an Onc here and she had a PET done and brain MRI. Brain MRI showed I still have a brain but no mets. PET was not alarming at all as expected. She and the Onc in Texas had been sure that the melanoma had come back and spread. No sign of that. However, a thyoid nodule that I've had for years and had biopsied before lit up good, so had FNA (fine needle aspiration biopsy) of that and it showed probable cancer (highly suspicious) and now we are done here and heading back to TX for surgery.
NOW...one would think we'd be smart enough to stay in one place and forget about full-time rving with my health history. Nope. But I am going to always have to be near civilization and good medical care, and have my records (on disk...not paper) with me or access to them (MD Anderson Cancer Center has a site that you can actually pull up your medical records and print them). My security is in TX (Oncologist, Rheumatologist, Internal Medicine) but my heart is on the road.
So..my advice is to just do it. Life is too short to give up living with health issues or not.
Terry and Jo said
06:32 PM Dec 17, 2011
If I may, I will say that your story is inspiring. After all, we all can gripe about whether we will have a home base, or be near enough to family and grandkids, have the things we want close to hand, or any number of things we think we have to have.
You've shown that even with bad health, it is not a dream killing circumstance. There have been times that I've wondered whether we should be doing what we are (even though we still aren't traveling full-timers yet).
The wife, youngest son, sister-in-law (Jo's sister in Colorado) and SIL's husband have all had heart issues. Jo's other sister (in Tulsa and a bit younger than me) has had health issues and a replacement hip.
Me, I'm overweight, 65-years-old, former smoker for 41 years (quit in 2003) and without enough sense to avoid circumstances somewhat dangerous when photographing nature and wildlife. I keep looking up for that bolt of lightning or that frozen block of ice falling from an airplane.
As you've shown, all we need to do is take the proper precautions and NOT ignore our health, and we can still do some form of RV'ing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Terry
NorCal Dan said
11:10 AM Dec 18, 2011
WOW! Yes, a very inspiring story Jeannie and Rick. We sure hope life improves and you can continue your full-time dream. Good advice for anyone contemplating the lifestyle. We took the plunge and made the leap into full-timing, and like most, wondered if we were crazy (like our friends kept telling us). After almost 4 years of living on the road I can now say we had a blast and loved every minute and hope to get back out there soon.
glfbllrcks said
02:15 AM Feb 16, 2012
I am a 10 year stage 3 melanoma survivor. My treatment was at MD Anderson. I will become fulltime next May Hooray!!
PD CFK said
02:43 AM Feb 16, 2012
Yay! Stanley! :) Good for you! Get on out there and have some fun. I had a melanoma discovered and removed just after we bought our 5er. They got it all; so far no complications, and no returns to date. Bless you. Will say a prayer for you :) Pat K
Workinrvers said
04:26 AM Feb 16, 2012
Sitting in Beaumont Tx. as I type this. Just left from dinner with a friend from Indiana who was just diagnosed and had his first treatments at MD Anderson. We are hopeful for a full recovery but the treatments, he is enrolled in a clinical study, will last for 8 months minimum.
His wife and her sister have both recieved care from MD Anderson and said this is where he needs to be to recieve the best care.
We will miss them in Indiana this summer but hope their care, and our prayers will give him many more summers with us.
Sorry for rambling on but just read your post and saw the hospital mentioned. Good luck on your adventure and keep that positive attitude shining as a beacon for us all!
For years my husband and I tried to begin this Gypsyish way of life. I was dealing with health issues but was at a point where I though I was in the clear. The cancer was in remission several years and the nasty lupus flare (several years worth of flare) was abated. Then we took our first work camper job in California, I had check-ups and got clearance and would you not know that it (the lupus) hit again. We were yet to officially begin our job at North Shore Campground in Northern CA when I got so sick we had to turn around and leave. We were there already and the park owner was wonderful to us, but I had to get back to TX. I found that being up there in CA, things were done differently and it was difficult to get immediate medical care unless one used the ER.
A few years go by and we were set to try again. I was in a roll over accident. Ugh.
We purchased a larger travel trailer and set out to work camp again. I had dizzy spells and eye problems. An MRI later (no brain mets, thank God) and I was told I simply need new contact lenses/glasses. Eyes changing.
Had my scans (regular for the earlier melanoma diagnosis) and all clear. Took a job in mid-July in Colorado. Our first work camping job. We loved it. The last month there I developed a swollen left leg. I was finally convinced to go to the ER in Boulder. They took a CT of chest and did doppler on the leg (feared blood clots) and found lymph nodes in my chest and under right arm were very alarming. I was told to contact Onc in TX. I did and he was very insistant I get this checked out. Hubby had already decided to work for Amazon.com in NV so I waited, much to my Onc in Texas's dismay. I finally saw an Onc here and she had a PET done and brain MRI. Brain MRI showed I still have a brain but no mets. PET was not alarming at all as expected. She and the Onc in Texas had been sure that the melanoma had come back and spread. No sign of that. However, a thyoid nodule that I've had for years and had biopsied before lit up good, so had FNA (fine needle aspiration biopsy) of that and it showed probable cancer (highly suspicious) and now we are done here and heading back to TX for surgery.
NOW...one would think we'd be smart enough to stay in one place and forget about full-time rving with my health history. Nope. But I am going to always have to be near civilization and good medical care, and have my records (on disk...not paper) with me or access to them (MD Anderson Cancer Center has a site that you can actually pull up your medical records and print them). My security is in TX (Oncologist, Rheumatologist, Internal Medicine) but my heart is on the road.
So..my advice is to just do it. Life is too short to give up living with health issues or not.
If I may, I will say that your story is inspiring. After all, we all can gripe about whether we will have a home base, or be near enough to family and grandkids, have the things we want close to hand, or any number of things we think we have to have.
You've shown that even with bad health, it is not a dream killing circumstance. There have been times that I've wondered whether we should be doing what we are (even though we still aren't traveling full-timers yet).
The wife, youngest son, sister-in-law (Jo's sister in Colorado) and SIL's husband have all had heart issues. Jo's other sister (in Tulsa and a bit younger than me) has had health issues and a replacement hip.
Me, I'm overweight, 65-years-old, former smoker for 41 years (quit in 2003) and without enough sense to avoid circumstances somewhat dangerous when photographing nature and wildlife. I keep looking up for that bolt of lightning or that frozen block of ice falling from an airplane.
As you've shown, all we need to do is take the proper precautions and NOT ignore our health, and we can still do some form of RV'ing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Terry
His wife and her sister have both recieved care from MD Anderson and said this is where he needs to be to recieve the best care.
We will miss them in Indiana this summer but hope their care, and our prayers will give him many more summers with us.
Sorry for rambling on but just read your post and saw the hospital mentioned. Good luck on your adventure and keep that positive attitude shining as a beacon for us all!
Phil